ATS1248 Introducing archaeology and ancient history 2

This unit examines how archaeological and historical evidence can be used to study territorial and cultural expansion in the past. The focus is on the development of the first empires in the Mediterranean as well as the spread of settlements in Australia and the Pacific. You will explore how archaeological remains and historical texts can be used to study the movement of people and ideas and learn to identify the tactics states use to expand and strengthen their power. In the Mediterranean context, you will examine the military ideology of the Assyrians, the internationalism of the Persians, the maritime control of classical Athens, the sweeping conquests of Alexander of Macedon, the hybrid culture of Hellenistic states, and the economic-military power of Rome. In the Australian context, you will examine the gradual process of migration and trade that saw the spread of diverse people and complex cultures over a vast distance. Hands-on tutorials will let you explore the archaeological and historical methods used to reconstruct complex societies in the past, and discussion of readings will relate these findings to issues of cultural heritage in the present.