Language and Culture in the Ancient Near East
Code: 104218Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Studies | OP | 3 |
| Ancient Studies | OP | 4 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Agustí Alemany Vilamajo
- Email :
- agusti.alemany@uab.cat
Teaching staff
- Agustí Alemany Vilamajo
- Felip Esteve Maso Ferrer
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
It is recommended to have taken the subject of "History and Civilization of the Ancient Near East"
Objectives
Acquire a specialized lexicon on the main languages and cultures of the Ancient Near East.
Achieve a global understanding of the subject.
Acquire work methodology that allows identifying characteristics of the literary texts of the Near East.
Acquire basic notions about the grammar of the main languages of the Ancient Near East.
Learning outcomes
- Submitting works in accordance with both individual and small group demands and personal styles.
- Autonomously searching, selecting and processing information both from structured sources (databases, bibliographies, specialized magazines) and from across the network.
- Preparing an oral and written discourse in the corresponding language in a proper and organized way.
- Relate the history and culture of the non-Indo-European ancient civilisations to the Greek civilisation and the Roman civilisation.
- Describe the main historical and social features of the Egyptian, Sumerian, Acadian, Persian and Mycenaean cultures.
- Draw historical-social conclusions based on a reading of simple documents written in the ancient non-Indo-European languages.
Contents
Unit 1. Sumerian language: Origin and disappearance of the Sumerian Language; Grammatical sketch of Sumerian
Unit 2. Akkadian language: History of the Akkadian Language; Grammatical sketch of Akkadian
Unit 3. Sumero-Akkadian literature: The mythological cycles; The royal epic; Hymns, praises, lamentations and curses; Wisdom texts; Humorous texts; Other compositions
Unit 4. Hittite language: Periodization and monuments of Hittite; Grammatical sketch of Hittite
Unit 5. Persian language: History of the Persian language in the pre-Islamic period; Grammatical sketch of Old Persian
Unit 6. Indo-European literatures of the Ancient Near East: the nature of Hittite cuneiform texts (Myths, Epics, Annals, Hymns and Wisdom literature); the Achaemenid royal inscriptions; the Avestan corpus and Pahlavi literature
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | 10 | 0.4 | 2, 4, 6 |
| Classroom practices, resolution of exercises | 30 | 1.2 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| Lectures | 87 | 3.48 | 4, 5, 6 |
The teaching methodology will consist of the combination of lectures, reading of specialized bibliography, classroom practices and resolution of exercises.
The teaching methodology and the evaluation proposed in the guide may undergo some modification subject to the onsite teaching restrictions imposed by health authorities.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam of the second section of the subject (Hittite & Persian) | 40% | 1.5 | 0.06 | 4, 5, 6 |
| Exam of the first section of the subject (Sumerian & Akkadian) | 40% | 1.5 | 0.06 | 4, 5, 6 |
| Micro-research on Hittite/Persian sources | 10% | 10 | 0.4 | 1, 2, 3 |
| Paper's review on Mesopotamian literature | 10% | 10 | 0.4 | 1, 2, 3 |
The evaluation of the subject will consist of three activities.
(1) Exam of the first part (40%)
(2) Paper's review on Akkadian literature (10%)
(3) Exam of the second part (40%).
(4) Micro-research on Hittite/Persian sources related to the creation of a historical game (10%)
In order to make an average between the three activities it will be necessary to have obtained a minimum qualification of 4 in every exam.
On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.
In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.
In the event that tests or exams cannot be taken onsite, they will be adapted to an online format made available through the UAB’s virtual tools (original weighting will be maintained). Homework, activities and class participation will be carried out through forums, wikis and/or discussion on Teams, etc. Lecturers will ensure that students are able to access these virtual tools, or will offer them feasible alternatives.
Re-evaluation
To participate in the re-evaluation, the student must have been previously assessed in a set of activities, the weight of which is equivalent to a minimum of 2/3 parts of the total qualification.
Single evaluation
No single evaluation
NOT ASSESSED
Students will obtain a Not assessed/Not submitted course grade unless they have submitted more than 30% of the assessment items.
AI
This subject allows the use of AI technologies exclusively for support tasks such as content-based searches explicitly authorised by the teachers.
The student must clearly (i) identify which parts have been generated using AI technology; (ii) specify the tools used; and (iii) include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and final outcome of the activity.
Lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in the assessed activity will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade may be lowered, or the work may even be awarded a zero. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.
Bibliography
Sumerian and Akkadian Languages
Caplice, Richard, 2002: Introduction to Akkadian (4 ed.), Roma: Pontificio Istituto Biblico.
Civil, Miquel, 2020: Esbós de gramàtica sumèria, Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona.
Huehnergard, John, 2000: A Grammar of Akkadian, Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns.
Jiménez Zamudio, Rafael, 2017: Nueva gramática de sumerio, Alcalá de Henares: Universidad de Alcalà.
Malbran-Labat, Florence / Vita, Juan Pablo, 2005: Manual de lengua acadia, Zaragoza: CSIC.
Rubio, Gonzalo, 2015: “The languages of Ancient Near East”, in Daniel C. Snell (ed.): A companion to the Ancient Near East, Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 79-109.
Thomsen, Marie-Louise, 1984: The Sumerian Language, Copenhagen: Akademisk Forlag.
Von Soden, Wolfram, 1995: Grundriss der akkadischen Grammatik, Roma: Pontificio Istituto Biblico.
Sumerian and Akkadian Literature
Bottéro, Jean / Kramer, Samuel Noah, 2004: Cuando los dioses hacían de hombres, Madrid: Akal.
Ehrlich, Carl S. (ed.), 2009: From an Antique Land. An Introduction to Ancient Near Eastern Literature, Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Foster, Benjamin, 1996: Before the Muses. An Anthology of Akkadian Literature, Bethesda: CDL Press.
Michalowski, Piotr / Veldhuis, Niek (ed.), 2006: Approaches to Sumerian Literature, Leiden: Brill.
The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature: etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk
Verderame, Lorenzo, 2016: Letterature dell’antica Mesopotamia, Firenze: Le Monnier Università.
Verderame, Lorenzo, 2017: Introduzione alle culture dell’antica Mesopotamia, Firenze: Le Monnier Università.
Hittite and Persian languages
Brandenstein, Wilhelm / Mayrhofer, Manfred, 1964: Handbuch des Altpersischen, Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz (Spanish trans. A. Tovar, Madrid: CSIC 1958).
Carruba, Onofrio (ed.), 1992: Per una grammatica ittita. Towards a Hittite Grammar. Pavia: Gianni Iuculano.
Friedrich, Johannes, 1952: Kurzgefasstes hethitisches Wörterbuch. Heidelberg: Carl Winter (reprint 1991).
Friedrich, Johannes, 19672: Hethitisches Elementarbuch. 2 vols. Heidelberg: Carl Winter.
Held, Warren H. / Schmalstieg, William R. / Gertz, Janet E., 1988. Beginning Hittite. Columbus, Ohio: Slavica Publishers.
Hinz, Walter, 1973: Neue Wege im Altpersischen, Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.
Hinz, Walter, 1975: Altiranisches Sprachgut der Nebenüberlieferungen, Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.
Kent, Roland G. [19532] Old Persian. Grammar, Texts, Lexicon, New Haven: American Oriental Society.
Mayrhofer, M. & Schmitt, R. (ed.) [1979-]: Iranisches Personennamenbuch, Wien: VÖAW.
Puhvel, Jaan, 1984-: Hittite Etymological Dictionary. Berlín-Nova York-Amsterdam: Mouton De Gruyter.
Kloekhorst, Alvin, 2008: Etymological Dictionary of the Hittite Inherited Lexicon. I-II. Leiden: Brill.
Schmitt, Rüdiger (ed.), 1989: \"Altpersisch\", in Schmitt, Rüdiger (ed.) Compendium Linguarum Iranicarum, Wiesbaden: Ludwig Reichert, p. 56-85.
Tischler, Johannes, 2001. Hethitisches Handwörterbuch. Mit dem Wortschatz der Nachbarsprachen. Innsbruck: Institut für Sprachen und Literaturen der Universität Innsbruck
Literatures indoeuropees del Pròxim Orient Antic
Beckmann, Gary, 2011: \"Hittite Literature\", a Ehrlich, Carl. S., From an Antique Land. An Introduction to Ancient Near Eastern Literature. Lanham-Boulder-New York-Plymouth: Rowman & Littlefield, p. 215-254.
Bernabé, Alberto, 1987: Textos literarios hetitas. Madrid: Alianza Tres.
Bernabé, Alberto / Álvarez-Pedrosa, Juan Antonio (ed.), 2000-2004: Historia y leyes de los hititas, I-II, Madrid: Akal.
Cereti, Carlo, 2001: La letteratura pahlavi. Introduzione ai testi con riferimenti alla storia degli studi ed alla tradizione manoscritta. Milano: Mimesis
Darmesteter, James, 1892-93: Le Zend-Avesta I-III, Paris: Adrien-Maisonneuve (reprint 1960).
García Trabazo, José Virgilio, 2002: Textos religiosos hititas. Mitos, plegarias y rituales. Madrid: Trotta.
Lecoq, Pierre, 1997: Les inscriptions de la Perse achéménide. Paris: Gallimard.
Schmitt, Rüdiger, 1991: The Bisitun Inscriptions of Darius the Great: Old Persian Text (Corpus Inscriptionum Iranicarum I.1), London: School of Oriental and African Studies.
Schmitt, Rüdiger, 2000: The Old Persian Inscriptions of Naqsh-i Rustam and Persepolis (Corpus Inscriptionum Iranicarum I.2), London: School of Oriental and African Studies.
Yar-Shater, Ehsan (ed.) [1982–] Encyclopaedia Iranica, Londres: Boston & Henley.
Software
PowerPoint
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |