Mediterranean Seafaring from the Bronze Age to the Roman Empire
This course is an introduction to the archaeology of Mediterranean seafaring from the Old Kingdom period in Egypt (c. 2700 BC) to the height of the Roman Empire in the second and third century A.D. We will discuss the maritime activity of a number of ancient cultures, including the Egyptians, Minoans, Phoenicians and Carthaginians, Greeks, Etruscans, and peoples of the Roman Empire. Topics to be discussed will include the development of Mediterranean seafaring technology and long-distance trade networks, ancient port cities and coastal communities, naval warfare and piracy, and the political, economic, and cultural effects of the movement of individuals and populations along Mediterranean sailing routes.