AKKD 5000a, Elementary Akkadian I  Kathryn Slanski

Introduction to the language of ancient Babylonia and its cuneiform writing system, with exercises in reading, translation, and composition.
TTh 9am-10:15am

AKKD 5010b, Elementary Akkadian II  Kathryn Slanski

Introduction to the language of ancient Babylonia and its cuneiform writing system, with exercises in reading, translation, and composition.
MW 9am-10:15am

AKKD 5060b, Selected Mesopotamian Texts: Bilingual  Eckart Frahm

Study and interpretation of Sumero-Akkadian royal inscriptions and religious texts. Prerequisite: knowledge of Akkadian and Sumerian.
M 4pm-5:55pm

AKKD 5160b, Peripheral Akkadian II: Dialects of the Third and Early Second Millennium  Gojko Barjamovic

This course provides a broad overview of the Peripheral Akkadian and related dialects and scripts of the late third and early second millennia BCE as well as the political and social history of the region at the time when they were used. We read from a wide variety of genres, including administrative and legal records, private and state letters, political treaties, and display inscriptions. Course readings combine standard introductions, thematic and core studies in the field.
Th 1:30pm-3:25pm

AKKD 5200a, Old Assyrian Language and History  Gojko Barjamovic

The course provides an overview of the Old Assyrian dialect of the Akkadian language as well as the political, social, and economic history of Northern Mesopotamia and Anatolia in the early second millennium BC. We read texts from a wide variety of genres, including private and state letters, legal and administrative records, loans and quittances, caravan texts, commercial records, partnership contracts, family and state law, political treaties, literature, magic, religion, and royal inscriptions. The course integrates the textual record with an overview of Assyrian and Central Anatolian history, and visual and material culture during the period in question. Course readings combine standard introductions and thematic and core studies in the field. Prerequisite: AKKD 1100 or equivalent basic knowledge of Akkadian.
Th 1:30pm-3:25pm

ARBC 5000a, Elementary Modern Standard Arabic I  Staff

A two-term course for students who have no previous background in Arabic. Students learn the Arabic alphabet, basic vocabulary and expression, and basic grammatical structures and concepts, and concentrate on developing listening and speaking skills. The course aims at developing the following skills: reading to extract the gist of written Modern Standard Arabic texts; speaking with increased ease, good pronunciation, sound grammatical forms, and correct usage; writing to respond to simple daily life issues; forming and recognizing grammatically correct Modern Standard Arabic.
HTBA

ARBC 5010b, Elementary Modern Standard Arabic II  Staff

A two-term course for students who have no previous background in Arabic. Students learn the Arabic alphabet, basic vocabulary and expression, and basic grammatical structures and concepts, and concentrate on developing listening and speaking skills. The course aims at developing the following skills: reading to extract the gist of written Modern Standard Arabic texts; speaking with increased ease, good pronunciation, sound grammatical forms, and correct usage; writing to respond to simple daily life issues; forming and recognizing grammatically correct Modern Standard Arabic.
HTBA

ARBC 5020a, Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic I  Jonas Elbousty

A two-term course for students with previous background in Arabic. It is designed to improve proficiency in aural and written comprehension as well as in speaking and writing skills. The course aims to develop the following skills: reading to extract the gist as well as key details of written Modern Standard Arabic texts on a variety of academic, social, cultural, economic, and political topics; speaking with greater fluency and enhanced engagement in conversations on a variety of topics; mastering writing, easily forming and recognizing grammatically correct Arabic sentences. Prerequisite: ARBC 5010 or successful completion of a placement test.
HTBA

ARBC 5030b, Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic II  Jonas Elbousty

A two-term course for students with previous background in Arabic. It is designed to improve proficiency in aural and written comprehension as well as in speaking and writing skills. The course aims to develop the following skills: reading to extract the gist as well as key details of written Modern Standard Arabic texts on a variety of academic, social, cultural, economic, and political topics; speaking with greater fluency and enhanced engagement in conversations on a variety of topics; mastering writing, easily forming and recognizing grammatically correct Arabic sentences. Prerequisite: ARBC 5010 or successful completion of a placement test.
MTWTh 9:25am-10:15am

ARBC 5040a, Advanced Modern Standard Arabic I  Randa Muhammed

Focus on improving the listening, writing, and speaking skills of students who already have a substantial background in the study of modern standard Arabic. Prerequisite: ARBC 5030 or permission of the instructor.
MWF 10:30am-11:20am

ARBC 5050b, Advanced Modern Standard Arabic II  Randa Muhammed

Focus on improving the listening, writing, and speaking skills of students who already have a substantial background in the study of modern standard Arabic. Prerequisite: ARBC 5030 or permission of the instructor.
MWF 10:30am-11:20am

ARBC 5090a, Beginning Classical Arabic I  Staff

Introduction to classical Arabic, with emphasis on grammar to improve analytical reading skills. Readings include Qur’anic passages, literary material in both poetry and prose, biographical entries, and religious texts. Prerequisite: ARBC 5010 or permission of the instructor. May be taken concurrently with ARBC 5020 or ARBC 5040.
TTh 2:35pm-3:50pm

ARBC 5100b, Beginning Classical Arabic II  Staff

Introduction to classical Arabic, with emphasis on analytical reading skills, grammar, and prose composition. Readings from the Qur’an, Islamic theology, and literature and history of the Middle East, as well as Jewish and Christian religious texts in Arabic.
TTh 2:35pm-3:50pm

ARBC 5110a, Intermediate Classical Arabic I  Staff

A course on Arabic grammar and morphology that builds on the skills acquired in ARBC 1460 or 5100, with emphasis on vocabulary, grammar, and reading skills and strategies. Readings drawn from a variety of genres, such as biography, history, hadith, and poetry. ARBC 1460 or 5100 or permission from instructor.
TTh 2:35pm-3:50pm

ARBC 5120b, Intermediate Classical Arabic II  Staff

A continuation of Intermediate Classical Arabic grammar and morphology that builds on the skills acquired in ARBC 1560 or 5110, with emphasis on vocabulary, grammar, and reading skills and strategies. Readings drawn from a variety of genres, such as biography, history, hadith, and poetry. ARBC 1560 or 5110 or permission from instructor.
TTh 2:35pm-3:50pm

ARBC 5200a, Egyptian Arabic  Randa Muhammed

An Egyptian Arabic dialect course.
MW 1:05pm-2:20pm

ARBC 5220a, Modern Standard Arabic for Heritage Learners I  Sarab Al Ani

This course is designed for students who have been exposed to Arabic—either at home or by living in an Arabic speaking country—but who have little or no formal training in the language. The main purpose of the course is to build on the language knowledge students bring to the classroom to improve their skills and performance in the three modes of communication (interpersonal, presentational, and interpretive) to fulfill various needs. Particular attention is paid to building, controlling, and mastering language structures. Effective study strategies are used in this course to strengthen writing skills in MSA. Various assignments and tasks are designed to improve the learner's understanding of several issues related to culture in various Arabic speaking countries. Prerequisite: Students must take the placement test or have permission of the instructor.
MW 11:35am-12:50pm

ARBC 5320b, Modern Standard Arabic for Heritage Learners II  Sarab Al Ani

Continuation of ARBC 1220, MSA for Heritage Learners I. This course is designed for students who have been exposed to Arabic—either at home or by living in an Arabic-speaking country —but who have little or no formal training in the language. The main purpose of the course is to build on the language knowledge students bring to the classroom to improve their skills and performance in the three modes of communication (Interpersonal, Presentational, and Interpretive) in MSA to fulfill various needs. Particular attention is paid to building, controlling, and mastering language structures. Effective study strategies are used in this course to strengthen writing skills. Various assignments and tasks are designed to improve the learner's understanding of several issues related to culture in various Arabic speaking countries. Prerequisite: ARBC 1220, successful completion of placement test, or instructor permission.
MW 11:35am-12:50pm

ARBC 5600a, Graduate Arabic Seminar: Biography  Shawkat Toorawa

Study and interpretation of classical Arabic texts for graduate students. This is a graduate seminar that will adjust its subtitle according to the materials, texts, and subjects covered.
W 1:30pm-3:25pm

ARBC 5610b, Graduate Arabic Seminar: Arabic Translations of Ancient Greek  Kevin van Bladel

Study and interpretation of classical Arabic texts for graduate students. This is a graduate seminar that will adjust its subtitle according to the materials, texts, and subjects covered.
W 1:30pm-3:25pm

ARBC 5670a, Modern Arab Writers  Muhammad Aziz

Study of novels and poetry written by modern Arab writers, including Taha Hussein, Zaid Dammaj, Hoda Barakat, Nizar Qabbani, al-Maqalih, and Mostaghanimi. Prerequisite: ARBC 5040 or permission of the instructor. Prerequisite: ARBC 5040 or permission of the instructor.
MW 1:05pm-2:20pm

ARBC 5980b, Tracing the Image of the Arab "Other"  Jonas Elbousty

This course places the modern Arabic novel in conversation with the West in an effort to uncover both dominant narratives regarding Arab identity as well as counter narratives that present a challenge to these dominant narratives. We study the tradition of modern Arabic literature, looking specifically to the ways in which the image of the “other” is presented in Arabic narratives as well as the ways in which the image of the Arab is constructed through the others’ literature. Prerequisite: ARBC 1510.
MW 2:35pm-3:50pm

EGYP 5000a, Introduction to Classical Hieroglyphic Egyptian I  John Darnell

First part of a two-term introduction to the language of ancient pharaonic Egypt (Middle Egyptian) and its hieroglyphic writing system, with short historical, literary, and religious texts. Grammatical analysis with exercises in reading, translation, and composition.
TTh 9am-10:15am

EGYP 5010b, Introduction to Classical Hieroglyphic Egyptian II  Staff

A two-term introduction to the language of ancient pharaonic Egypt (Middle Egyptian) and its hieroglyphic writing system, with short historical, literary, and religious texts. Grammatical analysis with exercises in reading, translation, and composition. EGYP 1100.
MW 9am-10:15am

EGYP 5120a / EGYP 512 / RLST 6580a, Egyptian Monastic Literature in Coptic  Stephen Davis

Readings in the early Egyptian classics of Christian ascetism in Sahidic Coptic, including the Desert Fathers and Shenoute. Prerequisite: EGYP 5100 or equivalent.
MW 9am-10:15am

EGYP 5310a, Historical Texts of Egypt and Nubia  John Darnell

This course examines textual evidence regarding Egypt’s relationship with Nubia from the Old Kingdom through the Ramesside Period, focusing on close reading of the texts of royal monuments, private autobiographical inscriptions, military dispatches, and graffiti from the Nubian deserts. Background reading about the history and archaeology of ancient Nubia supplements the interpretation of the texts. Some texts are read in the original hieratic script. Prerequisite: EGYP 5010 or permission of the instructor.
TTh 4pm-5:15pm

EGYP 5330a, Intermediate Egyptian I: Literary Texts  Victoria Almansa-Villatoro

Close reading of Middle Egyptian literary texts; introduction to the hieratic (cursive) Egyptian script. Readings include the Middle Kingdom stories of “Sinuhe” and the “Eloquent Peasant” and excerpts from wisdom literature. Prerequisite: EGYP 5010.
TTh 9am-10:15am

EGYP 5540b, The Pyramid Texts  Victoria Almansa-Villatoro

This course consists of fourteen weeks devoted to reading the Old Kingdom corpus of Pyramid Texts written in hieroglyphs. The Pyramid Texts are the oldest religious texts in the world and were inscribed in the internal walls of the pyramids of several pharaohs built in Saqqara. These texts are direct precursors to later mortuary liturgies like the Coffin Texts and the Book of the Dead. They represent our most important source for the study of religion in the third millennium BCE. This course also functions as an introduction to Old Egyptian, the oldest stage of the ancient Egyptian language. Prior knowledge of Old Egyptian, is therefore, not required. The schedule and list of utterances that we read are tentative and adapt to the pace of the reading sessions and the students’ own interests. Students are encouraged to think critically and propose new interpretations and translations of the texts that we read every day in class.
TTh 9am-10:15am

EGYP 5990a, Directed Readings: Egyptology  John Darnell and Victoria Almansa-Villatoro

Directed Readings: Egyptology
HTBA

HEBR 5000a, Elementary Modern Hebrew I  Dina Roginsky

A two-term introduction to the language of contemporary Israel, both spoken and written. Fundamentals of grammar; extensive practice in speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension under the guidance of a native speaker. No previous knowledge required. Successful completion of the fall term required to enroll in the spring term.
MTThF 10:30am-11:20am

HEBR 5010b, Elementary Modern Hebrew II  Orit Yeret

A two-term introduction to the language of contemporary Israel, both spoken and written. Fundamentals of grammar; extensive practice in speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension under the guidance of a native speaker. No previous knowledge required. Successful completion of the fall term required to enroll in the spring term.
MTThF 10:30am-11:20am

HEBR 5020a, Intermediate Modern Hebrew I  Orit Yeret

A two-term review and continuation of grammatical study leading to a deeper comprehension of style and usage. Focus on selected readings, writing, comprehension, and speaking skills. Prerequisite: HEBR 5010 or equivalent.
HTBA

HEBR 5030b, Intermediate Modern Hebrew II  Orit Yeret

A two-term review and continuation of grammatical study leading to a deeper comprehension of style and usage. Focus on selected readings, writing, comprehension, and speaking skills. Prerequisite: HEBR 5020 or equivalent.
MTThF 9:25am-10:15am

HEBR 5040a, Advanced Modern Hebrew: Daily Life in Israel  Orit Yeret

An examination of major controversies in Israeli society. Readings include newspaper editorials and academic articles as well as documentary and historical material. Advanced grammatical structures are introduced and practiced.
TTh 1:05pm-2:20pm

HEBR 5050a, Contemporary Israeli Society in Film  Shiri Goren

Examination of major themes in Israeli society through film, with emphasis on language study. Topics include migration, gender and sexuality, Jewish/Israeli identity, and private and collective memory. Readings in Hebrew and English provide a sociohistorical background and basis for class discussion. Conducted in Hebrew. Prerequisite: HEBR 5020, placement test, or permission of the instructor.
MW 2:35pm-3:50pm

HEBR 5090b, Reading Academic Texts in Modern Hebrew  Dina Roginsky

The course addresses the linguistic needs of English-speaking students who would like to be able to read with ease and accuracy contemporary Hebrew-language scholarship in the fields of Judaic studies, religious studies, history, political science, sociology, Near Eastern studies, and other related fields. Particularly, this course confronts reading comprehension problems through straightforward exposition of the grammar supported by examples from scholarly texts. Conducted in Hebrew. Prerequisite: two years of modern or biblical Hebrew, or permission of the instructor.
TTh 1:05pm-2:20pm

HEBR 5110a / JDST 8206, Elementary Biblical Hebrew I  Dina Roginsky

A two-term introduction to Biblical Hebrew. Intensive instruction in grammar and vocabulary, supplemented by readings from the Bible. No prior knowledge of Hebrew required.
TTh 2:35pm-3:50pm

HEBR 5120b, Elementary Biblical Hebrew II  Dina Roginsky

A two-term review and continuation of instruction in grammar and vocabulary, supplemented by readings from the Bible. Prerequisite: HEBR 5100 or equivalent.
TTh 2:35pm-3:50pm

HEBR 5130a, Intermediate Biblical Hebrew I  Eric Reymond

A two-term review and continuation of instruction in grammar and vocabulary, supplemented by readings from the Bible. Prerequisite: HEBR 5100 or equivalent.
TTh 9am-10:15am

HEBR 5140b, Intermediate Biblical Hebrew II  Eric Reymond

Continuation of HEBR 5130.
TTh 9am-10:15am

MESO 5300a, Beginning Sumerian I  Staff

A two-term introduction to the Sumerian language.
MW 11:35am-12:50pm

MESO 5440a, Mesopotamian Scholarly Texts  Eckart Frahm

Study and interpretation of Mesopotamian scholarly texts, which could include omen treatises, medical texts, and commentaries from Babylonia and Assyria. Prerequisite: knowledge of Akkadian.
Th 4pm-5:55pm

MESO 5450a, The Great City: Neo-Assyrian Nineveh  Eckart Frahm

Survey of the history of the Assyrian city of Nineveh and its changing urban landscape, with a focus on developments between the ninth and seventh centuries BCE, when Nineveh became the world’s largest urban center. Emphasis on palaces, temples, libraries, parks, roads, fortifications, gates, and public spaces. Nineveh’s legacy in the Hebrew Bible and classical literature are discussed as well, as is the city’s excavation history, including recent salvage work in the wake of the destruction wrought upon the site by ISIS. While mostly based on written sources, the course also considers some of the archaeological evidence. Prerequisite: Beginning Akkadian.
M 4pm-5:55pm

MESO 5730b, Neo-Babylonian & Late Texts  Eckart Frahm

Neo-Babylonian & Late Texts.
W 4pm-5:55pm

NELC 5030a, Advanced Sumerian I  Benjamin Foster

Advanced Sumerian course.
M 9:25am-11:20am

NELC 5170a, Beginnings of Business: A History of Early Trade  Gojko Barjamovic

When did trade begin? When did business go global? How has the organization of commerce changed through time? What are our fundamental financial instruments and how and in what order where they developed? Are there fundamental rules behind the way in which humans conduct business? What roles have states and institutions historically played in facilitating or restricting trade? What sources and approaches are available to study trade in pre-modern times? Can business innovations from the past help us think about business in the present? To explore all these questions, this course draws upon data and case studies drawn broadly from the ancient world but with focus on evidence from ancient Mesopotamia. With the benefit of a giant canvas of history we paint a detailed picture of how business developed through time. We look at examples where business was strictly regulated by state-controlled institutions as well as examples entrepreneurs would have to rely on informal enforcement mechanisms, such as kin-relationships and reputation in repeated interactions. We dive into the effects of shock on individuals and systems, from production shortages to pandemics. And we ask what happens when systems collapse or value becomes immeasurable (as people have claimed for the 2008 crash). We study family-controlled business groups as an alternative to integrated and professionally managed corporations. And we observe how entrepreneurs adapted to face the financial challenges of states and dawning globalization. Beginnings of Business immerses students in the history of trade and draws on guests from widely different fields and disciplines to showcase the variety of approaches with which scholars address questions of business history. Meetings are built around lectures but emphasize participation and discussion. We run business simulations and make visits to institutions and collections to provide as broad and engaging a learning experience for students as possible about the practice of trade since the dawn of history.
TTh 11:35am-12:50pm

NELC 5200a, Mesopotamia: Third Millennium, Part I  Benjamin Foster

Readings and discussion of issues and evidence for a selected 500-year period of Mesopotamian history.
W 9:25am-11:20am

NELC 5280a, From Gilgamesh to Persepolis: Introduction to Near Eastern Literatures  Kathryn Slanski

This course is an introduction to Near Eastern civilization through its rich and diverse literary cultures. We read and discuss ancient works, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, Genesis, and “The Song of Songs,” medieval works, such as A Thousand and One Nights, selections from the Qur’an, and Shah-nama: The Book of Kings, and modern works of Israeli, Turkish, and Iranian novelists and Palestianian poets. Students complement classroom studies with visits to the Yale Babylonian Collection and the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, as well as with film screenings and guest speakers. Students also learn fundamentals of Near Eastern writing systems, and consider questions of tradition, transmission, and translation. All readings are in translation.
TTh 1:05pm-2:20pm

NELC 5290b, Seals and Sealing in the Ancient Near East  Agnete Lassen

The course investigates seals and seal use in Mesopotamia and surrounding areas from the Uruk period to the end of the Achaemenid empire. The teaching takes the form of a research seminar with active student participation and is based on the extensive glyptic material in the Yale Babylonian Collection.
W 1:30pm-3:25pm

NELC 5330a / ANTH 5331a / CLSS 7000a / EALL 7730a / HIST 6000a / HSAR 6564a / JDST 6553a / RLST 8030a, Archaia Seminar: Art, Architecture, and Climate Change in the Premodern World  Avary Taylor

This seminar explores artistic, architectural, and material responses to environmental transformations, such as floods, droughts, volcanic events, and periods of exceptional abundance, across the premodern world. Foregrounding the indivisibility of natural worlds and human creativity, we examine how ancient peoples conceived of, and responded to, the disruptions and affordances of their environment. Through a comparative framework that puts cultures across the ancient world into conversation—from Mesopotamia to Mesoamerica and beyond—we trace the entanglements of art, politics, and climate, asking: how, if at all, did environmental change materialize in the things people made? This course serves as an Archaia Core Seminar. It is connected with Archaia’s Ancient Societies Workshop (ASW), which runs a series of events throughout the academic year related to the theme of the seminar. Students enrolled in the seminar must attend all ASW events during the semester in which the seminar is offered.
M 9:25am-11:20am

NELC 5331b / ANTH 5332b / CLSS 7001b / EALL 7731b / HIST 6010b / HSAR 6574b / JDST 6554b / RLST 8031b, Archaia Seminar: Literacy, Books, and the Materiality of Writing in the Premodern World  Victoria Almansa-Villatoro and Joe Glynias

What is literacy? What is reading? This course takes a longue durée approach to how premodern individuals produced and engaged with texts. From hieroglyphs to alphabets (and everything in between), this course considers ways of writing and the intersection between orality, aurality, and textuality in the premodern world, focusing on (but not limited to) the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. Due to its focus on the physical media of writing and the preservation and study of premodern writing materials by modern scholars, roughly half of the meetings of this course take place in Yale Collections. Topics covered by the course include pseudoscripts and pseudepigrapha, scribes and scholars, and the ideological and ritual uses of writing across premodern cultures. This course serves as an Archaia Core Seminar. It is connected with Archaia’s Ancient Societies Workshop (ASW), which runs a series of events throughout the academic year related to the theme of the seminar. Students enrolled in the seminar must attend all ASW events during the semester in which the seminar is offered.
W 9:25am-11:20am

NELC 5370b, Unequal: Dynamics of Power and Social Hierarchy in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia  Gojko Barjamovic

When we talk about root causes for intolerance, study the terrors of slavery, or argue the nature of imperialism, we refer to the past. Our beliefs about this past are more than just interpretations of what came before. They actively shape society’s present—as ultimate origin is tied in the mind to current purpose. The past not only gives form to, but also serves to explain, present reality. Histories of our early past in particular are treated as our own origin myth. And like all origin myths, this narrative has enormous power. Variation on its theme can be found in various forms on the shelves of every airport bookshop. It informs the debates of contemporary policymakers. It permeates popular culture. Popular books lay out narratives of the past, each in their own way, to evoke images, argue ideologies, promote diets, or stir emotions in the present. Most of these myths share a common theme of “progress” and “freedom.” It is often told as follows: early humans formed roaming bands of egalitarian hunters and gatherers. As societies grew larger, more complex, wealthy, and “civilized,” they became progressively less equal. Settlement and farming required the management of labor, notions of value, rules of ownership. Early states demanded even steeper hierarchies, and with them, the full package of leaders, administrators, division of labor, social class. Equality and freedom were traded for growth and progress. This class challenges the myth that inequality is simply hardwired into society. It does so by going back to the rise of the first states 5000 years ago in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia and studying how those states were imagined and structured as well as how they changed over time. We look at early historical examples of alternative large-scale collectives and explore historical cases that allow us to study societal structure and change on an epochal scale to ask if inequality is truly an inescapable result of complexity. We venture to transcend mythmaking and identify basic patterns of inequality that resonate across time and into current society. Using examples drawn from early human history we think about key features of our present and explore roots of identity, possession, value, freedom, and power, and how their legacy structures contemporary life.
TTh 11:35am-12:50pm

NELC 5380b, Imaging Ancient Worlds in Museum Collections  Klaus Wagensonner and Agnete Lassen

What is digitization of cultural heritage? What are its merits, challenges, and best practices? The course highlights the documentation and interpretation of archaeological artifacts, in particular artifacts from Western Asia. The primary goal of the course is the use of new technologies in computer graphics, including 3D imaging, to support current research in archaeology and anthropology. The course does put particular emphasis on the best practices of digitizing artifacts in collections. The prime study subjects are the artifacts housed in the Yale Babylonian Collection (https://babylonian-collection.yale.edu). For some background information on the collection see here. Students engage directly with the artifacts while practicing the various imaging techniques.
W 1:30pm-3:25pm

NELC 5690a, Visible Language: The Origins of Writing in Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt  Klaus Wagensonner

Exploration of writing in the ancient Near East and the profound effects this new method of communication had on human society. Focus on Egypt and Mesopotamia, where advanced writing systems first developed and were used for millennia.
TTh 2:35pm-3:50pm

NELC 5710a, Introduction to the Field of Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations  Kevin van Bladel

This half-credit course is a concise introduction to the field of Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations and its cognates (Middle Eastern Studies, etc.), focusing on the history and constitution of institutional bases for the study of the Near East, the development of the terms by which it is defined, subfields like Assyriology, Egyptology, and Arabic studies, the debate over Orientalism and its aftermath, the conflation of the Near East with religions and nations, the development of Area Studies, the place of NELC knowledge in higher education and scholarship generally, the public face of Near Eastern studies, and how careers in NELC are made.  ½ Course cr
F 9:25am-11:20am

NELC 5810b, Critical Readings  Gojko Barjamovic

A weekly seminar for graduate students in which we read and discuss a selection of old and new monographs (and perhaps a few key articles) relevant to the field of ancient studies. Three weekly presenters give a fifteen-minute oral review of a book, which is followed by a thirty-five-minute discussion. Everyone reads a short passage from the work assigned by the presenter one week in advance. It should not exceed ten to twelve pages on average and should be exemplary of the work. Presenters focus on extracting main points from the chosen work and discuss its place within the broader framework of ancient studies. The seminar targets students in Assyriology, Classics, Egyptology, Hebrew Bible, and Religion, but others may find it interesting and relevant. For our first meeting, we all read and discuss the same book: Liverani’s Imagining Babylon, which, despite its alleged focus on the Near East, presents a concise and somewhat controversial summary of the history of ancient history. At the first meeting we also divide up the coming weeks and readings between us. The topic for each week is left intentionally broad so as to accommodate a wide selection of books. The selection of themes, on the other hand, ensures that we make it through several major topics within ancient studies, from economics and religion to art and archeology. We rehearse skills in critical reading, writing scholarly reviews, debating, and, of course, we engage with a massive amount of literature that we might not otherwise find the time to read.
T 1:30pm-3:25pm

NELC 5880a / ANTH 7273 / ARCG 7273 / NELC 588, Climate Change, Societal Collapse, and Resilience  Harvey Weiss

Collapse documented in the archaeological and early historical records of the Old and New Worlds, including Mesopotamia, Mesoamerica, the Andes, and Europe. Analysis of politicoeconomic vulnerabilities, resiliencies, and adaptations in the face of abrupt climate change, anthropogenic environmental degradation, resource depletion, “barbarian” incursions, or class conflict.
Th 4pm-5:55pm

NELC 5890b / ANTH 7236b / ARCG 7236b, Archaeologies of Empire  Harvey Weiss

Comparative study of origins, structures, efficiencies, and limitations of imperialism, ancient and modern, in the Old and New World, from Akkad to “Indochine,” and from Wari to Aztec. The contrast between ancient and modern imperialisms examined from the perspectives of nineteenth- and twentieth-century archaeology and political economy.
Th 4pm-5:55pm

NELC 6180b / CPLT 6600b, Writing Muslims  Shawkat Toorawa

We read and enjoy the works of Leila Aboulela, Nadia Davids, Aisha Gawad, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Manzu Islam, Sorayya Khan, Laila Lalami, Hisham Matar and others, and such films as My Beautiful Laundrette, Surviving Sabu, and Ae Fond Kiss, paying special attention to articulations of displacement, faith, history, identity, and memory. We try to develop an understanding of how the “diasporic” or “expatriate” Muslim writes herself, her world, and her condition. All material in English.  Prerequisite: Undergraduates need instructor's permission to register for this course.
T 1:30pm-3:25pm

NELC 6330a, The Quran and its Interpreters  Shawkat Toorawa

We spend the first third of the course reading the Quran, studying its written compilation and redaction; its narrative structure; its rhetorical strategies; its major themes; its connections to and departures from other scripture; translation and the problems associated with it. In the next two thirds we engage with the rich tradition of commentary, exegesis, and interpretation it has occasioned—legal, literary, theological, and visual, from classical readings and materials all the way up to the modern period and present day. We also look at the ways the Quran has been interpreted in different media, notably the visual arts. We pay special attention to certain surahs (chapters), including The Heifer (2, Baqarah), Joseph (12, Yusuf), The Cave (18, Kahf), Ya Sin (36), and several prominent short surahs. Topics include the Devil; Jesus and Mary; Moses and the Children of Israel; the nature of the Divine; the status of women and men; the impact of the Qur’an on political and religious thought; and its influence of the Qur’an on literature.
TTh 11:35am-12:50pm

NELC 6850b, Urbanism and Urban Society in Ancient Egypt  Nadine Moeller

The aim of this seminar is to challenge prevailing views on Egypt’s non-urban past and to investigate Egypt as an early urban society. The emergence of urban features are traced diachronically starting with the predynastic period up to the disintegration of the powerful Middle Kingdom state into the New Kingdom with its powerful royal cities and up to the urban transformation of the Late Period and Graeco-Roman times. This seminar offers a synthesis of the archaeological data that sheds light on the different facets of urbanism in ancient Egypt and looks at theoretical concepts and models of urbanism more generally, and how they can be applied to ancient societies. Drawing on evidence from recent excavations, the changing settlement patterns are explored by contrasting periods of strong political control against those of decentralization. On a microlevel, the characteristics of households and the layout of domestic architecture are addressed, which are key elements for understanding how society functioned and evolved over time. In addition, settlement patterns provide further insights into the formation of complex society and the role of the state in the urban development of ancient Egypt. Prerequisite: Some background knowledge of ancient Egyptian history is required.
TTh 4pm-5:15pm

NELC 6940a / OTTM 6940a, Motifs, Patterns, and Painting Techniques in Traditional Turkish Arts  Ozgen Felek

This painting class focuses on classical motifs and patterns in traditional Turkish book arts. Students learn how to draw and paint stylized flowers (such as “panch” and “khatayi”), animal figures, and abstract patterns used in Turkish as well as in Arabic and Persian Islamic manuscripts. Students also learn how to create their own compositions according to traditional artistic principals applied in Turkish book arts. In addition to developing painting skills through individualized attention and support in class, scheduled visits to the Beinecke Library enhance applied learning by encouraging students to examine artistic aspects in Turkish manuscripts.
Th 4pm-5:55pm

NELC 6960a / OTTM 6960a, The Ottomans: Society, Politics, and the Arts  Ozgen Felek

This interdisciplinary course offers a cultural and social history survey of the Ottoman Empire (1299–1923), one of the longest-lasting empires in Islamic history. Beginning with the dynasty that founded and sustained the state for over 600 years, it traces key developments from the thirteenth to the twentieth century, then turns to legal and religious structures. Students also explore education systems, languages, literature, artistic and craft traditions, culinary culture, and ceremonial life—building a broad understanding of an empire that spanned the Balkans, the Middle East, and North Africa. Through the analysis of Ottoman miniature paintings, this course also explores the various objects and materials used during the Ottoman Empire. These artworks provide a visual record of military campaigns, celebrations, and everyday life in both palace and general society. By carefully examining these miniatures, students gain a deeper understanding of the Ottoman world.
T 4pm-5:55pm

NELC 7330b, Walking Saqqara: Ancient Egyptian Architecture and the Making of a Landscape  Staff

This seminar invites students to discover the archaeological landscape of Saqqara by thinking about how it might be presented to modern visitors. As the students become familiar with the site’s monuments, topography, and long history, they consider what it means to make an ancient landscape legible to the public. Which monuments should be prioritized, and why? How do routes through the site shape perception and understanding? What kinds of narratives emerge when one has one hour, half a day, or several days to encounter Saqqara? Working from archaeological reports, plans, images, and publications, students design historically grounded itineraries and reflect on how the landscape can be shown, explained, and interpreted in ways that are spatially coherent, historically representative, and educationally effective. The course approaches Saqqara in its spatial, monumental, historical, and pedagogical dimensions, combining individual and group assignments that encourage both critical analysis and creative thinking. As part of this process, students also build their own bibliographies in relation to the monuments and routes they choose to develop.
T 1:30pm-3:25pm

NELC 7460a, In the Gardens of the Pharaohs: Organic Craft Productions and Chaînes Opératoires  Gregory Marouard

This course focuses on the origins of organic resources, the manufacturing techniques, and the extensive talented skills hidden behind exceptional Egyptian objects that can be seen in museum collections. Since the late Neolithic period and the early fourth millennium BCE, ancient Egyptians developed significant skills for transforming the various vegetal resources available in their environment, in the Nile Valley, in its delta, as in more remote areas such like the western oasis or the eastern desert. Many craft productions, sometimes supported by the Pharaonic central state, occupied a foundational importance to guaranty the continuation and the resilience of this ancient civilization over several millennia. This constant quest for ensuring the subsistence, sustainability, and various levels—from simple to more elaborated—craft production, forged important aspects of the Egyptian civilization and economy, enhanced its complex administrative system, even dictated its political relationship with neighboring countries. This seminar investigates in detail the ancient Egyptian organic resources, related techniques, even proto industries, through the scope of archaeological, historical and socioeconomical data, using material culture, iconographic data and sometimes textual sources. Ethnoarchaeological and experimental approaches of various chaîne-opératoire are discussed to illustrate and reconstruct skills, gestures, and craftsmanship expertise that have now completely disappeared.
T 1:30pm-3:25pm

NELC 7540b, Kingdoms of the Nile: The Relationship Between Ancient Egypt and Nubia  Émilie Sarrazin

When considering ancient civilizations along the Nile River, pharaonic Egypt is often the first to come to mind. Less widely known is its southern neighbor, ancient Nubia in modern-day Sudan, although it boasts an equally rich and vibrant history. Crucially, the enduring interactions between these two regions profoundly shaped their sociocultural, economic, and political development. This course delves into the intricate relationship between ancient Egypt and Nubia, from early interactions between predynastic Egypt and the Nubian A-Group (c. 4000 BCE) to the end of the Napatan Kingdom (c. 300 BCE). Through the analysis of archaeological and textual evidence—especially from Lower Nubia as a key contact zone—students explore a wide range of encounters and their impacts over more than 3,500 years, including pivotal historical events such as Egypt’s occupation of Lower Nubia and the Kushite conquest of Egypt. This course also introduces theories, methods, and debates related to the study of past identities, borders, and colonial encounters. Students consider how identities are expressed through material culture, explore processes of cultural exchanges, and engage with issues surrounding imperial relations. Additionally, the course reflects on how these historical issues permeate current discourses and perceptions of cultural heritage. This class is designed for undergraduate and graduate students who want to know more about the history of ancient Egypt and the Sudan, as well as those interested in the broader study of archaeology, ancient history, and the complex interplay of cultures throughout history.
MW 4pm-5:15pm

NELC 7680a / ARCG 6255a, Egyptian Archaeology in the Digital Age: Recording, Mapping & Imaging  Gregory Marouard

Over the past decade the field of archaeology and the methodology in recording practices have seen major transformations with the development of new digital resources for mapping, recording spatial data, and modeling features with user-friendly, affordable digital tools, often available as open-source software, to produce rapid and extremely accurate results. Egyptian archaeology became relatively early a leading field in the use of such equipment and software for recording archaeological and architectural remains, epigraphic data, and cultural heritage. The aim of this course is to provide students a comprehensive understanding and training of these digital recording systems and methods in archaeology taking advantage of the most recent technologies. This course includes theoretical overviews of those highly multidisciplinary activities as well as practical training in the use of modern mapping tools for topography, photography, photogrammetry, digital drawing and RTI, post-processing and immersive virtual reality. This course includes lectures and seminars by guest speakers with extensive experience and practice of several techniques in Egypt, workshop sessions, and some lab activities. Students are engaged in the use of real archaeological data coming from excavation sites in Egypt and are able to practice in person some of the methods seen in class on physical structures on Yale campus. Permission from the instructor to confirm that the student has a general background in Archeology or Ancient Near East or Egyptology is required.
Th 1:30pm-3:25pm

NELC 8100a / MDVL 5179a, Near Eastern Manuscript Research  Kevin van Bladel

Introduction to research using manuscripts in Near Eastern languages. Topics include codicology, palaeography, manuscript history, textual criticism and edition, and a variety of other matters specific to Near Eastern manuscripts. Prerequisites: reading ability in one premodern Near Eastern language and permission of the instructor.
F 1:30pm-3:25pm

NELC 8440b, Classical Persian Lyric  Jane Mikkelson

This course acquaints students with some of the most extraordinary lyric poets of classical Persian literature. We read famous medieval figures and early modern luminaries. As we attend minutely to matters of grammar, form, prosody, and style, we also keep in view relevant literary, cultural, historical, and intellectual contexts. An essential aim of the course is to introduce students to some of the ways in which the premodern Persian tradition thinks about itself. To that end, primary readings in poetry and literary prose are supplemented with short extracts from works by medieval and early modern critics, rhetoricians, theorists, and literary historians; these texts supply concepts and skills that are indispensable for reading, appreciating, and researching Persian literature. Achieving a fine-grained view of the tradition from within illuminates our discussions as we consider the distinctiveness of the lyric form; probe various entanglements between literature, philosophy, and religion; and situate the premodern Persian literary tradition against broader comparative horizons that stretch across the Islamicate world and beyond. Prerequisite: intermediate-level reading knowledge of Persian.
Th 1:30pm-3:25pm

OTTM 5670b, Islamic Manuscript Illumination: History, Theory, and Practice  Ozgen Felek

This course is focused on the history, theory, and practice of Islamic manuscript illumination. Undergraduate students can request the instructor’s permission to register.
Th 4pm-5:55pm

OTTM 6100a, Introduction to Ottoman Turkish I  Ozgen Felek

Ottoman Turkish is the Turkish language written in the Arabic alphabet during the Ottoman Empire (1299–1923), which ruled for almost seven hundred years from North Africa to the Balkans, and the early years of the Turkish Republic established in 1923. Knowledge of Ottoman Turkish thus gives students an important advantage over experts on just one geographical and cultural area of the Muslim world. Students develop skills that will enable them to read Ottoman Turkish texts and pursue independent work in Ottoman studies. We work on building vocabulary, developing competence in Ottoman Turkish, and improving reading skills. Since culture is an integral part of the language, various cultural expressions are introduced through a variety of historical and literary Ottoman texts from the fourteenth to the nineteenth century. We use Korkut Buğday’s The Routledge Introduction to Literary Ottoman for grammar and reading passages. In addition, we read excerpts from Ottoman texts from different genres.
MW 4pm-5:15pm

OTTM 6200b, Introduction to Ottoman Turkish II  Ozgen Felek

Ottoman Turkish is the Turkish language written in the Arabic alphabet during the Ottoman Empire (1299–1923), which ruled for almost seven hundred years from North Africa to the Balkans, and the early years of the Turkish Republic established in 1923. Knowledge of Ottoman Turkish thus gives students an important advantage over experts on just one geographical and cultural area of the Muslim world. Students develop skills that will enable them to read Ottoman Turkish texts and pursue independent work in Ottoman studies. We work on building vocabulary, developing competence in Ottoman Turkish, and improving reading skills. Since culture is an integral part of the language, various cultural expressions are introduced through a variety of historical and literary Ottoman texts from the fourteenth to the nineteenth century. We use Korkut Buğday’s The Routledge Introduction to Literary Ottoman for grammar and reading passages. In addition, we read excerpts from Ottoman texts from different genres.
MW 4pm-5:15pm

OTTM 6940a / NELC 6940a, Motifs, Patterns, and Painting Techniques in Traditional Turkish Arts  Ozgen Felek

This painting class focuses on classical motifs and patterns in traditional Turkish book arts. Students learn how to draw and paint stylized flowers (such as “panch” and “khatayi”), animal figures, and abstract patterns used in Turkish as well as in Arabic and Persian Islamic manuscripts. Students also learn how to create their own compositions according to traditional artistic principals applied in Turkish book arts. In addition to developing painting skills through individualized attention and support in class, scheduled visits to the Beinecke Library enhance applied learning by encouraging students to examine artistic aspects in Turkish manuscripts.
Th 4pm-5:55pm

OTTM 6960a / NELC 6960a, The Ottomans: Society, Politics, and the Arts  Ozgen Felek

This interdisciplinary course offers a cultural and social history survey of the Ottoman Empire (1299–1923), one of the longest-lasting empires in Islamic history. Beginning with the dynasty that founded and sustained the state for over 600 years, it traces key developments from the thirteenth to the twentieth century, then turns to legal and religious structures. Students also explore education systems, languages, literature, artistic and craft traditions, culinary culture, and ceremonial life—building a broad understanding of an empire that spanned the Balkans, the Middle East, and North Africa. Through the analysis of Ottoman miniature paintings, this course also explores the various objects and materials used during the Ottoman Empire. These artworks provide a visual record of military campaigns, celebrations, and everyday life in both palace and general society. By carefully examining these miniatures, students gain a deeper understanding of the Ottoman world.
T 4pm-5:55pm

PERS 5000a, Elementary Persian I  Farkhondeh Shayesteh

A two-term introduction to modern Persian with emphasis on all four language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The objective is to allow students to develop the foundational knowledge necessary for further language study. Designed for nonnative speakers.
MTWThF 9:25am-10:15am

PERS 5010b, Elementary Persian II  Farkhondeh Shayesteh

A two-term introduction to modern Persian with emphasis on all four language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The objective is to allow students to develop the foundational knowledge necessary for further language study. Designed for nonnative speakers.
MTWThF 9:25am-10:15am

PERS 5020a, Intermediate Persian I  Farkhondeh Shayesteh

This two-term course is a continuation of PERS 5010 with emphasis on expanding vocabulary and understanding of more complex grammatical forms and syntax. Designed for nonnative speakers. Prerequisite: PERS 5010 or permission of the instructor.
MTWThF 10:30am-11:20am

PERS 5030b, Intermediate Persian II  Farkhondeh Shayesteh

This two-term course is a continuation of PERS 5010 with emphasis on expanding vocabulary and understanding of more complex grammatical forms and syntax. Designed for nonnative speakers. Prerequisite: PERS 5010 or permission of the instructor.
MTWThF 10:30am-11:20am

PERS 5610a, Persian Culture and Media  Farkhondeh Shayesteh

Advanced study of Persian grammar, vocabulary, and culture through the use of authentic Persian media. Examination of daily media reports on cultural, political, historical, and sporting events in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and other Persian-speaking regions. Designed for nonnative speakers.Prerequisite: PERS 1400 or permission of instructor.
TTh 2:35pm-3:50pm

SMTC 5130a / RLST 8380a, Elementary Syriac I  Jimmy Daccache

Syriac was an Aramaic dialect that developed its own written tradition in the northern Levantine city of Edessa in classical antiquity. It became (and remains to this day) the liturgical language of Eastern Christianity in its various manifestations. This course provides students with a basic working knowledge of the language, namely, the three principal scripts (Estrangela, Serṭo, and “Nestorian”), verbal morphology, and the fundamental rules of syntax. Extracts of several Syriac texts are studied for purposes of application. At the end of the course, students are able to read, translate, and analyze simple texts.
T 9am-10:50am

SMTC 5460a / RLST 8340a, Northwest Semitic Inscriptions: Phoenician and Punic Epigraphy  Jimmy Daccache

This course completes the introduction of Phoenician epigraphy. It is designed to study the Phoenician and Punic inscriptions found in the western Mediterranean basin. The chronological span stretches from the eighth century BCE to the Roman period. The study of inscriptions—examined from photographs and drawings—follows a chronological order: Phoenician inscriptions from the eighth and seventh centuries BCE (Italy, Iberian Peninsula); Punic and Late Punic inscriptions between the sixth century BCE and the first century CE (Italy, Iberian Peninsula, North Africa [Carthage, Maktar, etc.]). At the end of the term, students have a firm grasp of the Phoenician language and script and its evolution toward Punic and Late Punic.
  Prerequisite: RLST 832.
W 9am-10:50am

SMTC 5530a / RLST 8740a, Advanced Syriac I  Jimmy Daccache

This course is designed for graduate students who are proficient in Syriac and is organized topically. Topics vary each term and are listed in the syllabus on Canvas.
T 11am-12:50pm