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HIS 243 - Ancient Sites Assignment (WO)

Select a Topic

For this assignment, we are looking at archeological excavations and selecting 3 buildings or artifacts that advance our understanding of life in the ancient world.  Start by selecting a site from this list:

Romans

  • Pompeii
  • Herculaneum
  • Palmyra
  • Mithraeum beneath St. Clemente in Rome
  • Hadrian’s Villa
  • Ostia

Greeks

  • Mycenae
  • Pergamum/Pergamon
  • Delphi
  • Athens (Acropolis, Agora, etc)
  • Halicarnassus
  • Alexandria
  • Temple of Apollo at Bassae
  • Ephesus
  • Olympia
  • Vergina
  • Paestum
  • Ai Khanoum
  • Sepphoris

Egyptians

  • Valley of the Kings
  • Amarna

Learn About the Topic

Next, you will use encyclopedias and videos to learn more about your site.

Narrow the Topic

Now that you know more about your topic, you can narrow your focus.  Think about the discoveries made at your site.  How do they relate to daily life in the ancient world?  What aspects of your civilization interest you?  Here are some aspects to think about:

  • Food
  • Love, Courtship, Marriage, Family
  • Gender Roles
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Warfare
  • Politics
  • Trade/Economics
  • Entertainment
  • Sports

There are countless more examples.  The final step is to combine our site with an aspect of daily life.

Examples:

  1. Pompeii AND food
  2. Alexandria AND science
  3. Ai Khanoum AND trade
  4. Agora AND politics

As you begin to research, you will discover interesting artifacts and buildings that help us understand your topic.