AR3501 - Ancestors and Emperors: The Rise and Fall of Ancient Societies

Why do some societies become urban-centred and more complex? Is the trajectory of change always the same? In this subject students will address these questions,We begin by studying what was happening in China 10,000 years ago (at the end of the last Ice Age) when a changing climate facilitated the development of agriculture and societies whose cosmologies emphasised interactions with ancestors and gods. The subject then traces increasing social complexity in this region, especially in the Yellow River valley, through to the partly mythical Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties. After a consideration of the First Emperor's short but defining reign, the subject then compares what happened in China with how and why similar urban-based civilisations developed in tropical Southeast Asia.

Learning Outcomes

• demonstrate an ability to find and manipulate information appropriate to addressing archaeological questions in ancient China and South East Asia;
• be able to discuss and evaluate archaeologist's approaches to reconstructing social organization in past societies;
• demonstrate a general knowledge of how and why societies have become more complex over time in ancient China and tropical South East Asia.

Subject Assessment

• presentations (20%)
• online tasks and/or discussion board (50%)
• centrally-administered final exam (30%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.