ARCH 1490 The Archaeology of Central Asia: Alexander in Afghanistan, and Buddhas in Bactria
Central Asia (from ca. 500 BC to AD 200) has tended to be treated as the ultimate frontier zone — on the fringes of the Mediterranean, the Near East, and India. Scholarly perspectives today are radically changing, with Central Asia emerging as a cultural and political entity in its own right. This course will explore the archaeology, art and history of what is today modern Afghanistan and the formerly Soviet Central Asian Republics, considering the region’s development under the Persian empire, the rule of Alexander the Great, and finally of his Greek-named successor kings.
MWF 1:00-1:50. Instructor: Rachel Mairs.
Mairs Central Asia Concise Syllabus.pdf
Mairs Central Asia Provisional Reading.pdf
First class Wednesday 7 September, 13:00-13:50
Mairs Central Asia handout 1.pdf
Mairs Central Asia Powerpoint 1a.pdf
Third class Monday 12 September, 13:00-13:50
- How to make a 3D reconstruction of an archaeological site!
- Map quiz in class: mark the modern states of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and China (and their capital cities * starred *) on a blank map.
Central Asia modern political map.pdf
Useful Resources:
UNESCO History of Civilizations of Central Asia: http://www.unesco.org/culture/asia/index-en.html (Volume II is most relevant for this course.)
The Archaeology of the Hellenistic Far East: A Survey (bibliography and literature review): http://oxford.academia.edu/RachelMairs/Papers/399824/The_Archaeology_of_the_Hellenistic_Far_East_A_Survey
Exhibition catalogues and websites:
'Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures': http://www.nationalgeographic.com/mission/afghanistan-treasures/
'Afghanistan : les trésors retrouvés' (French version of same exhibition): http://www.guimet.fr/afghanistan
'Alexander the Great and the Opening of the World': http://www.alexander-der-grosse-2009.de/
For fun and prevarication:
Documentary 'The Forgotten Alexandria' on YouTube (with some great images and 3D reconstruction of Ai Khanoum): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az37MU-e1tc&feature=related
Ancient Afghanistan for Kids: http://www.guimet.fr/tresorsafghans/index.html
How to make a replica of the glass fish flask from Begram: http://blog.britishmuseum.org/2011/06/29/glass-from-begram/
Alexander the Great, the Bollywood years: Sikandar-e Azam (1965): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1h1cPchll0
