ARTH 220 - Rock, Paper, Sword: The Media of the Ancient and Medieval World

Credit Hours: 4
Frequency of Offering: Offered in alternate years

An introduction to the art of the ancient and medieval world. This course examines how different Western, Asian, and Islamic cultures approached art in these media. Exploring rock involves both architecture and sculptural representation; examining paper engages issues of two-dimensional media and the sweeping changes caused by the introduction of paper; and considering the sword includes both the production of metalwork and the artistic scope of ancient and medieval empires. The course will emphasize cultural interaction between empires, nations, and geographic regions through economic, artistic, and political exchange. Geographic areas of focus include Northern Europe and the Ancient Mediterranean, West and Central Asia, India, and the dominant powers of East Asia: China, Korea, and Japan.