07490 - Iranian Archaeology and Art History

Learning outcomes

The course aims at introducing the student into the difficult field of the archaeology of the Iranian world, with a special stress on the lands of the Iranian Plateau, through the presentation of the main archaeological evidences in a historical-cultural perspective. Also the specific problems of conservation of the latter are treated. At the end of the course the student has acquired a knowledge of the main archaeological evidences of the area, is able to place them in their historical-cultural context and to understand their specific conservation problems; is also able to learn from experts in other fields and to find out the relationships with other disciplines; has methodological rigour and accuracy.

Course contents

The 20 hours of frontal lesson are related to the historical-cultural problems of the Iranian world, necessary for a cultural framework of the subject of the course. An examination of the sources will be proposed. The 40 hours in e-learning mode concerning the archaeological testimonies of Iran from the 7th century B.C. to the 7th century A.D. allow an introduction to the archaeology and art history of Iran from the Medians to the Sasanids. In this part of the course will be proposed the examination of the main archaeological, architectural and artistic evidence, in a descriptive approach but not without a critical guide. The detailed contents are listed in the course index on the web page.

Readings/Bibliography

For the historical part, whose general knowledge is necessary, we recommend reading J. Wiesehöfer, La Persia Antica, Bologna, il Mulino, 2003. For the geographical part it is compulsory to know the main regions of the Iranian world, with a study always accompanied by a map.
For the part concerning archaeological evidence, whose detailed knowledge is required for passing the exam, in the absence of an updated and reliable manual, the student is invited to refer only to the materials offered on the site.

Teaching methods

The course is given in blended learning mode, with 20 hours of frontal lesson on the historical and cultural issues of the Iranian world and 40 hours in e-learning mode concerning the archaeological evidence of Iran from the 7th century BC to the 7th century AD divided into 20 teaching units. Together with the texts, the 20 units will also contain illustrative material (graphics and figures). Attendance at frontal lessons is not compulsory, but is strongly recommended.
Given the extraneousness of the ancient Iranian culture from the programmes of the upper secondary school, it is insisted on the explanation of the fundamental concepts rather than on the illustration of the single notions, which are constantly connected to the overall picture.

At the end of the e-learning lessons, the teacher is available for further meetings with the students to clarify any points that remain obscure from the channels of dialogue with the teacher provided by the e-learning platform.

Assessment methods

Oral examination, with the possibility of having on request control of the various parts of the programme. The oral dialogue has the function to assess the basic knowledges acquired in the field of the Iranian archaeology, regarding both the architectural and artistic evidences and their geographic and historic context. The knowledge of the chrono-geographic setting of the notions will therefore be evaluated.
Specialistic language is not considered a pre-requisite for a BA course, but will be positively evaluated.

The aim of the interview is also to assess the methodological and critical skills acquired by the student. Given the importance of class attendance for an appropriate training process two distinct grading scales are employed: for attending and non-attending students.

Attending students

Attendance and participation to the e-learning forum count for 30% of the final grade.

In particular, the ability of the student to participate actively in class, also using multimedia and collaborative tools provided within the course will be assessed; such capacity, if combined with the achievement of a coherent framework of the topics developed during the lessons, the application of critical sense and suitable means of expression, will be considered and evaluated with the maximum grading = A (27-30 con lode).

Attendance, if joint to a predominantly mnemonic acquisition of course's contents and discontinuous language and logical skills, will be assessed in a grading range from good (B = 24-26) to satisfactory (C = 21-23).

Attendance, with a minimum level of knowledge of the course contents, combined with training gaps or inadequate language and logical skills, will get as grade ‘barely passing' (D = 18-20).

The absence of a minimum level of knowledge of the course contents, combined with inadequate language and logical skills and training gaps, will produce a fail (E) grading, even in spite of an assiduous attendance.

Non-attending students

Non-attending students will be assessed primarily on the ability to use literature and multimedia tools made available, in order to properly expose the contents of the course. This ability, when combined with the achievement of a coherent framework of the course's themes, the application of critical sense, and suitable means of expression will be considered and evaluated with the maximum grading = A (27-30 con lode).

A predominantly mnemonic acquisition of course's contents along with discontinuous language and logical skills will be assessed in a grading range from good (B = 24-26) to satisfactory (C = 21- 23).

A minimum level of knowledge of the course contents, combined with training gaps or inadequate language and logical skills, will get as grade ‘barely passing' (D = 18-20).

The absence of a minimum level of knowledge of the course contents, combined with inadequate language and logical skills and training gaps, will produce a fail (E) grading.

Teaching tools

The 20 units of the e-learning part of the course will contain the texts as well as graphs and figures.

Office hours

See the website of Pierfrancesco Callieri