The focus this week will be on the History of the World in 100 Objects, though we also will start with our study of Ancient Egypt

Your responsibilities for the week are the following:

1)  Engage with the first sections of the History of the World in 100 Objects.  There are three different ways of approaching these responsibilities.  One is to read the first part of Neil MacGregor's book.  The second is to access the accompanying BBC podcast series ( Episodes #1-10, History Of The World In 100 Objects (Making Us Human and After The Ice Age)  ;  Episodes #11-20, History Of The World In 100 Objects (The First Cities And States and Beginning Of Science And Literature) ).  The third is to use both the book and the podcast series.  If you choose the audio option, it is not mandatory to listen to each and every episode, though it's great if you do, and you should listen to several.  Your first seminar note will be on these first chapters/episodes, and is due next Wednesday (January 25).  The seminar note should is meant to provide you a place for thoughtful commentary and reflection upon the course's major readings (recommended length 400+ words).  You should also write a condensed response to the History of the World in 100 Objects #1-#20 as a Discussion Forum Contribution.

2)  Watch "Pharaohs Of The Sun," Egypt's Golden Empire (PBS, 2010) [55 mins]

3)  Read the two articles from the National Geographic History Magazine ( Jose Lull, "Amarna Letters: Power, Princesses, And Presents," National Geographic History (November/December 2020): 32-43;  "Nefertiti: Artistic Icon, Enduring Enigma," National Geographic History (January/February 2022): 32-47  ).

4)  Throughout the semester, you should note not just whether there are optional extras of potential appeal to you, but whether there are any other resources you would like to explore.  In the case of Ancient Egypt, I have provided a link to an interesting BBC documentary about early archaeology in Egypt ( "The Pharaoh And The Showman," Episode 3, Egypt: Rediscovering A Lost World (BBC, 2005) [56 mins].  ), but there are so many other on-line documentaries available as well (eg. Ancient Egypt: World History Video Links (misterdann.com) )

5)  Submit your Letter of Introduction to me through Brightspace if you have not already done that.

6)  Note that Toby Wilkinson's book Lives of the Ancient Egyptians will be our focus for Week 4, while we then will be reading another book, Tony Perrottet's Naked Olympics, for Week 6.