1. CL103 - PPT1

Introduction to Classical and Mediterranean Archaeology

General Overview

  • Course title: CL 103: Introduction to Classical and Mediterranean Archaeology.

  • Syllabus serves as a key resource for answering questions.

  • Initial humorous interaction about raising grades towards the end of the semester.

Dating Systems in Archaeology

Types of Dating

  • Time is divided into two main categories:

    • BC (Before Christ)

    • AD (Anno Domini, "in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ")

  • Preferred modern equivalent uses:

    • BCE (Before the Common Era)

    • CE (Common Era)

    • Example conversions:

      • 27 BC is written as 27 BCE

      • AD 14 is written as 14 CE

Visualizing Time

  • Visualization of time as a number line without a year "0":

    • Years BCE increase as you move left, while years CE increase as you move right.

  • Important note: Higher BCE numbers indicate earlier years.

Specifying Time Frames

Writing and Understanding Dates

  • Always specify the earlier date first when denoting a time span.

    • Examples:

      • Construction of the Parthenon: 447-432 BCE

      • Reign of Hadrian: 117-138 CE

      • Reign of Augustus: 27 BCE – 14 CE

Understanding Centuries

  • A century spans 100 years.

    • Examples:

      • 2nd century CE: 101-200 CE

      • 2nd century BCE: 200-101 BCE

Millennia and Their Definitions

Millennia Explained

  • A millennium refers to a span of 1000 years.

    • Examples:

      • 2nd millennium CE: 1001-2000 CE

      • 2nd millennium BCE: 2000-1001 BCE

General Terms Used in Dating

  • Generalized terms are used when precise dating isn't possible:

    • Early, middle, or late parts of a century (e.g., early 8th c BCE).

    • Halves of centuries (e.g., 2nd half of the 2nd c CE).

    • Quarters of centuries (e.g., 3rd quarter of the 5th c BCE).

    • Note: "First half" and "first quarter" refer to the earliest segment of the specified time frame.

Dating Templates and Examples

Timeline Templates

  • Various templates can be applied to the timeline regarding early, middle, and late designations for both halves, quarters, and sundry examples.

Examples of Timeframes

  • Examples of the 3rd c BCE and CE include subdivisions by years and noting early, middle, and late sections.

Quiz Section

Practice Questions

  1. Write a date in the third quarter of the 6th c BCE.

  2. Write a date in the first half of the 2nd c CE.

  3. Write a date in the late 4th millennium BCE.

Answers Key

  • Correct Responses Include:

    1. 550-526 BCE for the third quarter of the 6th c BCE.

    2. Any date from 101-150 CE for the first half of the 2nd c CE.

    3. 3012 BCE, 3158 BCE for dates in the late 4th millennium BCE.

Time Span Coverage and Geographical Focus

  • Time spans discussed cover from the Stone Age (9000 BCE) to the Late Roman Empire (4th c CE).

  • Geographic focus of the course includes the Mediterranean and Near Eastern regions, mentioning places such as Greece, Turkey, and Egypt.

Media and Cultural Aspects Covered


  • Sculpture(Page devoted to different forms of artworks: seen in slides 16-17)


  • Religious Practices(Explored in slide 18)

  • Achievements in Writing

    • Cultures:

      • Sumer: Cuneiform

      • Egypt: Hieroglyphics

      • Greece: Greek Alphabet

      • Rome: Latin Alphabet

Influential Personalities in Archaeology

  • Notable figures include Heinrich and Sophia Schliemann, who discovered the site of Troy, and Howard Carter, known for uncovering King Tutankhamun's tomb.