For almost 2 million years human societies consisted of small, nomadic, hunting and gathering bands. These groups appear to have had little social inequality or technological specialization. Nor did they rely upon domesticated plants or animals or live in settled villages. Beginning around 10,000 B.C. most human societies underwent a series of transformations in diverse regions around the world. Small hunting and gathering bands grew in size and settled into agricultural villages. These villages grew into towns, and the towns eventually developed into urban centers that became the basis of the first ‘complex civilizations’ – societies characterized by vast, settled populations living on agriculture and animal domestication in densely occupied cities with specialized technologies, extreme differences in wealth and power between groups, monumental architecture, interstate trade and warfare, and complex religions.

Over the course of the semester, we will draw upon anthropological theories and archaeological data to address such questions as: When, where, and why did cities, states, and empires first emerge? What were some of the beliefs, institutions and practices that were central to the organization of these ancient societies? What do the similarities and differences in the development of these first civilizations tell us about the nature of culture change, of civilization and the state, and of society itself? The principal regions of the world that we will focus on this term include: Mesopotamia, Egypt, The Mediterranean, East and Southeast Asia, Mesoamerica, and the Andes.

• 1) John Haywood. The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Civilizations. 2005. Penguin Books. New York. ISBN: 9780141014487. Abbreviated Haywood in the course schedule.
• This book is widely available for a reasonable price, as a new or used paperback, on various sites. Check out:
  • AbeBooks
  • Amazon
• 2) Additional readings will be uploaded to our course Canvas page. Abbreviated Canvas in the course schedule.

By the end of the course students should:

• understand the origins and development of
  • agriculture and domestication
  • permanent human settlements and urban centers
  • writing and literacy
  • technological and professional specialization
  • bureaucracy and the state
• be familiar with the broad contours of world prehistory
• be able to critically evaluate popular media accounts of archaeology and prehistory

Your grade will be determined on the basis of your performance in the following categories:

• Class attendance: 10 pts.
• Class participation: 10 pts.
• Class Debate #1: 10 pts.
• Class Debate #2: 10 pts.
• Homework #1: 10 pts.
• Homework #2: 10 pts.
• Midterm Exam: 20 pts.
• Final Exam: 20 pts.

TOTAL 100 pts.

The assigned readings should be completed the day for which they are assigned. You are expected to participate in class discussions of the readings as well as in two class debates.

There are two homework assignments worth 10 pts. each. The Midterm Exam is an in-class exam worth 20 points and will be a combination of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.

The Final exam is cumulative but emphasizes the second half of the term. Though longer, it will be similar in format to the midterm exam and is also worth 20 points. The final exam will be an in-class exam during our scheduled final exam period.

Finally, you are urged to make use of the course Canvas site to review lecture outlines (which I will post to the website after they have been delivered in class), to obtain the most recent and up-to-date list of readings, and to check for announcements of special events. At various points throughout the semester, I will inform you of cultural events and exhibits of potential interest. While not required to attend, you are encouraged to attend, and in some cases opportunities for extra credit may be available. Depending upon funds there may be an optional field trip to view the King Tut exhibit at the Luxor in Las Vegas and/or to see Antony and Cleopatra at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

NOTE: Readings and topics subject to change (I will, of course, inform you if this happens).

Course Etiquette

• Please refrain from using your cell phones, tablets, laptops, and other electronic/digital media in class unless you demonstrably need said device for learning purposes (i.e. taking notes, sharing an oral presentation for the class with classmates). They are a distraction for me, for your classmates, and for yourselves. I have found a remarkable correlation over the years: those students with headphones on and those students who text (and those who do both simultaneously) tend to perform more poorly than those that do not.
• When emailing me (deane@suu.edu) please indicate which class you are in and what your name is (i.e. ANTH 3200, Jane Smith). How not to email me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSNc8F9tqzY
• Please feel free to ask questions and to express your opinions and thoughts in class, but please do so in a respectful and polite manner.
• If you need to arrive late or leave early for some reason, please let me know beforehand if possible and try not to disrupt your fellow students when exiting or entering the room.

Course Policy on Acceptable and Unacceptable Use of AI

The use of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Dall-e, etc.) is permitted in this course for the following activities:

• Brainstorming and refining your ideas.
• Finding information on your topic (it is your responsibility to cross check and verify that information).
• Checking grammar and style.

The use of generative AI tools is NOT permitted in this course for the following activities:

• Impersonating you in classroom contexts.
• Completing individual or group work.
• Composing a draft of a writing assignment.
• Writing entire sentences, paragraphs, or papers to complete class assignments.

You are responsible for the information you submit based on an AI query (for instance, that it does not violate intellectual property laws, or contain misinformation or unethical content). If using AI tools, it must be properly documented and cited to stay within university policies on academic honesty. Any assignment that is found to have used generative AI tools in unauthorized ways will receive a zero in the assignment. If you are in doubt about permitted usage, please ask for clarification.

Make-up Exams

Unless you have an extraordinarily compelling excuse, there will be no make-up exam available.

Again, unless you have a compelling excuse, there will be no make-up exam.

I do keep track of student attendance. If you know in advance that you will be unable to attend on a certain day, please notify me as soon as possible. You will be allowed 2 ‘free’ absences without penalizing your attendance grade.

Finally, you are urged to make use of the course Canvas site to review lecture outlines (which I will post to the website after they have been delivered in class), to obtain the most recent and up-to-date list of readings, and to check for announcements of special events. At various points throughout the semester, I will inform you of cultural events and exhibits of potential interest. Depending upon funds there may be an optional field trip.