Department of History
Bashiri
1043 Heller Hall
Telephone: 624-3314
Office hours: M 11:15-12:00; F 1:15-2:00
or by appointment
e-mail:
bashi001@umn.edu
Web: www.irajbashiri.com
SYLLABUS
Ancient
Iran
HIST 3503, RELS 3709
Fall 2015
Conceptual Frame:
Ancient
Objectives:
Class Sessions:
September
9. Introduction to the course, course content, materials to be covered, office hours, tests, reports, paper, grades, attendance sheet, etc. Part of the session will be used for introductions. The students will fill out a questionnaire indicating their areas of interest.
Assignment: Clayton:
The Pyramid Builders, Djoser, pp. 31-37; Snefru, pp. 42-45; Khufu (Cheops), pp. 45-49
E-reserve link: https://reserves.lib.umn.edu/
11. Formation
of Egyptian civilization concentrating on pharaohs Djoser,
Snefru, and Khufu;
Assignment: Clayton: Rulers of an Empire: Tuthmosis
II, pp. 102-103; Queen Hatshepsut, pp. 104-107; Tuthmosis
III, pp. 108-111; *Herodotus, Persian Wars (bk
II: sections 1-100), pp. 116-162
*(Note:
because Herodotus, Persian Wars is published in many editions, I have
given page numbers for the edition listed below. The book is divided into books
(i.e., bk I, bk II, etc.).
For those who have a different edition of Persian Wars, I have also
given the book number and the sections within the book.)
14. "Crocodiles and Kings" (41 mins)
Assignment: Same
16. Discussion of the lives of Tuthmosis II, Queen Hatshepsut, and Tuthmosis III
Assignment: Clayton: Akhenaten, pp. 120-131; Ramesses II, pp, 146-155; Herodotus, Persian Wars (bk II: 100-180), pp. 162-209.
18. Discussion of the lives of Akhenaten and Ramesses II;
Assignment: Bashiri (2016), Egypt and Nubia, pp. 101-110; van de Walle, pp. 25-53 (optional)
21. Discussion of Egyptian cosmology and religion; monotheism
Assignment:
Bashiri (2016), pp. 5-12; Mazdian
Cosmology; de Menasce,
"Persia:
Cosmic Dualism," pp. 189-205 (optional)
23. Discussion of Iranian Cosmology
Assignment: Bashiri (2016), pp. 15-26; Fillipani-Ronconi, pp. 51-83 (optional)
25. Discussion of the life of Prince Siyavosh
Assignment: Bashiri (2016), pp. 26-46.
28.
Discussion of the unification of
30.
Oral Reports I
October
2. Oral
Reports I
Assignment: Bashiri (2016), pp. 59-64; Olmstead, pp. 34-93.
Study Guide I posted
5. The Indo-European background of the Iranians
Assignment: Frye,
pp. 37-78; Olmstead, pp. 107-150; Bashiri (2016), pp. 47-58.
7. "The Voice of Zarathustra"
Assignment: Boyce, pp. 48-77
9. Test One
Covers ancient Egyptian civilization, Egyptian religion and mythology, the Shahname, as well as the Indo-European background of the Iranian peoples
Assignment: Bashiri (2016), pp. 74-79; Frye, pp. 79-119.
12. Discussion of the life of Cyrus the
Great
Assignment: Bashiri (2016), pp. 80-87; Herodotus's Persian Wars (bk II: 61-98), pp. 241-260; Olmstead, pp. 396-416 (optional)
14. Discussion of the life
of Cambyses II, the Conqueror of Egypt
Assignment: Bashiri (2016), pp. 88-100; Bresciani,
pp. 502-528.
16. Discussion of the life
of Darius I the Great
Assignment: same
19. Discussion of the
administration of Darius I
Assignment: Bashiri (2016), pp. 123-135; Olmstead, pp. 289-301.
21. The end of the Achaemenid dynasty
Assignment: Herodotus's Persian Wars(bk VIII: 1-144), pp. 595-656.
23. "Marathon to
Salamis" (30 mins)
Assignment: Bashiri (2016), pp. 135-145
26. "
28. Oral
Reports II
30. Oral
Reports II
November
2. Achaemenid tombs
Assignment: Olmstead, pp. 94-118.
4. The Gods of Ancient
Assignment: Engels, pp. 26-53; Bashiri (2016), pp. 145-149; 153-156.
6. Alexander III the Great,
Part I
9. Alexander III the Great, Part II
Assignment: Bashiri (2016), pp. 156-161; Ghirshman,
pp. 243-349; Bashiri, Ahuric Order and the
Platonic Form
Study Guide II posted
11. The Seleucids and the Parthians
Assignment: none
13. Open
16. Test Two
Covers Iranian history from Cyrus the
Great to the end of the Parthians
Assignment: Bashiri (2016), pp. 161-169.
18. The rise of Ardashir I
Assignment: Bashiri (2016), pp. 170-177.
20. Conquests of Shapur
I
Assignment: Bashiri (2016), pp. 177-189.
23. Shapur I and Mani
Assignment: Bashiri (2016), pp. 189-195.
25. "Guardians of the
Sacred Flame"
26-27 Thanksgiving
holiday
30. Oral
Reports III
December
2. Oral
Reports III
4. The conquests of Khosrau II
Assignment: none
7. The religions of the Sassanids
Assignment:
Bashiri (2016),
pp. 197-202.
Book
Report is due
9. The end of the Empire
Assignment: Frye, pp. 263-285.
11. The Rise of Islam
Assignment: Bashiri (forthcoming), The
Jahiliyyah Era
14. "In the Footsteps of Our
Forefathers"
16. Last day of classes
Final
Paper is due
The
final test for this class is on Wednesday,
December 23, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
The test
covers, the Seleucid, Parthian, and Sassanid eras, as well as the post-Sassanid
developments, especially in relation to Zoroastrianism
Assignments
There will be 1 book report, 3 tests, 1 oral report, and 1 final
paper. Attendance and active participation in classroom discussions also carry
points.
Book Report
Any book on ancient
Tests
There will be three tests. The actual dates for the tests are
geared to the completion of the sections of the course devoted to the main
topics in that part of the course. The exams will cover classroom discussions, reading
assignments, and oral reports. There will be no make-up tests.
Exceptions will be made for hardship cases on an individual basis. The
instructor should be informed in advance of the reason for not taking the test.
Each test carries 12 points. The tests altogether are worth 36 points.
The final test (test 3) is on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Oral Reports
Each student participates in the gathering and delivering of
information for 1 oral report. After
topics are assigned, each student gives a presentation to the class. After the
presentations, the reports (comprehensive PowerPoint presentation or full text)
are corrected or adjusted as necessary and sent to all the students. Students
are responsible for knowing the content of all the reports they receive for
tests. Look at Guidelines
for Oral Reports for information on writing
the oral report.
The oral report is graded for the quality of its overall
contribution to the class. Failure to participate at the time assigned results
in the loss of 3 points. Failure to provide the class with a copy of the report
results in the loss of the rest of the points. Each oral report carries 15
points for that round. The report should not take more than 15 minutes.
Paper
The paper should be 10 pages double-spaced, typed, and
presentable. It should deal with aspects of
Aspects of paper |
# of points |
presentability |
2 |
relevance and originality |
6 |
introduction |
3 |
structure |
4 |
content |
8 |
conclusion |
3 |
footnotes & bibliography |
4 |
Total |
30 |
Attendance
Attendance is taken by passing a roster to be legibly signed. Each
absence is worth half a point. Attendance carries 3 points.
Active Participation
Active participation in class discussions carries 6 points.
Grading Scale
4.0 scale |
Grade |
% |
4.0 |
A |
93-100 |
3.667 |
A- |
84-92 |
3.333 |
B+ |
76-83 |
3.000 |
B |
68-75 |
2.667 |
B- |
59-67 |
2.333 |
C+/S |
49-58 |
2.000 |
C/S |
43-50 |
1.667 |
C-/S |
34-42 |
1.333 |
D+ |
26-33 |
1.0 |
D |
25 |
Selected Bibliography
Required
Books:
To be
ordered online:
Bashiri,
Ancient Iran: Cosmology, Mythology, History, 2nd edition, Cognella, 2016. Order at www.cognella.com
Available
at the bookstore:
Bashiri,
Ancient Iran: Cosmology, Mythology, History, 2nd edition
Frye,
Heritage of Persia
Herodotus,
The Persian Wars
Books
on E-reserve:
Case, Paul Edward. "I Become a Bakhtiari,"
National Geographic Magazine, 1946/47, pp. 325-358
Cameron, George, Darius Carved History on Ageless Rock,
National Geography Magazine, pp. 827-844.
Knobloch, Edgar. Beyond the Oxus: Archaeology, Art and
Architecture of Central Asia,
The
following books and articles are available either at the Reserve Room (marked
with *), or from the general collection at Wilson Library.
Alverson, Stewart. "Zoroaster," Great
Lives From History, (Frank N. Magill. ed.), vol. 5,
Bashiri, Iraj. Ancient
*Bashiri, Iraj. Ancient Iran:
Cosmology, Mythology, History, 2nd Edition, Cognella
Publishers, 2016.
_____. "Darius the Great," Great
Lives From History (Frank N. Magill. ed.), vol. 2,
_____. "Xerxes I," in Great
Lives From History (Frank N. Magill. ed.), vol. V,
_____. Firdowsi's
Shahname: 1000 Years After,
_____. "Zoroaster and His
Religion," Avesta in the History and
Culture of Central Asia,
_____. "The Role of Farr in Firdowsi's Shahname,"
Firdowsi's Shahname:
1000 Years After,
_____. From the Hymns of Zarathustra
to the Songs of Borbad,
_____. "Alexander III the
Great," From the Hymns of Zarathustra to the Songs of Borbad,
_____. "Mazdian Cosmology," Zoroastrianism
and its Value in the Development of Civilization of Near and Middle East
People,
_____. The Impact of Egypt on Ancient
Iran, Rudaki Institute of Language and
Literature, Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, 2007.
*Boyce, Mary. A History of
Zoroastrianism, vol. 1. Hague: E. J. Brille,
1975.
_____. Zoroastrians: Their Religious
Beliefs and Practices, Routledge & Kagan Paul, 1979.
*Bresciani, E.
"The Persian Occupation of
*Case,
Paul Edward. "I Become a Bakhtiari,"
National Geographic Magazine, 1946/47, pp. 325-358
*Clayton, Peter A. Chronicle of the
Pharaohs,
Cohen, S., et al.
*de Menasce, J. "Cosmic Dualism". Larousse World Mythology, 1965, pp. 189-206.
Duchesne-Guillemin, Jacques, The Hymns
of Zarathustra, Beacon Press, 1963.
*Engels, Donald W. Alexander the Great
and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army,
*Filippani-Ronconi,
Pio. "The Tradition of Sacred Kingship in
Firdowsi, Hakim Abu al-Qasim,
Hakim Abul-Qasim.Shahname Vols. 1-9,
_____. The Shahnameh
of Ferdowsi: Matn-i intiqadi, vols. 1-9, Eastern Literatures Publication
Institute,
*Frye, Richard N., The Heritage of
*Ghirshman,
Roman.
_____. Persian Art: the Parthian and Sassanian Dynasties, Golden Press, 1962.
_____. The Art of Ancient
Green, Peter. Xerxes at
*Grimal,
Guthrie, W. The Sophists,
*Herodotus. The
Persian Wars, Introduction by Francis R. B. Godolphin,
Hesiod, Theogony,
Works and Days, Shield (trans. Apostolos N. Athanassakis), Johns
Hicks, Jim, et. al. The Persians,
Time-Life Books ,1979.
Hinnells, John R. Persian Mythology, the
Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, 1975.
_____. Mithraic
Studies, vols. 1-2, Manchester University Press, 1975.
Hornung,
Erik, Conceptions of God in Ancient
Karaka, Dosabhai Framji, History of
the Parsis, vols. 1-2, Macmillan and Co, 1884.
Kent, Roland G. Old Persian: Grammar,
Texts, Lexicon, American Oriental Society, 1953.
Kirk, G. S, et al., The Presocratic Philosophers,
Macaluso, Peter F. "Cleistenes
of
*Morenz, Siegfried, Egyptian Religion, tr. by Ann E.
Keep,
Muler, F. Max (editor), E. W. West
(tr.). The Secret Books of the East, parts I-V,
Muler, F. Max (editor), James Darmesteter (tr.). The Secret Books of the East,
parts I-III, Greenwood Press, 1972.
*Olmstead, A. T. History of the
Persian Empire,
Plato. The
*van de Walle.
Viscusi, Peter L. "Pericles," Great
Lives From History (Frank N. Magill. ed.), vol. 2,
Wilber, Donald
N. Persepolis: The Archaeology of Parsa, Seat of
the Persian Kings, Darwin Press, Inc., 1989.
Zaehner, R. C. The Dawn and Twilight of
Zoroastrianism, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1961.