https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/L_BEBAARC209Upon completion of this course you will have:Acquired a general knowledge of the main cultural and historical developments of the Near East between the 10th and 1st millennia BC, from an archaeological perspectiveAcquired an understanding of the datasets, theories and approaches that characterize the field of Near Eastern archaeologyThe ability to formulate a relevant research question and construct a basic research design to investigate a topic of your choice within the disciplineThe region of West Asia that in western scholarship is traditionally called the Near East has seen many cultural developments in antiquity that have had a global impact and continue to shape our world today. They include the earliest sedentary farming societies, metallurgy, urbanism, writing and administration, states and empires. Archaeology has played a major role in rediscovering the cultural significance of the ancient Near East, in addition to Biblical scholarship and cuneiform studies, and continues to do so. This course introduces you to the ancient Near East from an archaeological perspective, focusing on developments in the Fertile Crescent and Mesopotamia. It discusses the datasets, theories and approaches that characterize the field of Near Eastern archaeology, and challenges you to think about how new research could expand and improve our knowledge about the ancient Near East. The course consists of 1) an archaeology-based overview of the societies and cultures of the Ancient Near East, and 2) a presentation and further discussion of several themes related to sedentism and food production, ancient urbanism and town-countryside relationships, including power and monumentality, food supply system, and administration.Lecture classes and discussion classes.Assignments (written and oral) (25%), written exam (75%). The resit regulations will be specified in the study manual.Matthews, R. 2003: The Archaeology of Mesopotamia. Theories and Approaches, London: Routledge;Additional literature (scholarly articles and excavation reports).Target audience:BA2 students of Ancient Studies who specialize in Ancient Near Eastern StudiesStudents of the minor Ancient Near Eastern Languages and CulturesInterested students of archaeology, (ancient) history, assyriology, classics or other disciplines who wish to take the course as an elective.This course is designed primarily for students who have taken the course History and Culture of the Ancient Near East, or a similar introductory course. Students without this background knowledge are accepted in the course but are advised to do some independent background reading to gain a basic knowledge of the main historical periods and associated cultures. Marc van de Mieroop's A History of the Ancient Near East is recommended.