Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology in the Mediterranean World

A.Y. 2025/2026
12
Max ECTS
80
Overall hours
SSD
L-ANT/07
Language
English
Learning objectives
Undefined
Expected learning outcomes
Undefined
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
year
Course syllabus
A. Earliest human cultures of the Eurasian continent
The course offers a comprehensive introduction to the study of Eurasian Prehistory through the study of archaeological remains, from the early upper Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age (from 100.000 years ago to the beginning of the Ist millennium BC). A general evaluation of significant themes (iconographic and archaeological sources referring to subsistence and production, mortuary and ritual practices) is presented to show evidence of the way prehistoric European social evolution is interpreted.
Key-archaeological sites will provide preferential perspectives to investigate and expose the topics of the course. The undergoing archaeological project "Origin, development and dispersion of the prehistoric art in western Asia: Gobustan (Azerbaijan)" (an international project led by Università degli Studi di Milano-UNIMI), "Grotta Romanelli" (an interdisciplinary project into which UNIMI is fully involved both for the parietal art and the geomorphological issues), will provide the main references to well ground the course development. Indeed, this project will offer powerful examples to expose the interdisciplinary approach required in any contemporary archaeological research. Students will be then introduced to practical examples of cooperative ways of managing the investigation, considering a wide spectrum of scientific disciplines.

Part B: Cultures of Pre-Roman Italy in the 1st Millennium BC
This course examines the complex processes involved in the formation of cultural identity among the ancient civilizations of pre-Roman Italy, emphasizing the dynamic interplay between external influences and enduring local traditions. The primary focus is on archaeological evidence as a means of exploring how ancient communities interacted with their natural environment and landscape—fundamental elements shaping their cultural, social, and religious practices.
A key component of the course is the in-depth case study of the "Tarquinia Project", a four-decade-long archaeological initiative conducted by the Università degli Studi di Milano. This project serves as a model for illustrating the interdisciplinary nature of contemporary studies on the civilisations of Ancient Italy. Students will be introduced to collaborative methodologies that integrate traditional archaeological approaches with advances in both the soft sciences (such as historical interpretation and philology) and hard sciences (such as archaeometry and environmental analysis).
By engaging with this research, students will gain exposure to innovative analytical frameworks and data interpretation strategies, equipping them with the tools to navigate and synthesise complex datasets across disciplinary boundaries. The course encourages a critical and methodologically integrated perspective on the civilisations of Ancient Italy and their wider Mediterranean context.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisites for admission are needed.
Teaching methods
A. Earliest human cultures of the Eurasian continent
The teaching considers both frontal lessons and interactive activities, with group exercises, discussions and shared experiences to be presented by the students so to reinforce the critical learning and thinking, develop the collaborative and communication skills.
Furthermore, students will be invited to join the archaeological fieldworks carried out by UNIMI.
B. Cultures of Pre-Roman Italy in the 1st Millennium BC
The course will be articulated in frontal lessons shared through PowerPoint presentations, multimedia, 3D models and on-line material. In addition, group exercises and discussions will be planned in order to foster the understanding of the various topics, the communication abilities and the collaboration through people in an intellectually inclusive approach. Students are offered to participate in the excavation program carried out by the University of Milan at Tarquinia.
Teaching Resources
A. Earliest human cultures of the Eurasian continent
- Class notes, pdf of the lessons, images, and captions downloadable from the myAriel website.
- Gamble C. 2009, Origins and Revolutions: Human Identity in Earliest Prehistory. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Fokkens H., Harding A. 2013, The Oxford Handbook of the European Bronze Age, Oxford.

Part B: Cultures of Pre-Roman Italy in the 1st Millennium BC
- Class notes, pdf of the lessons, images, and captions downloadable from the myAriel website.
- A. Naso (ed.), Etruscology, Boston/Berlin 2017, chapters 32-36 and 3 chapters at your choosing.
- G. Bagnasco Gianni, Tarquinia, sacred areas and sanctuaries on the Civita Plateau and on the coast: 'monumental complex', Ara della Regina, Gravisca, in J. MacIntosh Turfa (ed.), The Etruscan World, London-New York 2013, pp. 594-612.
Assessment methods and Criteria
A. Earliest human cultures of the Eurasian continent
An oral examination will be conducted so to evaluate the knowledge and skills acquired by the students and their critical engagement with the course content. The key topics covered by the exam are related to the material culture of the prehistoric groups from the early upper Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age, with a special emphasis on symbolic behaviour (rock art, votive depositions, funerary practices) and synchronic and diachronic changes according to different human responses and adaptations.
The objective of the evaluation considers students' ability to:
· Identify and interpret the archaeological remains and contexts discussed during the lessons;
· Fix these elements within a broad chronological, geographical and cultural framework;
· Recognise the key-role of the interdisciplinary approach in the study of prehistoric cultures;
· Develop a critical thinking about the importance and the impact of the Prehistoric Archaeology in the Contemporary World, so looking at the past to face the modern global issues and challenges, considering the cultural and social complexities as well.
Part B: Cultures of Pre-Roman Italy in the 1st Millennium BC
Student performance will be evaluated through an oral examination, designed to assess both knowledge acquisition and critical engagement with the course content. The exam will cover key topics related to the material culture, historical developments, and artistic expressions of pre-Roman Italy, spanning from the end of the Bronze Age to the early Imperial period.
The assessment aims to verify the student's ability to:
· Identify and interpret the main objects, monuments, and archaeological contexts discussed in the course.
· Situate these elements within broader historical and cultural frameworks.
· Demonstrate foundational understanding of interdisciplinary approaches relevant to the study of ancient Italic civilizations.
· Critically reflect on the relevance of ancient history and archaeology in addressing contemporary global issues and cultural complexities.

Assessment of knowledge:
A-B. Students will be assessed on the basis of:
· Accuracy and depth of factual knowledge.
· Ability to contextualise materials within chronological and thematic frameworks.
· Familiarity with key scholarly debates and methodologies.
· Clarity of expression and use of appropriate academic terminology.
· Capacity for independent and critical analysis.
L-ANT/07 - CLASSICAL ARCHAEOLOGY - University credits: 12
Lessons: 80 hours