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

[Offered in odd-numbered years]

Credit points:	03
Year:	2011
Student Contribution Band:	Band 1
Administered by:	School of Arts & Social Sciences

Why do some societies become urban-centred and more complex? Is the trajectory of change always the same? In this subject students will address these questions. We begin by studying what was happening in Chins 10,000 years ago (the end of the last Ice Age) 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 what happened in China with how and why similar urban-based civilisations developed in tropical Southeast Asia.

Learning Outcomes

• 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;
• demonstrate a general knowledge of how and why societies have become more complex over time in ancient China and tropical South East Asia.

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.

Assumed Knowledge:	To undertake this subject, students must have successfully completed 12 credit points (four subjects) of level 1 study at tertiary level
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	AR3501

Availabilities
Townsville, Internal, Study Period 1
Census Date 24-Mar-2011
Coord/Lect:	Dr Nigel Chang.
Contact hours:	26 hours lectures 12 hours tutorials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (30%); presentations (20%); online tasks and/or discussion board (50%).
External, Study Period 1
Census Date 24-Mar-2011
Coord/Lect:	Dr Nigel Chang.
Method of Delivery:	WWW - LearnJCU
Assessment:	end of semester exam (30%); powerpoint poster (20%); online tasks and/or discussion board (50%).

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.