Program Overview

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The Late Bronze Age Aegean in the Mediterranean (ARCL0068)

Key Information

The Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences offers this module through the Institute of Archaeology, with a credit value of 15. There are no restrictions for this module.

Alternative Credit Options

There are no alternative credit options available for this module.

Description

This course provides an in-depth interpretative exploration of the Late Bronze Age Aegean in its broader Mediterranean context. It follows on from ARCL 3074 on the emergence of Aegean complex societies and focuses primarily on the formation and nature of Mycenaean palace-centred polities. The course analyzes social and political structures, economic organization, and ritual and religious dimensions through material culture, art, and deciphered Linear B texts. It also considers interaction between the Aegean and societies in the east and central Mediterranean, with a specific emphasis on Cyprus, the Levant, Anatolia, and Italy. The final part of the course covers the collapse of these palatial societies and the generation of Homeric epic.

Aims

• To provide an overview of the main issues, themes, and theories in the archaeology of the Late Bronze Age Aegean.
• To ensure a familiarity with the material culture, imagery, and texts of the period and alternative ways of interpreting them.
• To encourage a comparative approach to Aegean societies in relation to neighboring societies in the Mediterranean with which they interacted.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate an enhanced ability to:

• Have gained an overview of the major developments and interpretative issues in later Aegean prehistory, as well as the data that underpin them.
• Be able to recognize, and know the significance of, a range of Late Bronze Age Aegean material culture.
• Be aware of, and be able to engage in, critically informed discussion concerning central problems in this field.
• Be familiar with thematic issues involving the interpretation of the Aegean record, such as analysis of settlement patterns, economic organization, cult, ideology, and imagery.
• Understand the models of change proposed.

Module Deliveries for 2026/27 Academic Year

The intended teaching term for this module is Term 2, and it is available at the undergraduate level (FHEQ Level 6).

Teaching and Assessment

The mode of study for this module is in-person, with 100% coursework (2 assessments) as the method of assessment. The mark scheme uses numeric marks.

Other Information

The module leader is Dr. Borja Legarra Herrero. In the previous year, there were 0 students on this module.