Lesson 1 Introduction (June 2-7)

 Learning Objectives
A student completing this lesson should be able to:
  1. Provide the derivation of the name Jerusalem;
  2. Describe the geographical setting of the city;
  3. Identify and discuss the major archaeological and historical periods of Jerusalem;
  4. Discuss the evidence for Neolithic, Early Bronze, Middle Bronze, and Late Bronze settlement at Jerusalem;
  5. Identify and discuss the implications of the Dominus Flevit Tomb and the artifacts found therein;
  6. Identify and discuss the literary evidence relating to Late Bronze Age Jerusalem.

Reading Assignments

TOPIC

 REQUIRED READING SUPPLEMENTAL READING

Topic 1 Introduction

Mare 15-18

Fritz, Volkmar – Israelites and Canaanites: You Can Tell Them Apart. Biblical Archaeology Review 28:04, Jul/Aug 2002. 

Shanks – Everything You Ever Knew About Jerusalem Is Wrong (Well, Almost). Biblical Archaeology Review 25.6 (1999):20-29.

Salmon – Jerusalem: The Old City. Map first prepared in 1936. Rev. ed. 1994. Jerusalem: The Survey of Israel.

Topic 2 Jerusalem Through the Centuries

Mare 19-33

 

Topic 3 The Jerusalem Area in Pre-Davidic Times

Mare 35-58

Stiebing, William H. Jr. – When Was the Age of the Patriarchs?–Of Amorites, Canaanites, and Archaeology. Biblical Archaeology Review 1:02. Jun 1975.

Viewing Assignments
The lectures in this course are in writing. I plan to have some visual material for you (possibly one video and a couple of PowerPoint presentations).

Lecture 1 – Introduction

Lecture 2 – Geographical Setting

Lecture 3 – Early Settlement

 Forum Assignment (Icebreaker due June 5)

Complete your icebreaker assignment. For credit, you will need to make three postings consisting of your short autobiography and two comments on the autobiographies of other students. The purposes of this icebreaker assignment are for you to introduce yourself to your classmates, to verify your enrollment in this course, and to promote student interaction. The icebreaker assignment is due by the fourth day of the summer session (Wednesday, June 5). Post your autobiography as a reply to the "Bios" topic on the course forum. You can earn 25 bonus points in this course by doing so “on time.” On this assignment there is no credit granted for postings made after June 5.

Words and Phrases

You can earn a total of 10 points extra credit for this course by developing a one or two sentence glossary entry for each of the Words and Phrases listed in Lesson 1. You have to complete the whole set to receive the extra credit. See the Extra-Credit Assignments on the Assignments section of the course website.

Aelia Capitolina

Akra Fortress

Akhenaten

Amarna Letters of Egypt

Antonia Fortress

Bethany

Bronze Age

Byzantine Period

Damascus Gate

Dominus Flevit

Dung Gate

Elba tablets

Execration Texts

Hadrian

Herod Agrippa

Herod the Great

Iron Age (Early, Middle, Late)

Jewish Quarter of the Old City)

 

Mount of Olives

Ophel Hill

Ptolemies of Egypt

Rehoboam

Seleucids of Syria

Valley of Jehoshaphat

Upper City

Zion Gate
Quiz 1 (due June 7)

Rather than a regular quiz, this one is more of a research exercise. It is assigned so that you will learn to use the Biblical Archaeology Society Archive. It is a treasure house filled with truth and error. Access the archive from the University Library page. Login with your ATutor logon and password and select the archive. Be sure to use quotes when searching for phrases. This quiz is worth 40 points.  Enjoy your sleuthing.

Writing Assignment (due June 7)

In your readings you encountered some of the ideas about the identity of the Habiru. In this assignment you need to dig a bit deeper and based on your research explain who you identify as the Habiru? What historical and archaeological evidence do we have of them? What evidence is there suggesting they were or were not Israelite tribes. Cite your sources and show what contemporary scholars, both liberal and conservative, have included. End by stating your own personal conclusions and why you have reached them. This assignment is worth 50 points. Post your assignment as an attachment to preserve its format.