Spring 2013/Pasadena

OT883/853

Hays

OT883/853: ANCIENT NEAR EASTERN HISTORY, LITERATURE, AND CULTURE.
Christopher B. Hays.


DESCRIPTION: This course is an introductory survey of ancient Near Eastern history, literature, and culture from prehistoric times to Alexander’s conquest. Civilizations singled out for focus include Sumer, Egypt, Hatti, Babylonia, Assyria, Israel, and Persia. Special attention will be paid to the ways in which surrounding cultures impinged on and influenced Israel and Judah, including detailed comparison of biblical and ANE texts during each class session. In addition to historical events and texts, students will be asked to master basic geographical data, and will be briefly introduced to the languages and writing systems of some of the cultures covered.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The civilizations covered form the backdrop of the Old Testament, informing the study of its history, religion, and social institutions; thus students’ exegesis and proclamation will be enriched.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students successfully completing the course will have demonstrated broad familiarity with the history, literature, culture, and geography of major ancient Near Eastern civilizations. They will also have demonstrated the ability to articulately compare biblical and ANE texts, and the significance of those comparisons for biblical interpretation and theology.

COURSE FORMAT: The course meets twice weekly for two-hour sessions. The typical meeting will include lecture on an historical period and culture, and discussion of specific primary texts that derive from that period and culture. Movies will also be shown during some class periods.

REQUIRED READING:

Curtis, Adrian, ed. Oxford Bible Atlas. Oxford University Press, 4th ed, 2007. ISBN: 978-0199560462, Pub.price $24.95 [240 pp.].

Van de Mieroop, Marc. A History of the Ancient Near East. 2nd ed. Blackwell, 2006. ISBN: 978-1405149112, Pub.price $47.95 [341 pp.].

Van de Mieroop, Marc. A History of Ancient Egypt. Blackwell, 2010. ISBN: 978-1405160711, Pub.price $47.95 [424 pp.].

Course reader.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Class participation (20%)

  2. Midterm examination (25%)

  3. Short paper on textual comparison (15%)

  4. FINAL examination (40%)

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Required for students with a concentration in Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Literature at the MA in Theology, ThM, and PhD levels. Elective for all others.

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.