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 land 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

Introduction to the main themes of geography, history and history of religion, necessary for a cultural frame to the course subject. Examination of the different sources. Introduction to the archaeology and art history of ancient Iran, from the Medes to the Sassanians, with an illustration of the main archaeological, architectural and artistic evidence.

Readings/Bibliography

For the historical introduction, reading of J. Wiesehöfer, La Persia Antica, Bologna, il Mulino, 2003, is suggested.
For the archaeological evidence all the materials will be included in the web site.

Teaching methods

The course is proposed in blended learning, with 20 hours of tuition by the teacher, concerning the historico-cultural basic questions, and 40 hours in e-learning, concerning the archaeological evidence of Iran from the 7th century BC to the 7th century AD, grouped in 20 units. These units will contain written texts as well as graphs and figures. Given that the culture of ancient Iran is not included in the programme of Italian high school, aim of the course is introducing the student to the basic concepts rather than insisting on single notions, which are always set in the global frame.

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.

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