Course Description:
This course delves into the fundamental issue of identity-making in the ancient world, using the ancient Near East as a case study. The process of shaping an identity within a society or group is usually intricately intertwined with its interactions with other societies or groups, frequently delineated by a range of borders and boundaries. While these borders and boundaries were initially established to assert power and control, both in theory and practice, the interactions along these demarcations could potentially spark conflict and innovation, ultimately leading to transformation of identity.
This seminar examines how the delineation and modification of borders and boundaries, as well as the interactions among diverse societies within the ancient Near East and between this region and its neighboring territories, played a pivotal role in shaping the identities of both the ancient Near Eastern societies and the modern scholarly perspectives. While the primary focus remains on examining archaeological, art historical, and textual evidence from the ancient Near East, this course also incorporates materials from other parts of the ancient world to provide a broader perspective on the general patterns of interactions and identity formation in the ancient world.
This course delves into the fundamental issue of identity-making in the ancient world, using the ancient Near East as a case study. The process of shaping an identity within a society or group is usually intricately intertwined with its interactions with other societies or groups, frequently delineated by a range of borders and boundaries. While these borders and boundaries were initially established to assert power and control, both in theory and practice, the interactions along these demarcations could potentially spark conflict and innovation, ultimately leading to transformation of identity.
This seminar examines how the delineation and modification of borders and boundaries, as well as the interactions among diverse societies within the ancient Near East and between this region and its neighboring territories, played a pivotal role in shaping the identities of both the ancient Near Eastern societies and the modern scholarly perspectives. While the primary focus remains on examining archaeological, art historical, and textual evidence from the ancient Near East, this course also incorporates materials from other parts of the ancient world to provide a broader perspective on the general patterns of interactions and identity formation in the ancient world.
- Instructor of record: Wu Xin