ANT 3141 – Development of World Civilization

About the Course

This is a course focusing on ancient world civilizations, stopping off at various points across the globe over a broad range of time. The main focus will be on cases of pre-colonial era (pre-AD 1500) civilizations around the world, centering on change, sustainability, and social inequality. By taking this course, you will gain knowledge and skills critical to understanding the processes and debates surrounding what has been termed ‘civilization’. This includes the domestication of plants and animals, the origins and consequences of agriculture, the influence of religion and technology, and key aspects of village/urban life and state formation.

Learning Outcomes

Learning in the course includes the following objectives:

1. Identify the salient characteristics of a variety of past civilizations from around the world.
2. Explore the theory and methodologies used to understand civilizations and their unique histories from a broadly anthropological perspective, including humanist, scientific, and critical approaches.
3. Discuss key elements, biases, and influences that shape knowledge pertaining to civilizations throughout time and space.
4. Analyze anthropological themes and topics such as the effects/impacts of power, identity, environment, and landscape on the development of civilizations.
5. Approach issues and problems from multiple perspectives, including developing linkages between past and present, to understand how past events and circumstances affect our world today.
6. Communicate knowledge, thoughts, and reasoning clearly and effectively in forms appropriate to the discipline of anthropology

Satisfied High School Graduation Requirement Subject: Elective

High School Credit: 0.5