MCCCD Program Description

Buried Cities and Lost Tribes: Old World

Course: ASB222

First Term: 2018 Fall

Lecture 3.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 3.0 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S

Description: Introduction to archaeology through discoveries and the researchers who made them. Emphasis on methods of archaeological fieldwork and what these discoveries reveal about humanity, including the nature of archaeological inquiry, the development of human social groups, the changing role of religion in evolving societies, the origins of agriculture, the origins of settled lifeways, the rise of cities and complex societies, political strife across different cultures and the forces which tend to fragment societies. Examples drawn from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific Islands, and Australia.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Describe the methods and tools archaeologists use to interpret the past. (I, II, III) 2. Describe the logical procedures by which anthropologists distinguish between scientific and pseudo-scientific evidence. (I) 3. Explain the concept of humanness as it relates to the archaeological records. (II, (V) 4. Critique various hypotheses regarding the beginnings of reliance on domesticated plants and animals, and the implications of a sedentary life style. (III) 5. Describe the social structure, cultural traditions, religious ideology, and subsistence patterns of at least one culture from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Pacific/Australian regions. (III, (IV) 6. Trace the rise of complex social organizations in different social/geographic contexts. (IV, V) 7. Explain whether social/political processes operating in prehistory and history have been repeated. (V, VI) 8. Debate whether social/political processes operating in prehistory and history have been repeated. (V, VI) 9. Compare trends in prehistory and history to recognize patterns. (V, VI) 10. Debate whether processes operating in prehistory and history have been repeated. (V, VI) 11. Integrate broad patterns of human heritage. (II, III, IV, V, VI)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Archaeology Discovered A. The nature of the archaeological record 1. Preservation of archaeological materials 2. Stratigraphy and dating methods in archaeology B. Archaeological methods 1. The field survey and excavation 2. Provenience and context 3. Examples of archaeological research C. Speculation and pseudo-science II. The Human Pursuit of Humanness A. The emergence of modern homo sapiens 1. The earliest traces of humanness 2. The nature of primitive religion B. Bands and tribes as the first social framework 1. Meaning of bands and tribes in anthropology 2. Case study of a band or tribe III. New Adaptations: The Road to the Present A. The process of settling down: the ability of humans to manipulate their environment B. Conflicting theories on the origins of agriculture C. The early farming village D. A modern ethnographic example IV. The First Cities A. Growing populations and the origins of cities B. Integration of people 1. The development of philosophies for emerging civilization 2. The role of religion in emerging civilization V. The Rise of Complex Societies A. Principles behind complexity B. Various complex adaptations VI. Circumscription, Autonomy, and Ethnocentrism: Forces at Work A. Politics and the fall of a complex society B. Does history repeat itself? B. Various complex adaptations VI. Circumscription, autonomy and ethnocentrism: forces at work A. Politics, and the fall of a complex society B. Does history repeat itself? 1. Politics, and the fall of a complex society (e.g. the Egypt, the Classic Maya, Ankor Wat) 2. Politics and the fall of Greece and/or Rome 3. Does history repeat itself?

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 2/23/1999

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.