AR2501 - Ancestors and Emperors: The Rise and Fall of Ancient Societies

[Offered in odd-numbered years]

Credit points:	03
Year:	2007
Student Contribution Band:	Band 1
Administered by:	Discipline of Anthropology & Archaeology

Why do some societies become more complex? Is the trajectory of change always the same? In this subject students will address these questions, beginning with a consideration of China in the early Holocene when a changing climate facilitated the development of agriculture and societies whose cosmologies emphasised interactions with ancestors and gods. The subject then traces increasing social complexity in this region, especially in the Yellow River valley, through to the partly mythical Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties. After a consideration of the First Emperor's short but defining reign, the subject then compares these developments to the rise of the civilisation of Angkor centered in what is now Cambodia.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate a general knowledge of theoretical approaches to why societies have become more complex over time in ancient China and South East Asia;
• Demonstrate an ability to find and manipulate information appropriate to addressing archaeological questions in ancient China and South East Asia;
• Be able to discuss and evaluate archaeologist's approaches to reconstructing social organization in past societies.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments, and to reason and deploy evidence clearly and logically;
• The ability to find and access information using appropriate media and technologies;
• The ability to evaluate that information;
• The ability to select and organise information and to communicate it accurately, cogently, coherently, creatively and ethically;
• The ability to speak and write clearly, coherently and creatively.

Prerequisites:	Must have successfully completed 12 units of level 1 subjects
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	AR3501

Availabilities
Townsville, Internal, Study Period 2
Census Date 31-Aug-2007
Coord/Lect:	Dr Nigel Chang.
Contact hours:	26 hours lectures 12 hours tutorials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (30%); presentations (20%); essays (30%); online tasks and/or discussion board (20%).
External, Study Period 2
Census Date 31-Aug-2007
Coord/Lect:	Dr Nigel Chang.
Method of Delivery:	WWW - LearnJCU
Assessment:	essays (30%); assignments (20%); online quizzes or tests (30%); online tasks and/or discussion board (20%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.