Ancient Egypt: An Introduction (Online)
offered by Oxford University

Public University
1 Campus
Estd. 1096

Ancient Egypt: An Introduction (Online)
at
Oxford University
Overview

Understanding the nature of the different types of evidence and their context

Duration	10 weeks
Total fee	₹26,117
Mode of learning	Online
Course Level	UG Certificate

Ancient Egypt: An Introduction (Online)
at
Oxford University
Highlights

Earn a certificate of completion from Oxford university
Group discussions of particular issues

Ancient Egypt: An Introduction (Online)
at
Oxford University
Course details

What are the course deliverables?

Gain a general knowledge of all aspects of ancient Egyptian culture
Examine, understand and assess ancient Egyptian civilisation in its social and cultural context
Develop their skills in historical analysis and their use of evidence based argumentation
Learn to critically assess evidence of different kinds - textual, pictorial, archaeological
Discuss current topics in Egyptology

More about this course

This course introduces participants to the rich and vibrant civilization of ancient Egypt
From royal pyramids, court artisans and powerful pharaohs, to grandiose temples, mysterious gods and foreign invasions, participants will experience the world of ancient Egypt, its highs and lows, and the rich tapestry of its culture
Providing an overview of the ancient Egyptians, and combining archaeological, textual and pictorial evidence, this course will allow participants to delve into the world of ancient Egypt, to see how it developed and why it came to an end
We will read the words of ancient kings, priests, courtiers, and artisans, witness the great artistic triumphs from across 3,000 years of history, explore the beliefs of people from different ends of society's spectrum, and learn how they lived in a world that though familiar, was quite different from our own
Learn the ability to approach evidence of different kinds (archaeological, textual, pictorial) with a critical eye and to form evidence based conclusions, while acknowledging that there are potentially many different ways of approaching the data available.

Ancient Egypt: An Introduction (Online)
at
Oxford University
Curriculum

Worldview, Geography and Resources

The importance of the Nile and the inundation

Egypt's environment

Major cities and resources

Shaping the Egyptian worldview

The development of Egyptology

Historical Overview

Ancient Egyptian history

Creating 'history'

The Predynastic Period to the Early Dynastic Period

From Old Kingdom to Middle Kingdom

From Second Intermediate Period to Alexander the Great

The Battle of Megiddo: analysing written evidence

The Gods, their Cults and Religious Practice

The gods

Depicting the gods

Creation myths

The mythic environment

Egyptian temples

Egyptian priests

Dealing with the invisible in daily life: household religion

Magic spells

Burial Customs, Afterlife Beliefs and Mummification

Death and aspects of the soul

Afterlife destinations

Mummification

Private tombs

Royal tombs: pyramids

Royal tombs: the Valley of the Kings and later

Art: Craftsmen, Conventions and Development of Art

Artisans and art

Materials and working methods

Predynastic and Early Dynastic art

The conventions of Egyptian art

Changing art over time

Interpreting King Amenemhat III

Pharaoh, Politics and Government

The social pyramid

The ideal pharaoh

The king's daily life and duties

The royal family

Government organisation and courtiers

Female pharaohs

Palaces, Cities and Settlements

Egyptian settlements

Problems of preservation

Royal palaces

Domestic architecture

Exploring Deir el-Medina

Living in Ancient Egypt

The household and social status

Occupation and crafts

Morality and education

Marriage, adultery and divorce

Entertainment

Crime and punishment

Language, Writing and Literature

Evolving language: writing systems

The basics of Middle Egyptian language

Scribes, writing equipment and surfaces

Egyptian literature

The earliest hieroglyphs

Warfare, Trade and Diplomacy

Foreigners and Egyptianisation

Trade and diplomacy

Pre-New Kingdom warfare

New Kingdom warfare

Ancient Egypt: An Introduction (Online)
at
Oxford University
Faculty details

Dr Garry Shaw

Dr. Garry Shaw is the author of four books about ancient Egypt, including "The Pharaoh: Life at Court and on Campaign" and "The Egyptian Myths: A Guide to the Ancient Gods and Legends." In addition to his scholarly work, he also writes generally on heritage and travel.

Ancient Egypt: An Introduction (Online)
at
Oxford University
Entry Requirements

Eligibility criteria Up Arrow Icon

Prerequisite: Familiar with using a computer for purposes such as sending email and searching the Internet

Conditional Offer Up Arrow Icon

Yes
In countries where the normal examinations have been cancelled, university will expect the conditions of student's offer to be met by the alternative assessment put in place by qualifications' regulators.