Ancient Near Eastern Art is a mandatory subject in the first year of the degree program, which is taken in the first semester. It is part of the module on Prehistory, Ancient, and Medieval Art. Its aim is to introduce the art of the early civilizations that developed in the regions of Mesopotamia, the Levant, and Egypt, taking into account the formal, iconographic, and conceptual characteristics. The course will analyze the culture and art of these geographical areas, studying their functions and social significance.

Educational Objectives:



•The student should master the criteria for the interpretation and analysis of Ancient Near Eastern artworks.

•The student should master the interpretation and analysis of Ancient Near Eastern artworks.

•The student should be capable of mastering the formal and iconographic interpretation of the most relevant artworks of Ancient Near Eastern Art.

•The student should develop the ability to handle and relate basic written sources for the knowledge of Ancient Near Eastern Art.

•The student should acquire and adequately use the specific art vocabulary of Ancient Near Eastern Art.



Degree Competencies:



•G001: Be able to analyze and interpret artistic processes over the centuries, valuing the succession of styles, the role of artists, and art theories.

•G002: Be able to classify and comprehensively comment on (style and iconography) the various works of architecture, sculpture, painting, cinema, music, and other languages in their historical and artistic context using the specific vocabulary of each artistic discipline.

•G004: Be able to analyze and interpret historical processes using artworks as a relevant document of social and cultural history, alongside other textual and material testimonies.

•G006: Be able to develop oral and written expression appropriate to a university degree level and the art history discipline.

•G007: Be able to relate and apply the specific knowledge of the degree to other nearby areas and disciplines.



Module Competencies:



•CM01: Be able to identify and analyze Prehistoric, Ancient, and Medieval artworks.

•CM02: Be able to integrate and contextualize the Prehistoric, Ancient, and Medieval artworks in their historical moment.

•CM03: Be able to interpret formally and iconographically the most relevant Prehistoric, Ancient, and Medieval artworks.

•CM04: Be able to handle and relate the basic written sources for the knowledge of Prehistoric, Ancient, and Medieval Art.

•CM05: Acquisition and appropriate use of the specific Prehistoric, Ancient, and Medieval art vocabulary.



Course Competencies:



•CA1: Be able to identify and analyze Ancient Near Eastern artworks. (G001, CM01)

•CA2: Be able to integrate and contextualize Ancient Near Eastern artworks in their historical and artistic moment, considering related areas and disciplines. (G002, G007, CM02)

•CA3: Be able to interpret formally and iconographically at a basic level the most relevant artworks of Ancient Near Eastern Art, considering as Artistic Heritage and part of cultural dissemination. (G002, G004, CM03)

•CA4: Be able to handle, critically analyze, and relate the essential written sources for the knowledge of Ancient Near Eastern Art. (G004, G005, CM04)

•CA5: Be able to express oneself correctly, both in writing and orally, and to use the appropriate specific art vocabulary when analyzing Ancient Near Eastern Art. (G006, CM05)

1. Introduction. Boundaries, Definition, and "the Discovery of the East"



2. Mesopotamia and the Levant



2.1. Uruk. Prehistoric Mesopotamia and the First Cities.

2.2. The First Dynasties of Sumer.

2.3. Akkadian Dynasty. Art in the Hands of the Empire.

2.4. Gudea of Lagash and the Third Dynasty of Ur.

2.5. Old Babylonian Period. The Era of Hammurabi.

2.6. Hittites and Kassites. The End of the Bronze Age.

2.7. Assyrian Art. Imperial Narrative.

2.8. Babylon. "The Queen of the East".

2.9. The Achaemenid Empire. Persian Art.



3. Egypt



3.1. Fundamental Concepts. The First Steps to Understanding Egyptian Art.

3.2. Old Kingdom. Dwellings for Eternity.

3.3. Middle Kingdom. A Time of Changes.

3.4. New Kingdom. The Divine Cities.

3.5. New Kingdom. The Amarna Revolution and the return to order.

3.6. Late Period. The Final Years.

Teaching-Learning Activities:



1.Theoretical-Lecture Sessions: The professor will present the fundamental theoretical content of the course as well as the necessary methodological guidelines for the development of teamwork, in-class and out-of-class practices, and the student's personal work.



2.Mandatory Practical Sessions according to Current Regulations:



•In-Class Practical Sessions: With the help of the professor, students will analyze and discuss artworks, documentary sources, bibliography, or audiovisual material relevant to the course, as proposed by the professor. This will be done in groups or individually and will lead to the creation of an individual or cooperative commentaries. On specific occasions, at the professor's request, the result may be required in written form to correct and evaluate by different systems (peer evaluation or co-evaluation).



•Out-of-Class Practical Sessions: Visits to art centers and documentary collections relevant to the course's development. Since these visits require invitations from the institutions, it is not possible to establish dates and places in advance; however, they will be aligned with the course's development and content. These activities will generate tasks (non-class activities) in different formats (exhibition reports, visit reports, short critical essays) that will be evaluated.



3.Tutorials serve to follow-up of the teaching-learning process, upon the student's request and established by the professor.



4.Non-Class Activities:



•Personal work with the professor's assistance if necessary (in-person tutorials) by the student.



•Assigned tasks preparation by the student.



•Written objective test preparation by the student.

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 30
  • Individual works (%): 30
  • Team projects (problem solving, project design)) (%): 40

OBJECTIVE TEST: Specific Competencies CA1, CA3, CA5.



-Evaluation Criteria:



•Correct identification of the most outstanding artworks and artistic phenomena of the period.



•Accurate attribution of authorship and assignment of specific chronology to the most important artworks and architecture of the era.



•Correct application of the stylistic and formal characteristics of the studied period to the proposed artworks for analysis.



•Proper incorporation of bibliographic references and documentary sources worked on throughout the course.



•Correct application of the bibliography proposed in class.



•Correct written expression in terms of formal aspects and the use of the specific terminology.



•Appropriate organization of the written discourse: coherent content, an adequate development, clear and ordered presentation, developed ideas.



•Percentage of the final grade: 50%



PROJECTS: Specific Competencies CA1, CA2, CA4, CA5



-Evaluation Criteria:



•Proper development of the project: formal aspects (appropriate organizational criteria, meeting deadlines, correct presentation of the project) and content aspects (quality of content, correctness of the approach, quality of conclusions, inclusion of adequate bibliography and sources).



•Appropriate written and oral presentation.



•Percentage of the final grade: 30%



CLASSROOM PRACTICES: Specific Competencies CA3, CA4, CA5



-Evaluation Criteria:



•Correct use of specific art terminology, both orally and written.



•Ability to integrate and contextualize artworks and their sources.



•Correct identification, analysis, and formal and iconographic interpretation of the artworks.



•Percentage of the final grade: 20%



It is necessary to independently pass both the theoretical and practical parts to successfully complete the course.



Students have the right to be evaluated through the final evaluation system, regardless of whether they have participated in the continuous evaluation system. To do so, students must submit a written request to the responsible professor renouncing the continuous evaluation within a period of 9 weeks from the start of the semester.



Specific Information about the evaluation: https://www.euskadi.eus/y22-bopv/es/bopv2/datos/2017/03/1701311a.pdf



If a new health emergency situation prevents the development of in-person evaluation tests as described, these will be conducted online, adapting to the mentioned conditions.

Extraordinary Call Evaluations



The evaluation during the extraordinary call will be conducted exclusively through the final evaluation system, in which students can obtain 100% of the grade. The final evaluation test for the extraordinary call will consist of a written objective test, along with other evaluation activities related to the practical work carried out in the course. However, positive results obtained by the student during the course may be retained.



More information on evaluation can be found at: https://www.euskadi.eus/y22-bopv/es/bopv2/datos/2017/03/1701311a.pdf



If a new health emergency situation prevents the development of in-person evaluation tests as described, these will be conducted online, adapting to the mentioned conditions.

Material Provided by the Professor through the e-Gela Platform

Basic bibliography

ANGULO IÑIGUEZ, D., Historia del Arte, vol. I., Madrid, 1980.

BENDALA, M., LOPEZ GRANDE, M. J., Arte Egipcio y del Próximo Oriente, Historia 16, Colección Conocer el Arte, Madrid, 1996.

BIANCHI BANDINELLI, R., Introducción a la arqueología clásica como Historia del Arte Antiguo, 1992.

FAURE, E., Historia del Arte. 1 El Arte Antiguo, Madrid, 1990.

GEDION, S., El presente eterno, los comienzos de la arquitectura, Alianza Universidad, Madrid, 1986.

GOMBRICH, E.H., La Historia del Arte, Madrid, 1997.

HOLTZMANN, B. (dir.), L'Art de l'Antiquité, 1. Les origines de l'Europe, París, Gallimard, 1995.

HONOUR, H. y FLEMING, J., Historia del Arte, Barcelona, 1966-67.

JANSON, H.W., Historia General del Arte. 1. El Mundo Antiguo, Madrid, 1990.

MARTIN GONZALEZ, J.J., Historia del Arte, vol. I., Madrid, 1994.

RAMIREZ, J.A. (dir.), Historia del Arte. El Mundo Antiguo, Madrid, Alianza, 1996.

V.V. A.A., Historia del Arte Espasa, Madrid, 2002.

In-depth bibliography

ANCIENT NEAR EASTERN ART AND PERIPHERAL REGIONS

- Amiet, P. Historia ilustrada de las formas artísticas I. Oriente Medio, Alianza Editorial, Madrid, 1984.
- Bittel, K. Los hititas, Editorial Aguilar, El Universo de las Formas, Madrid, 1976.
- Blanco Freijeiro, A. El arte del Próximo Oriente, Madrid, Anaya, 1992.
- Curatola, G. et al. El arte en Irak, de los Sumerios a los califas, Barcelona, Lunwerg Editores, 2006.
- Ghirshman, R. Persia, Protoiranios, Medos, Aqueménidas, Editorial Aguilar, El Universo de las Formas, Madrid, 1964.
- Lara Peinado, F., Córdoba Zoilo, J. El Mediterráneo Oriental, Historia 16, vol. 4, Madrid, 1999.
- Moscati, S. Cómo reconocer el arte mesopotámico, Barcelona, Edunsa, 1993.
- Oriente Próximo: Historia y Arqueología, Colonia, Könemann, 2000.
- Los fenicios, Ed. Folio, Barcelona, 1988.
- Reade, J. Mesopotamia, Madrid, Akal, 1998.
- Roaf, M. Mesopotamia y el Antiguo Oriente Medio, Madrid, Ediciones del Prado, 1992.
- Scarcia, G., Curatola, G. Irán: el arte persa, Barcelona, Lunwerg Editores, 2004.

EGYPT

- Aldred, C. El arte Egipcio, Destino, Barcelona, 1993.
- Aldred, C. El arte egipcio en el tiempo de los faraones: 3100-320 a.C., Destino, Barcelona, 1993.
- Bendala, M. et al. Egipto y el mundo de los faraones, Ed. Könemann, 1998.
- Blanco Freijeiro, A. El arte egipcio I y II, Grupo 16, Madrid, 1989.
- James, T. G. H. La pintura Egipcia, Akal, Madrid, 1999.
- Manniche, Lise. El arte Egipcio, Alianza, Madrid, 1997.
- Michalowski, K. Egipto, arte y civilización, Gustavo Gili, Barcelona, 1977.
- Wilkinson, R. H. Los Templos del Antiguo Egipto, Destino, Barcelona, 2002.
- Wilkinson, R. H. Cómo leer el arte egipcio, Crítica, Barcelona, 1995

Journals

Archivo Español de Arte y Arqueología
Boletín del Museo Arqueológico Nacional

Web addresses

http://www.louvre.fr/llv/commun/home.jsp
http://www.britishmuseum.org/
http://www.museoegizio.org/
http://man.mcu.es/
http://www.smb.museum/smb/home/index.php?lang=en
http://www.metmuseum.org/