In this class, we will gain an understanding of the cultures of ancient civilizations through the study of the objects they produced. We will grapple extensively with issues such as who decides what is art, the ethics surrounding display and repatriation, and the difference between art, artifact and cultural object. By studying the objects produced by these great civilizations, we will gain a better understanding, not simply of the objects themselves, but of how they fit within the context of their time and place.

Offered Fall 2026