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RELS584 Religions of the Ancient Near East

Updated: 07 January 2010
Credit Points 6
Offering Not offered in 2010
Intensive School(s) None
Supervised Exam There is no UNE Supervised Examination.
Pre-requisites candidature in a postgraduate award
Co-requisites None
Restrictions HIST384 or HIST484 or or HIST584 or RELS202 or RELS302 or RELS402 or RELS384
Notes

offered in odd numbered years
Combined Units RELS384 - Religions of the Ancient Near East
Coordinator(s) To be advised
Unit Description

This unit deals with the religions of the three major areas of the Ancient Near East: Egypt, Mesopotamia and Canaan/Israel. The practices and beliefs of Egyptians, Sumerians, Babylonians, Canaanites and Israelites will be covered, religions which in many ways form the bedrock of present-day western and middle-eastern religions.
Prescribed Material
Mandatory 		Text(s):

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material

Handbook of Ancient Religions
ISBN: 9780521847124
Hinnells, J.R., Cambridge University Press 2007
Note: Available from the Dixson Library, UNE as a full text ebook
Text refers to: Semester 2 , Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Assignment 1 40% 3000-3500
Assessment Notes
Essay
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 1-6
Online Assessment 1 15%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 1-6
Online Assessment 2 15%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 1-6
Online Quiz 1 10%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 1-6
Online Quiz 2 10%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 1-6
Online Quiz 3 10%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 1-6

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. exhibit a wide-ranging knowledge of the various settings (political, social,religious) in which ancient near eastern societies developed and the ability to identify key aspects of, and assess critically the influence of, these settings on beliefs within these societies;
  2. possess a high level of competence in the use of primary texts as resources for historical and sociological study through a working knowledge of the variety of text critical methods available, and of the major concepts and models presently adopted by historians and sociologists;
  3. transfer competence with primary texts in general to the task of analysing the key religious texts of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Syria-Palestine;
  4. critically assess ancient near eastern religions through the study of their primary texts;
  5. participate in effective discussion with fellow students on the Bulletin Board of the WebCT site at an advanced level of critical enquiry.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Knowledge of the studies in religion discipline is essential as this unit is taught on an external basis only by using the Blackboard facility (online), which provides readings essential for the essay and online assessments. The unit is assessed through one written assignment and online assessments. 		True True
2 Communication Skills
Students will be taught communication skills through written and oral feedback on the essay component of the unit. Students will be assessed on the style of writing, clarity of writing, expression and development of ideas, and referencing. Students will practice their communication skills through completing the assessment tasks (written through the essay component). 		True True True
3 Global Perspectives
This unit concentrates on a comparative perspective on world religions and this means it has an inherently global aspect. Religions of the Anciemt Near East is one of these units that require students to learn a global perspective through the content of the unit and the models of analysis provided. A global perspective is both practised and assessed in the written work. 		True True
4 Information Literacy
Students will be assessed (through both the online assessments and the essay) on their ability to identify relevant literature, and on their ability to critically analyse the literature. 		True
5 Life-Long Learning
Through completing the assessments, students will be provided with the necessary lifelong skills to be able to research, write and discuss social issues. These skills can be transferred to any discipline, and will be useful in any research positions. These attributes will be assessed in all of the assessments (written skills; analytical skills). In addition, students who participate on the Blackboard will be provided with the skills to debate contentious topics and develop their understanding of a topic through group activities. 		True True
6 Problem Solving
Through completing the written and online assessments, students will be provided with the necessary lifelong skills to be able to research, write and discuss social issues. These skills can be transferred to any discipline, and will be useful in any research positions. Written and analytical skills will be assessed in the written assessment. 		True
7 Social Responsibility
Within the unit there are specific discussions concerning ethics in relation to the interpretation of texts, especially texts of other cultures than the students' own. Students are expected to practise such ethical approaches to the study of religions when doing their assignment work and in their online postings. 		True True
8 Team Work
Team work applies in general to discussions between students on Blackboard about problems they encounter or interesting questions for discussion. 		True
   

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