ARCHEOLOGY OF EUROPE.

Catalog description

Ancient Europe is a mosaic of archaeological regionalism whose complexity is arguably unparalleled elsewhere in the world. This course surveys the material remains of several prominent ancient cultures from Iberia to the Danube, from Scandinavia to Greece, dating from stone age to medieval times. Emphasis will be on understanding the various regional traditions and their interactions, and on explicating trends in technology, economy and religion in European society during this long period. Among the topics to be examined: Paleolithic hunters and artists; agricultural origins; megalithic monuments; bronze metallurgy and its ramifications; the first high civilizations in the Mediterranean; the rise of the Celts; the coming of iron; impact of Romanization; the nature of Viking exploration and expansion.