FF:DSMA21 Near Eastern Neolithic

DSMA21 The Neolithic and Chalcolithic of the Near East

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025

Extent and Intensity

2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching

Teacher(s)

Mgr. Inna Mateiciucová, Ph.D. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

Mgr. Inna Mateiciucová, Ph.D.
Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Erlebachová
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts

Prerequisites (in Czech)

!(OBOR(DST) && TYP_STUDIA(B))

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

Ancient History (programme FF, N-DST_) (3)

Course objectives

The course shall offer a basic overview about the Neolithic and Chalcolithic in the Near East, and on social, economic and spiritual development of the society from the 10th to the 4th mill. BC (before writing). The students will acquire also the basic overview on the material culture and will learn about the main topics of that time discussed among the researchers.

Learning outcomes

The student will learn the prehistoric development of the environment, where the oldest ancient civilizations evolved, and will thus be able to characterize the preconditions for the birth of ancient civilizations and the continuity of evolution from prehistory to Antiquity in the Near East.

Syllabus

List of topics: 1. Chronological and geographical determination.
2. Preconditions for the rise of Neolithic in the Near East (climate, raw material basis, domestication).
3. Pre-pottery Neolithic - main characteristic.
4. Life in the Pre-pottery Neolithic (subsistence, architecture, material culture).
5. Burials and ritual in the Pre-pottery Neolithic.
6. Pottery Neolithic - main characteristic.
7. Halaf culture and its contemporaries.
8. Life in the Pottery Neolithic (subsistence, architecture, material culture).
9. Burials and ritual in the Pottery Neolithic.
10. Chalcolithic - main characteristic.
11. Life in the Chalcolithic, mainly Ubaid culture (subsistence, architecture, material culture).
11. Burials and ritual in the Ubaid culture.
12. Halaf culture and its contemporaries.
13. Beginnings of administration and writing, changes in society on the beginning of 4th mill. BC.

Literature

required literature

Akkermans, P.M.M.G. and Schwartz, G.M. 2003: The Archaeology of Syria. From Complex Hunter-Gatherers to Early Urban Societies (ca. 16 000-300 BC). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Charvát, P. 1993: Ancient Mesopotamia. Praha: Academia.

recommended literature

Charvát, P. 2002: Mesopotamia Before History. Routledge, London and New York: Routledge.
Matthews, R. 2000: The early prehistory of Mesopotamia 500,000 to 4,500 bc. Subartu V, Turnhout: Brepols Publishers.
Mithen, S. 2006: Konec doby ledové. Dějiny lidstva od r. 20 000 do r. 5000 př. Kr. Praha: Nakl. BB/art s.r.o.
Prosecký, J. a kol. 1999: Encyklopedie starověkého Předního východu. Praha: Academia.

Teaching methods

Lectures, documentary film, class discussion.

Assessment methods

Oral examination.
Requirements for the examination: a general geographical and chronological orientation in the Near Eastern Neolithic and Chalcolithic; Evaluation of the importance of Neolithic and Ubaid period for the following developments in the Near East.
Presence: 70%

FF:DSMA21 Near Eastern Neolithic - Course Information

DSMA21 The Neolithic and Chalcolithic of the Near East

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