皇家华人

XClose

UCL Module Catalogue

Menu

Understanding the Early Mesopotamian World (HIST0021)

Key information

Faculty
Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences
Teaching department
History
Credit value
30
Restrictions
First year students on the History Undergraduate degree programmes cannot select this module.
Timetable

Alternative credit options

This module is offered in several versions which have different credit weightings (e.g. either 15 or 30 credits). Please see the links below for the alternative versions. To choose the right one for your programme of study, check your programme handbook or with your department.

  1. Understanding the Early Mesopotamian World Affiliate (HIST0508)

Description

This course has two intertwined themes: the ways in which people made sense of the world in one of history's first urban societies; and the ways in which that society has been interpreted since its rediscovery some 200 years ago.

We will study how literacy and numeracy developed in the cities of southern Iraq (Mesopotamia), some 5鈥�6000 years ago, then focus on urbanism and kingship, as well as the training of scribes, scholars and intellectuals in the third and early second millennium BC. Next we turn to understandings of the body and the high social status of doctors and healers, despite their apparent ineffectiveness. Finally, we investigate how divine will was discovered and interpreted, through observation of the natural world.

In parallel, we will consider how big themes in nineteenth- and twentieth-century history, such as exploration and war, empire and race, religion and science, shaped and reshaped popular and learned views of the ancient Middle East, and continue to do so today.

Module deliveries for 2024/25 academic year

Intended teaching term: Terms 1 and 2 听听听 Undergraduate (FHEQ Level 5)

Teaching and assessment

Mode of study
In person
Methods of assessment
50% Fixed-time remote activity
50% Coursework
Mark scheme
Numeric Marks

Other information

Number of students on module in previous year
9
Module leader
Dr Mark Weeden
Who to contact for more information
history.programmes@ucl.ac.uk

Last updated

This module description was last updated on 19th August 2024.

听

Useful links

Sustainability

For a list of modules related to climate change as well as social and environmental sustainability at 皇家华人, type 'climate' or 'sustainability' into the search. Visit Sustainable UCL for information on extra-curricular activity on sustainability.

Important information

The catalogue has been updated with key information about the modules that will run during the 2024/25 academic session. Current and prospective students can browse through the catalogue to consider possible module choices for the coming year.

Please note,听information in the catalogue is听subject to change as teaching and assessment arrangements for 2024/25 may need to be adjusted in line with the University's Feedback and Assessment principles and operating model.

Centrally managed exam durations will be provided on students' individual exam timetables. Arrangements for locally managed timed assessments and in-class activity will be confirmed by the teaching department for the module.

听

听