Mar 29, 2024  
2018-19 Graduate Catalog 
    
2018-19 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

RE 420 Archeology and Religion


The class explores the use of archeology as a method of studying physical structures, scriptures, practices, and ideas that are associated with religion. The class addresses way in which archeology discovers artifacts and produces new descriptions of ancient ways of life. The course analyzes the way that archeology serves as a method of verifying or challenging the historical claims of many religions. Topics include the biblical archeology of the Holy Lands, the Exodus and the monarchy, the archeology of ancient Egypt, the underwater explorations off the west coast of India and the city of Alexandra, and the Mayan civilization and the practice of time-keeping, astronomy, and construction of temples and cities based upon the cosmos. The course includes a trip to the Penn Museum of Archeology, and guest speakers on related topics.