Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "AH 221"
COURSE NAME: "The Etruscans and their Neighbors: the Art and Archaeology of Pre-Roman Italy"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2016

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Elisabeth Fuhrmann-Schembri
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: W9:15 AM 12:00 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment (cell +39 329 326 7915)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This is a survey of the cultures that inhabited Italy between the Copper Age and the Social Wars, with a focus on the Etruscans. This course begins with Otzi the Iceman and his contemporaries and continues through the 80s BC, indicating developments of Italic populations and their contact with both Aegean and European cultures. The core of the course concentrates on the Etruscans: students will be introduced to their tomb paintings, statuary, bronze and ceramic production, religious rites and language.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course aims to provide the students with a basic understanding of Etruscan Art and Culture and its interaction with the Ancient Roman world. It explores the history, culture, art and society of the Etruscans from the emergence of their culture in front of the native Italic tradition, to their rise to a mighty sea power in the Mediterranean world until their absorption into the Roman Empire becoming Etruria, one of Augustus’s regions of Roman Italy (ca. 1200 – 27 BC). As the Etruscans are known to us especially through the discovery of their tombs Etruscan art is for the most funerary art and therefore this course examines especially their religion and belief in the afterlife, but covers also aspects of their daily life and their society like the role of the women. It focuses on the development of Etruscan art under Oriental and especially Greek influence and its main artistic achievements like large scale terracotta sculpture. Weight is devoted to the role of the Etruscans in the origins and early history of Rome and to their influence on Roman political and religious institutions.
The classroom and on-site lectures are supplemented by a mandatory fieldtrip.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students are introduced to different methods of art historical analysis. The first-hand experience of monuments and the examination of their historical and social context allow students to study and think critically. The nature of the exams, the written paper and the discussion in class are aimed to a further development of critical analysis, presentation and communication skills.

TEXTBOOK:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments	Format	Local Bookstore	Online Purchase
Etruscan Civilization: A Cultural History	Haynes, Sibyl	The Brithis Museum Press (2000, pbk 2006)	0-7141-2256-4

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments
see	book list	distributed	distributed

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments
see	book list	distributed	distributed

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Oral report	10 min presentation (accurate description and contextual interpretation) accompanied by a one-page handout fo the class on a monument chosen from a list distributed in class.	10%
Visual analysis	sketch and accurate description of a work of art or monument presented during class.	10%
Research Paper	combines a creative reconstruction of an Etruscan funerary ritual and the research on a single art object; detailed instruction will be provided in class.	25%
Midterm Exam	consists of identification of visual material, short answer and longer essay questions; a study guide will be distributed in class.	20%
Final Exam	see above	30%
Class participation	evaluates the quality of your participation.	5%

-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 course. A- 90-94%, A 95-100%.
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. B- 80-83%, B 84-86%, B+ 87-89%.
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. C- 70-73%, C 74-76%, C+ 77-79%.
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.D 60-69%.
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.F 0-59%.

-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 exam period runs until Friday May, 6th !!

As this course relies on the students’ participation in class and discussions, promptness and attendance are mandatory. Because this is also partially an on-site course with special scheduled permits to sites and museums it has strict time limitations. We have therefore to calculate enough travel time to our meeting places (specified below in the class schedule).

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

Session

Session Focus

Reading Assignment

Other Assignment

Meeting Place/Exam Dates

week 1 (Jan 20)

MANDATORY Fieldtrip to Tarquinia and Cerveteri
Friday, March 11th
It has the value of two regular on-site classes
(deducted from class room lectures lasting 9:15-11:15)

Class room:
INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE. THE ITALIAN PENINSULA AT THE TURN OF THE FIRST MILLENIUM BC.

HAYNES, introduction

recommended:

Cornell, The Beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars, ch.2 (Pre-Roman background)

All classes
(on.site and class room)
meet at 9:15 !!

MP: GK11

week 2 (Jan 27)

On-site:
THE LATIN PEOPLES in the Museo Nazionale Romano in BATHS OF DIOCLETIAN. The Latium Culture and its Funerary art (11-7 cent BC)

Bietti Sestieri,Protohistory of the Latin Peoples, MNR at Baths of Diocletian, 6-32; 85-89;

Friggeri, Epigraphic Collection of MNR at Baths of Diocletian, 16-27; HAYNES, 64-71

On-site MP: Piazza della Repubblica, entrance to church of Santa Maria e degli Angeli).

week 3 (Feb 3)

Class room:
THE VILLANOVAN CIVILIZATION.

HAYNES, ch.1

Spivey, Etruscan Art, ch.1

MP: GK11

week 4 (Feb 10)

cancelled

week 5 (Feb 17)

Class room:
THE ORIENTALIZING PERIOD AND THE ETRUSCAN RISE TO POWER.
.

HAYNES, ch.2

Spivey, ch.2

MP: GK11

week 6 (Feb 24)

On-site:
Etruscan Art in the NATIONAL MUSEUM OF VILLA GIULIA 1st part. (villanovan and orientalizing period of Vulci, etc.)
Midterm review

to be distributed: Villa Giulia, in: Sorrentino, the Etruscans in the Museums of Rome

prepare course material for midterm review

On-site MP: Piazza del Popolo, near obelisk

TBA

week 7

(Mar 2)

MIDTERM EXAM

Class room:
THE ARCHAIC PERIOD 1.

HAYNES ch.3

Spivey, ch.3

MP: TBA

MP: GK11

week 8
(Mar 9)

Class room:
THE ARCHAIC PERIOD 2.

HAYNES ch.3

Spivey, ch.4

week 8
Friday Mar 11

On-site:
FIELDTRIP TO CERVETERI AND TARQUINIA. The necropoleis and museums of
Tarquinia and Cerveteri;

Haynes, ch.1 -4 (regarding Cerveteri and Tarquinia)

Spivey, ch. 3-4 (regarding funerary art and tomb paintings)

On-site MP: Piazza Trilussa at 8:00 !! Estimated arrival back to Rome: 18:00

week 9 (Mar 16)

On-site:
ETRUSCAN ART In the VATICAN MUSEUM. (Regolini-Galassi tomb; etc.)

to be distributed: Museo Gregorio Etrusco in: Sorrentino, The Etruscans in the Museums of Rome.

VISUAL ANALYSIS done during class!

On-site MP: join me in the line in front of museum entrance, Viale Vaticano !!

week 10 (Mar 23)

Class room:
CRISIS AND RENEWAL

Haynes, ch.4

Spivey, ch.5

MP: GK11

week 11(March 30)

SPRING BREAK

week 12 (Apr 6)

On-Site:
Etruscan Art in the NATIONAL MUSEUM OF VILLA GIULIA 2nd part (largescale terracotta figures; Caeretan Hydriai etc.)

to be distributed: Villa Giulia Museum in: Sorrentino, The Entruscans in the Museum of Rome;

Brendel, Etruscan Art, ch.19 (Sculpture in Terracotta)

On-site MP: entrance to Museum, Piazza di Villa Giulia 9

week 13 (Apr 13)

On-site:
ETRUSCAN ROME. Etruscan kings; the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus; Sant' Omobono terracottas and votives; Etruscan collection. Forum Romanum overview and Forum Boarium .

to be distributed: Electa Guide of Capitoline Museum; Capitoline Museum in: Sorrentino, The Etruscans in the Museums of Rome

Cornell, T.J., The Beginnings of Rome; Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars, ch.5,6 & 8

On-site MP: Capitoline Hill (Piazza del Campidoglio), in front of museum entrance

week 14 (Apr 20)

Class room:
ETRURIA'S ABSORPTION by ROME.

Haynes, ch. 5

Spivey, ch.6;
DUE: Paper

MP: GK11

week 15 (Apr 27)

Class room:
Oral paper presentation.
Review of the semester.

prepare course material for review

DUE: paper presentation

MP: GK11

week 16

FINAL EXAM JCU: Time and class TBA