This course is taught on-site in western Turkey, and will be offered over the (Australian) summer.  Students will travel to a number of important archaeological sites relating to the Greco-Roman world, with a particular focus on the regional history of Gallipoli and the Troad.  The course will examine the history of cities and settlement in the area over a long historical period, from the Late Bronze Age to the late Roman empire.  A number of major archaeological sites will be visited; the final selection will take into account accessibility of individual sites at the time the course is offered.  The course will begin in Istanbul (Byzantion/Constantinople).  Likely sites to be visited in western Turkey include Pergamon, Smyrna, Ephesos, Magnesia on the Maiandros, Priene, Miletos, Didyma and Halikarnassos.  A particular focus of the course will be a study of the regional history of the Gallipoli peninsula (occupied by 12 or 13 small cities in antiquity) and the nearby Troad, the area around the significant Bronze Age site of Troy.  The course will consider topics such as: history and nature of Greek colonisation; structure and settlement patterns of Greek poleis; effects on the region of the conquests of Alexander the Great and the later incorporation of the area in the Roman empire; effects of warfare on local populations; urban development in the Roman empire; and the cultural and literary significance of an area which was both home to epic traditions and the birthplace of a number of major authors and intellectual figures.

Students will come to a better understanding of issues such as:

• what were the factors governing the siting of a Greek polis, and what was the relationship between a city and its hinterland?
• in what ways did physical landscape govern agriculture, travel, warfare, and other key aspects of ancient life?
• what does the archaeology of urban sites tell us, and what does it leave us in the dark about?
• how are landscape and cultural memory related?

• preliminary paper on topic of final research paper (submitted before departure) (1,500 words): 10%
• two on-site presentations in Turkey (to be researched before departure), discussing significance of individual sites, with written hand-outs for distribution to course participants (15% each): 30%
• group presentation on return from Turkey, addressing themes and issues from course: 10%
• research paper (4,000 words): 35%

 •    course diary, plus overall course participation: 15%

.

Prerequisite: Arts courses to the value of 12 units

ANCH1013, HIST1019

Selected articles and book chapters will be provided, relating to key issues and individual sites.