Anthropology
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"The most important issue confronting the social sciences is the extent to which human behavior is shaped by factors that operate cross-culturally as opposed to factors that are unique to particular cultures." (Trigger 2003:3)

course design

This course is designed to address several important and interesting archaeological and anthropological questions regarding the rise of civilization.  These questions are: 
  • Why did human societies in very different and distant places chose to adopt such strikingly similar practices (e.g., agriculture, writing, metallurgy, urbanism, monumental architecture)?
  • What factors influenced the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture?
  • Why did civilizations emerge in the places they did? 
  • What factors influence the "collapse" of civilizations? 
Readings, Activities, and Research Reports are designed to help you develop informed answers to these questions.  

learning objectives
As a result of this course, you will be able to:

  • Make empirically supported, valid generalizations about human behavior and culture using comparative research.
  • Explain the factors that influenced the transition from hunting/gathering to state formation.
  • Explain the sociocultural evolution of at least one region (e.g., Mesopotamia, Indus Valley etc.) 
  • Enhance your appreciation for your culture's place in time and space compared to the rise of other civilizations. 


I also hope that as a result of this course you develop a life-long interest in prehistory and how we know what we know about the past.  
Scott Ingram, Creative Commons, Some Rights Reserved
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