Pyramids and ploughs. Planetary motion and Pythagorean concepts. Thousands of years before the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment, the Arabic mathematicians and Hindi scholars, and the earliest records of Chinese astronomy or Greek philosophy, the people of the ancient Middle East and Egypt developed robust methodologies and tools for dealing with both cosmic curiosities and pragmatic need. Archaeological remains attest to the implementation of important agricultural and military advancements, such as aqueducts, the wheel, or siege machines. Ancient texts discuss creating glass, making beer (without hops), prescribing medicine, and predicting the movements of Jupiter using geometric algorithms.

Students will directly engage with ancient evidence and techniques. They will experiment with ancient recipes and procedures. They will observe the night sky and trace the movements of celestial bodies. They will solve ancient math problems and practice writing techniques.

By engaging ancient writings, handling and discussing ancient objects, experimenting with ancient mathematical problems or techniques, and qualitatively considering the role of technology in life, students will question the notions of modern and Western (or alien) supremacy or the definitions of science, consider how they would solve ancient problems, and experience the importance of scientific developments and technological advancements in both ancient and modern life.

Course Requirements:

Attendance and Participation, Short Essays, Experiments/Problem Sets/Hands-on assignments, Final Project or Paper

Intended Audience:

Students who are interested in the history of science, technology and math, as well as the history of the Middle East. Suitable for those with some familiarity with ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, or the ancient Middle East more broadly, but there are no prerequisites and no expectation of background in these cultures.

Class Format:

Two 90-minute meetings weekly