NMC101 Lecture 1 PDF

Page 1: Introduction

• Introduction to the course on Pharaohs and Ancient Egypt.

Page 2: Lecture Outline

• Key components of the lecture include:

  • Welcome!

  • Course Goals

  • Course Materials

  • Course Expectations and Content

  • Assignments and Assessments

  • Tutorials

  • Using Quercus

  • Helpful Resources

Page 3: Land Acknowledgement

• Acknowledgment of the traditional land of Indigenous peoples:

  • Huron-Wendat, Seneca, Mississaugas of the Credit.

  • Recognition of the continued presence of Indigenous peoples on this land.

Page 4: A Note on Colonialism and (ancient) Egypt

• Discussion on Egypt's colonial past and its present impacts.

  • Includes references to significant artifacts such as the Bust of Nefertiti and related historical imagery.

Page 5: Welcome to NMC101: Land of the Pharaohs

• Introduction of the instructor, Prof. Oren Siegel, an archaeologist specializing in ancient Egypt.

• Emphasis on including recent excavations in learning.

• Goal for students to view the world like an archaeologist.

Page 6: Course Goals

• Objectives of the course include:

  • Understanding the history and culture of Pharaonic Egypt (3100-31 BCE).

  • Engaging critically with various historical sources.

  • Developing academic writing skills through the WIT program.

  • Importance of writing as a transferable skill.

Page 7: How to Contact Me!

• Instructor information:

  • Prof. Oren Siegel

  • Office: 4 Bancroft Avenue (BF), Room 409

  • Email: oren.siegel@utoronto.ca

  • Office hours: Mondays 10am-12pm (appointments by email).

Page 8: Course Materials

• Required textbook:

  • M. Van de Mieroop, A History of Ancient Egypt, 2nd edition (2021).

• Availability at the University bookstore.

• Required readings will be posted in course modules.

Page 9: Further Reading

• Recommended readings for deeper exploration:

  • The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, edited by Ian Shaw.

  • Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilization by Barry Kemp.

Page 10: Further Reading

• Suggestion for an illustrated cultural atlas of ancient Egypt for additional insights.

• Encouragement to discuss specific reading interests during office hours.

Page 11: Course Expectations

• Students must complete assigned readings before class.

• Written assignments include:

  • 1-2 page summary of a topic.

  • Essay outline with thesis and annotated bibliography.

  • Final research paper (7-9 pages).

  • Final exam format includes multiple choice, true/false, and quick IDs.

Page 12: Grading and Assessment

• Breakdown of grading:

  • 15% for short summary assignment.

  • 15% for essay outline.

  • 20% for research paper.

  • 25% for final exam.

  • 25% for tutorial participation.

• Importance of following university procedures for remarking requests.

Page 13: Important Dates

• Key dates for assignments and tutorials:

  • Tutorial sections begin: September 11th/13th.

  • Assignment 1 due: October 4th.

  • Assignment 2 due: October 25th.

  • Assignment 3 due: November 29th.

  • Date for the final exam to be confirmed.

Page 14: Extensions, Absences, and Returning Assignments

• Policies on late assignments and extensions:

  • Late assignments lose 1 mark/day up to 7 days.

  • Follow university procedures for requesting extensions.

• Acceptable documentation includes:

  • Absence Declaration, Verification of Illness/ Injury Form, College Registrar’s letter, or Academic Accommodation letter.

• Get assignments back within two weeks.

Page 15: Accessibility and Accommodations

• Encourage students needing accommodations to contact the accessibility office.

• Students with accommodations should send their letters to the instructor and TA.

• Useful resources provided for students seeking support.

Page 16: Administrative Points

• Seeking volunteer note takers for Accessibility Services.

• Benefits of being a volunteer note taker, including enhancement of note-taking skills and academic recognition.

• Instructions for registration as a volunteer note-taker provided.

Page 17: Academic Integrity

• Commitment to investigating academic dishonesty per institutional guidelines.

• Encouragement to ask questions about appropriate academic behavior and citation methods.

Page 18: Use of Artificial Intelligence/LLMs

• Prohibition of generative AI for academic work in this course.

• Instructor’s opinion on the limitations of AI in discussing ancient Egypt.

• Emphasis on the importance of developing writing and research skills beyond reliance on AI.

Page 19: Tutorials

• Mandatory attendance and participation in tutorials.

• Tutorials aid in enhancing writing and critical thinking skills.

• Appropriate channels for answering course-related questions (discussion boards for lecture content, TAs for writing-related issues).

Page 20: Tutorial Schedule

• Various online tutorial options listed:

  1. Wednesday, 14:00-15:00 EST

  2. Wednesday, 14:00-15:00 EST

  3. Wednesday, 14:00-15:00 EST

  4. Wednesday, 15:00-16:00 EST

  5. Wednesday, 15:00-16:00 EST

  6. Friday, 13:00-14:00 EST

  7. Friday, 13:00-14:00 EST

  8. Friday, 14:00-15:00 EST

Page 21: Quercus

• Quercus as the primary communication platform.

• Encouragement to utilize discussion boards for questions relevant to course content.

• Private concerns should be directed via email.

Page 22: The Discussion Board on Quercus

• Overview of the discussion board topics and organization:

  • Questions about course content,

  • Questions about assignments,

  • Technical issues.

Page 23: Office Hours

• Open invitation for students to visit office hours in person or online for discussion and support.

Page 24: Teaching Philosophy

• Overview of the course narrative on Pharaonic civilization.

• Focus on significant monuments and figures in ancient Egypt.

Page 25: Teaching Philosophy Continued

• Emphasis on political history while incorporating everyday life aspects through artifacts and monuments.

Page 26: Teaching Philosophy Continued

• Course organized chronologically with thematic interludes such as art and hieroglyphic writing.

Page 27: Chronology

• Importance of understanding relative chronology in Pharaonic civilization.

• Mention of the historical distance of over 3000 years in context to Cleopatra and major Egyptian building.

Page 28: Rough Chronology

• Timeline of ancient Egyptian history outlined:

  • Predynastic: ca. 4300-3000 B.C.E.

  • Early Dynastic: ca. 3000-2675 B.C.E.

  • Old Kingdom: ca. 2675-2130 B.C.E.

  • First Intermediate Period: ca. 2130-1980 B.C.E.

  • Middle Kingdom: ca. 1980-1630 B.C.E.

  • Second Intermediate Period: ca. 1630-1539/1523 B.C.E.

  • New Kingdom: ca. 1539-1075 B.C.E.

  • Third Intermediate Period: ca. 1075-656 B.C.E.

  • Late Period: ca. 664-332 B.C.E.

  • Ptolemaic Period: ca. 332-30 B.C.E.

  • Roman/Byzantine Empire: ca. 30 B.C.E. - 642 C.E.

Page 29: Broader Themes

• Themes to explore in the course:

  • Sources of knowledge regarding ancient Egypt.

  • Evaluating historical changes over time.

  • The role of human agency in historical narratives.