Key facts
UNE unit code: ARPA513
*You are viewing the 2026 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.
- Trimester 1 - On Campus
- Trimester 1 - Online
- Armidale Campus
- Yes
- No
- No
- 6
Unit information
At the dawn of the Bronze Age, life in the ancient Near East underwent dramatic changes, the echoes of which can still be heard 5,000 years later in the modern world.
In this unit, you will explore the origins and development of cities and stratified societies, writing, religious traditions, technologies, long-distance trade and intercultural connections.
Archaeological and historical evidence are used to reconstruct the rise (and sometimes precipitous collapse) of the earliest complex societies in Mesopotamia and surrounding lands. The unit also provides the opportunity to develop your research and writing expertise as well as your critical thinking skills.
Offerings
For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.
| Teaching period | Mode/location |
|---|---|
| Trimester 1 | On Campus, Armidale Campus |
| Trimester 1 | Online |
*Offering is subject to availability
Intensive schools
There are no intensive schools required for this unit.
Enrolment rules
Notes
Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.
Unit coordinator(s)
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- describe, in broad and comparative terms, developments in the ancient Near East in the Bronze Age (c. 3500-1200 BCE) and concurrent social, political and technological changes;
- understand and critically engage with competing explanatory mechanisms that have been applied to understand the development of complex, highly-stratified urban societies in the Bronze Age;
- apply expert understanding of the geographical and chronological variability of Bronze Age Near Eastern societies and their adaptations and interconnections;
- critically review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge about the Bronze Age Near East from a wide range of archaeological and written sources, and;
- demonstrate advanced independent research and writing skills.
Assessment information
Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
| Title | Must Complete | Weight | Offerings | Assessment Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Create an academic poster | Yes | 25% | All offerings | No. Words: 1000 |
| Assessment 2: Research Essay | Yes | 50% | All offerings | No. Words: 3500 |
| Quiz 1: Online Quiz | No | 10% | All offerings | No. Words: 500 |
| Quiz 2: Online Quiz | No | 15% | All offerings | No. Words: 750 |
Learning resources
Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
Textbook information will be displayed approximately 8 weeks prior to the commencement of the teaching period. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.
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