C9559 - ARCHEOLOGIA DELLE VIE DELLA SETA, CONTINENTALI E MARITTIME

Learning outcomes

The course focuses on archaeological evidence – both on land and at sea – of the many manifestations of trade and cultural contacts that developed between the first millennium BC and the first millennium AD between East and West along two routes, continental and maritime, and the different cultures involved. Particular emphasis will be put on the organisation of trade in the ancient East, on the material evidence of navigation and local seafaring traditions, and on the main types of amphorae and other transport containers used in the various regions and periods. At the end of the course, students will be familiar with the archaeological evidence of the cultures covered in the monographic course, will be able to contextualise their characteristics, and will have the tools for comparative analysis based on the evaluation of the various pieces of evidence, and will have the basic knowledge of ceramics to participate profitably in maritime or land excavations

Course contents

The course is divided into two modules: Archaeology of the Maritime Silk Roads (Module I), taught by Pierfrancesco Callieri, and Archaeology of the Continental Silk Roads (Module II), taught by Emad Matin. Each module has a duration of 30 hours. Students may choose to include either one of the two modules or both in their study plan.

Each year, each module addresses a specific topic in the archaeology of the Silk Roads, examined through a monographic approach, with particular attention to methodological and critical aspects.

The topics of the two modules for the academic year 2026–2027 are the following:

Module I: ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE MARITIME SILK ROADS

Topic: “Archaeology of the Persian Gulf during the ages of the Iranian Empires (6th century BCE–7th century CE)”

Lecturer: Pierfrancesco Callieri

After a brief introduction to the geographical and environmental characteristics, followed by an overview of the cultural features and the main historical events of the region, the course will examine the archaeological evidence in detail.

Brief summary of the topics covered

1 – Introduction to the geography, history and archaeology of Iran in the 1st millennium BCE
2 – Introduction to the geography, history and archaeology of Iran in the 1st millennium CE
3 – Introduction to the geography, history and archaeology of the north-eastern shore of the Persian Gulf in the 1st millennium BCE
4 – Introduction to the geography, history and archaeology of the north-eastern shore of the Persian Gulf in the 1st millennium CE
5 – Introduction to the geography, history and archaeology of the south-western shore of the Persian Gulf in the 1st millennium BCE
6 – Introduction to the geography, history and archaeology of the south-western shore of the Persian Gulf in the 1st millennium CE
7 – Classical historiographical sources on the Persian Gulf.

8 – Ancient Seafaring in the Persian Gulf.

9 - Maritime trade according to ancient sources.

10 - Shipwrecks and other archaeological evidence of seafaring and maritime trade.

Module II: ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE CONTINENTAL SILK ROADS

Topic: “Archaeology of the Achaemenid Royal Roads”

Lecturer: Emad Matin

After a brief introduction to the geographical, historical and cultural characteristics of the Achaemenid Empire, the course will examine a multidisciplinary study of the various aspects of the royal roads. The main objective of the course is to introduce students to the study of connectivity, through a multidisciplinary approach that, in addition to landscape archaeology and the archaeological and art-historical study of finds, also includes the archaeological analysis of historical sources (in modern translation) and the use of the results of archaeometric analyses. The topics of the reconstruction of ancient topography and toponymy will also be addressed, likewise from an archaeological perspective.

The lectures will be organised as follows:

1- Introduction to the Silk Roads
2- Introduction to the geography, history and archaeology of the Achaemenid Empire
3- Introduction to the Royal Roads
4– The Persepolis Administrative Archives I: a Source for Knowledge of the Achaemenid Empire
5– The Persepolis Administrative Archives II: Connectivity between Settlements
6– The Royal Road from Ecbatana to Pasargadae
7– The Royal Road from Pasargadae to Persepolis
8– The Royal Road from Persepolis to the Persian Gulf
9– The Royal Road from Persepolis to Susa and Babylon
10– The Royal Roads towards Anatolia and the Mediterranean
11– The Royal Roads towards the Southern Caucasus
12– The Royal Roads towards Central Asia and India
13– The Movement of Craftpeople along the Royal Roads I: the Ionians at Pasargadae
14 – The Movement of Craftpeople along the Royal Roads II: the Babylonians at Persepolis and Susa
15 – The Fate of the Royal Road Network after the End of the Achaemenid Empire.

Readings/Bibliography

Module I: ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE MARITIME SILK ROADS (Pierfrancesco Callieri)

The module presupposes a basic knowledge of the archaeology of pre-Islamic Iran, as provided by the course “Iranian Archaeology and Art History” for the Bachelor’s degree programme in Cultural Heritage. For students who do not possess this basic knowledge, the study of the relevant teaching sections of that course is recommended; they are available online at the following address:
https://virtuale.unibo.it/course/view.php?id=20604#section-3

Among the texts used for the preparation of the lectures, useful for further personal study but NOT required for the oral examination, the following is indicated:

Miller, J. I. (1975). Roma e la via delle spezie. Torino: Einaudi.

Attending students

Since the course, due to its strongly monographic character, will involve the lecturer developing the subject matter from a highly innovative perspective, attending students preparing for the examination may make use, in addition to the possible preparation of basic knowledge of the archaeology of pre-Islamic Iran through the online materials indicated above, of the slides presented during the lectures, as well as of the texts that will be indicated by the lecturer.

Non-attending students:

Texts indicated for examination preparation by non-attending students:

I – The following teaching sections of the course “Archaeology and History of Iranian Art” for the Bachelor’s degree programme in Cultural Heritage: Introduction, Achaemenid period, Sasanian period, available online at the following address:
https://virtuale.unibo.it/course/view.php?id=20604#section-3

II – Three of the following publications:

1 – T. Daryaee, "The Persian Gulf in Late Antiquity: The Sasanian Era (200–700 c.e.)". In: L.G. Potter (ed.), The Persian Gulf in History, 57-70. New York 2009. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230618459_3

2 – P. Callieri, "Connectivity in Southern Fars in the early Sasanian period: Ardashir Xwarrah and the Persian Gulf inland and coastal areas". In S. Balatti, H. Klinkott, J. Wiesehöfer (eds.), Palaeopersepolis. Environment, Landscape and Society in ancient Fars (Oriens et Occidens, 33), 229-240. Stuttgart 2021,

3 – P. Callieri, D.M. Mezzapelle, L. Gasperini, "From the Armenian Plateau to the South China Sea via the Persian Gulf: different responses of coastal communities to climate and environmental change". In Proceedings of the conference "Waterscapes", in press (Available in Virtuale).

4 – P. Callieri, D.M. Mezzapelle, "Ancient Anchors in the Nayband Bay: Hypotheses and Theories on the Findings of Ballast Stones".

5 – H. Tofighian, "A review of the Sasanian- early Islamic ports of the Persian Gulf with emphasis on the historical port of Nayband".

6 – A. Asadi, S.M. Mousavi Kouhpar, J. Neyestani, A. Hojabri-Nobari, "Sasanian and Early Islamic Settlement Patterns, North of the Persian Gulf". Vicino Oriente, XVII, 2013, 21-38.

7 – A. Askari Chaverdi, "Post-Achaemenid Legacy of the Persian Gulf Hinterland : Systematic Survey of Surface Remains from Tomb-e Bot, Fars, Iran". Ancient Civilizations fron Scythia to Siberia, 23, 2017, 127-150.

8 – D. Whitehouse, A. Williamson, "Sasanian Maritime Trade". Iran XI, 1973, 221-272.

9 – A. Wilson, “A Periplus of the Persian Gulf.” The Geographical Journal 69, no. 3, 1927, 235–55

Module II: ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE CONTINENTAL SILK ROADS (Emad Matin)

Attending students:

The course presupposes a basic knowledge of the archaeology of Iran in the Achaemenid period, as provided by the course “Iranian Archaeology and Art History” of the Bachelor’s degree programme in Cultural Heritage. Students who do not possess this basic knowledge are advised to study the first three teaching sections of that course (Introduction, Median period, Achaemenid period), available online at the following address:
https://virtuale.unibo.it/course/view.php?id=20604#section-3

In addition, the study of the first chapter (“La dinastia degli Achemenidi (550-330)”) of the following volume is advisable:

Wiesehöfer, J. (2003) La Persia Antica. Bologna.

Since the course, due to its strongly monographic character, will address the subject matter from a highly innovative perspective, also through the use of unpublished resources, attending students may prepare for the examination by making use of the slides presented during the lectures and of the texts indicated by the lecturer. For the possible acquisition of basic knowledge of the archaeology of Achaemenid Iran, they may also refer to the online materials indicated above. 
Regarding the assessment of learning, the use of AI is prohibited, primarily because AI is unreliable for Oriental studies disciplines.

Among the texts used for the preparation of the lectures, useful for further personal study but NOT required for the oral examination, the following are indicated:

1 – Briant P., Boucharlat, R. eds. (2005) L'archéologie de l'empire achéménide: nouvelles recherches. Persika 6, Paris.

2 – Henkelman, W.F.M., B. Jacobs (2021) Roads and Communication. In B. Jacobs, R. Rollinger, eds., A Companion to the Achaemenid Persian Empire, pp. 717-735. Vol. 1, New York.

3 – Jacobs, B. (2011) “ACHAEMENID SATRAPIES”, Encyclopædia Iranica, online edition, 2011, available at:
http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/achaemenid-satrapies

4 – Radner, K., N. Moeller, D.T. Potts, eds. (2023) The Oxford History of the Ancient Near East. Vol. V: The Age of Persia. New York.

The lecturer will use numerous texts as a basis for the critical discussion of the evidence examined, which will be indicated progressively during the lectures.

Non-attending students

Texts indicated for examination preparation by non-attending students:

1 – The following teaching sections of the course “Iranian Archaeology and Art History” for the Bachelor’s degree programme in Cultural Heritage: Introduction and Achaemenid period:
https://virtuale.unibo.it/course/view.php?id=20604#section-3

2 – Briant P., Boucharlat, R. eds. (2005) L'archéologie de l'empire achéménide: nouvelles recherches. Persika 6, Paris.

3 – Boucharlat, R. (2013) Southwestern Iran in the Achaemenid Period. In D.T. Potts ed., The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Iran, pp. 503-527. New York.

4 – Colburn, H. P. (2013) Connectivity and Communication in the Achaemenid Empire1. Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient 56 (1), pp. 29-52.

5 – Henkelman, W.F.M., Jacobs, B. (2021) Roads and Communication. In B. Jacobs, R. Rollinger, eds., A Companion to the Achaemenid Persian Empire, pp. 717-735. Vol. 1, New York.

6 – Jacobs, B. (2011) “ACHAEMENID SATRAPIES”, Encyclopædia Iranica, online edition, 2011, available at:
http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/achaemenid-satrapies

7 – Matin, E. 2025. Reaching the Persian Gulf from the Kur River Basin: Patterns of an Intermittent Connectivity. East and West 65 (1), pp. 61-95.

8 – Radner, K., N. Moeller, D.T. Potts, eds. (2023) The Oxford History of the Ancient Near East. Vol. V: The Age of Persia. New York.

9 – Wiesehöfer, J. (2003) La Persia Antica. Bologna. [only the first chapter]

However, non-attending students are strongly advised to contact the lecturer in order to agree upon a specific programme and bibliography.

Teaching methods

For both modules

Lectures will be delivered through the direct and critical examination of iconographic documentation, using slide projections and the distribution of plans and graphs. Active student participation will be encouraged, and moments of seminar discussion will be organised. The aim of the course is to introduce students to the main issues related to the proposed research topic. Particular emphasis is placed on the methodological approach to the proposed research, in order to stimulate students’ critical reflection.

For these reasons, attendance at lectures, although not compulsory, is highly recommended.

Assessment methods

For both modules

Oral examination. The examination will begin with the student’s presentation of a topic chosen from those covered during the course; the examination will continue with at least two further questions asked by the lecturer. During the examination, the use of maps and plans related to the chosen topic will be permitted.

The oral interview aims to assess the acquisition of basic knowledge concerning the monographic topic addressed in the course, assuming that students have already acquired a solid general framework of reference. Based on the lectures attended, students must be able to correctly contextualise the documentary sources presented. The final grade will be based on the overall assessment.

The aim of the examination is also to verify the methodological and critical skills acquired by students. Given the importance of attendance, two different assessment criteria will be applied for attending and non-attending students.

Attending students

Attendance will contribute 30% to the final assessment.

In particular, the student’s ability to actively participate in lectures will be evaluated. This ability, together with the achievement of a thorough understanding of the subject matter addressed during the lectures, the demonstration of critical thinking, and adequate verbal expression skills, will be assessed with the highest scores: excellent = A (27–30 cum laude).

Attendance, combined with a predominantly mnemonic acquisition of the course material and with verbal expression and logical skills that are not fully satisfactory, will be assessed with a score ranging between good (B = 24–26) and satisfactory (C = 21–23).

Attendance, combined with a minimal acquisition of the course material and inadequate verbal expression and logical skills, will be assessed with a sufficient score (D = 18–20).

The absence of a minimum acquisition of the course material, combined with inadequate verbal expression and logical skills, will be assessed with an insufficient score (E), even in the presence of regular attendance.

Non-attending students

Non-attending students will be assessed mainly on their ability to use the indicated bibliography in order to present the course contents appropriately. This ability, together with the achievement of a thorough understanding of the subject matter addressed during the lectures, the demonstration of critical thinking, and adequate verbal expression skills, will be assessed with the highest scores: excellent = A (27–30 cum laude).

A predominantly mnemonic acquisition of the course material, combined with verbal expression and logical skills that are not fully satisfactory, will be assessed with a score ranging between good (B = 24–26) and satisfactory (C = 21–23).

A minimal acquisition of the course material, combined with inadequate verbal expression and logical skills, will be assessed with a sufficient score (D = 18–20).

The absence of a minimum acquisition of the course material, combined with inadequate verbal expression and logical skills, will be assessed with an insufficient score (E).

Teaching tools

For both modules

Use of PowerPoint presentations, with the projection of images, maps, plans and graphs to support the lectures.

Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD) who require academic adjustments or compensatory tools are invited to communicate their needs to the teaching staff in order to address them appropriately and agree upon suitable measures with the competent bodies.

Office hours

See the website of Pierfrancesco Callieri

See the website of Emad Matin