HIST 388 - Ancient Egypt

Credit Hours: 4
Frequency of Offering: Offered in alternate years, usually in the spring semester

This course will examine ancient Egyptian history and culture, beginning in prehistoric and predynastic Egypt and concluding with the decline of ancient Egypt under the dominance of foreign rulers. The primary focus will be on the periods of Egypt’s greatest stability and independence, from the pyramid builders of the Old Kingdom through the rise and fall of the imperialistic New Kingdom. Themes under examination include: ancient Egyptian art, architecture, literature, and religion; ideologies of kingship; gender roles; changing notions of Egyptian (and non-Egyptian) identity; Egypt’s position between Africa, Asia, and the Mediterranean; trade and diplomacy in the Mediterranean, ancient Near East, and Africa; and the growth and decline of political and cultural systems.