Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "ARCH 204"
COURSE NAME: "Technology of The Ancient World: Aqueducts, Armor, Automata"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2025

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Jens Koehler
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: T2:15 PM 5:00 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Partially on-site; activity fee: €25 or $33
OFFICE HOURS: cell 338-5256504

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course is an upper-level survey of technology in the ancient world, with particular emphasis on Greece and Rome. The course provides an in-depth familiarity and appreciation of the multifaceted nature of ancient technology through which students will gain a firm understanding of the links between technological innovation (history of engineering) and the development of human civilization (social history). It examines the architecture, waterworks, war machinery, and entertainment industry that framed and generated technological innovations, as well as production techniques related to the working of metal, wood and ceramics. The course will draw on both archaeological and text-based sources, and students will gain an awareness of field-specific methods and research theories: historical, philological and archaeological.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The course provides an overview of the technological origins in Egypt and in Mesopotamia; civilizations with highly developed skills in construction, irrigation systems, and military equipment. However, the primary focus of this course will be on the inventions made in Greece and Rome – architecture, waterworks, war machinery, and the entertainment industry – as well as the developments of these over time.

Archaeologically, the on-site classes will benefit from the many well-preserved examples of ancient technology in Rome, like bridges, domed temples, aqueducts, and heated baths. Other buildings, smaller technical instruments, and objects made of organic materials (wood) are only known from the ancient texts and will be investigated through a close study of the philological sources.

The description and explanation of technological aspects are intended to provide a profound understanding of the historical background, of the changes occurring over time, and of the particular needs and resources that shaped the innovations.

Major fields of interest to be discussed in this course are:

· Building Techniques: quarries and building materials, transport and construction tools. These were central in ancient societies and are relatively well documented, both for Greece and Rome.

· Infrastructure: roads, bridges, tunnels, harbors and sea trade. Such aspects are still important; the Romans are responsible for some of the most famous monuments.

· Hydraulic Engineering: aqueducts and sewers, reservoirs and cisterns, baths and toilets, mills. This is the heart of Roman technology, and still of great value for us today.

· Military Technology: weapons and armor, walls and gates, warships. The dark or destructive side of human genius, often going ahead compared to other technologies.

Furthermore, the production of metal and of wooden objects, and of ceramics, will be analyzed. Installations for games in amphitheaters and in theaters will be mentioned. Finally, mechanical art, better known from the written tradition, but much appreciated during the Hellenistic period, will be studied. Surprisingly, some principles of the above mentioned technology features still determine our modern world of high-tech, or they may open new ways toward sustainable energies.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students will learn to identify examples of ancient world engineering and technology, and will be enabled to describe and interpret these correctly

Students are introduced to different methods and theories of research, developed for Archaeology and Ancient History

Students will acquire the tools to investigate ancient texts, images, and objects correctly

Students will learn about the evolution of technology in relation to the developments in social history

Students will improve their skills to observe and to describe basic principles, and consider the impact of change, through comparison between ancient and modern technologies

Students will hone their ability for research and critical thinking through the analysis of unknown monuments and objects

Students will develop their skills of critical analysis, presentation and communication skills through the written assignments as well as class discussion

TEXTBOOK:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments	Format	Local Bookstore	Online Purchase
Engineering in the Ancient World (1978/2000)	J. G. Landels	n/a	n/a			Hard Copy

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
midterm test	short answer questions	20
oral presentation	topic to be selected; oral presentation, power pint or on-site (15 points), and handout (10 points)	20
research project	outline (5 points) - drawing and final paper or 3D model and commentary (25 points)	30
final exam - or homework/worksheet	short answer questions and essay choice (about 15/15 points)	30

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cour
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY

You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exams are on Friday, August 2.

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

Schedule (as of 1/21, 2025)

T, Jan. 21 - 1.a. Introduction and 1.b. first walk.

Houston 65-72.

meet in classroom, then walk to the city center.

T, Jan 28 – 2. Roads and bridges, walls and arches.

Landels 170-185; R. Laurence; R. Taylor; Claridge.

meet in classroom, then walk to the city center.

T, Feb 4 - 3. a. Aqueducts: introduction and 2.b. Aqua Traiana under the American Academy (TBC).

Landels 34-57. 211-215; Claridge.

meet in classroom, then walk to AAR.

T, Feb 11 - 4. Water supply/Aqueducts. 3.a. Porta Maggiore and 3.b. the Aqueduct Park: Aqua Marcia, Aqua Claudia.

www.romanaqueducts.info; Landels 34-57. 211-215; Claridge.

meet at Termini railway station, front entrance/ Borri bookshop.

T, Feb 18 - 5. Construction/Baths. Baths of Caracalla.

Landels 84-98. 170-185; M. Piranomonte; Claridge.

meet at metro B stop Circo Massimo

pick oral presentation topic

T, Feb 25 - 6. Bathing and Construction. 5.b. The Pantheon: architecture and astronomy (TBC).

Landels 84-98. M. Wilson Jones; L. Lancaster; Claridge.

review

in classroom, then walk to the Pantheon

outline for research project due

T, Mar 4 - 7. Midterm test

midterm test

in classroom

T, Mar 11 – no lesson (Spring Break)

T, Mar 18 - 8. Harbors, ships, naval industry and wood.

Landels 133-169. 219-224. 84-98. 170-185. 208-211; 25. 48. 51. 67. 75; L. Casson; R. Ulrich.

in classroom

T, Mar 25 - 9. Ostia antica, harbor of Rome. Construction, baths, latrines, bakery

(long lesson) www.ostia-antica.org; Coarelli.

meet at the pyramid, Piazzale Ostiense

T, Apr 1 - 10. a. War: weapons and armor. War machines: artillery. 9.b. City walls (TBC)

Landels 99-132; L. Lancaster; H. Dey.

in classroom, then walk to the Aurelian Walls

T, Apr 8 - 11. Oral presentations 1

in classroom

T, Apr 15 - 12. Oral presentations 2. Mining, metal, and ceramics.

in classroom

T, Apr 22 - 13. Automata: mechanical art. Entertainment technology. 10.b. Leonardo's Machines exhibition.

Landels 9-25. 28-34. 58-83. 186-198. 199-208.

meet in classroom, then walk to Palazzo della Cancelleria

T, Apr 29 - 14. Presentation of student projects

Conclusion, debate on projects.

in classroom

research project due

May 5-9 (TBA) - 15. final exam

final exam

in classroom TBA

TEXTBOOK:

J. G. Landels, Engineering in the Ancient World (1978)

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

J. P. Oleson (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Engineering and Technology in the Classical World (2010)

L. Sprague De Camp, The Ancient Engineers (1963/1995)

H. Hodges, Technology in the Ancient World (1979)

S. Cuomo, Technology and Culture in Greek and Roman Antiquity (2007/2009)

K. D. White, Greek and Roman Technology (1984)

A. Claridge, Rome. Archaeological Guide (1998/2010)