HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT IRANIAN CIVILIZATION

Course objectives

In consistency with the educational purposes of the whole teaching course, aim of the teaching unit is to give students a basic knowledge and comprehension skills in the field of HISTORY OF ANCIENT IRAN CIVILIZATIONS, with the help of advanced textbooks. Moreover, it will make the student able to apply the acquired knowledge in an expert and reflective way, making autonomous judgments, communicating ideas, problems and reflections in a clear and correct way, and developing the knowledge required to go further in the studies. The purpose of this course is a general reconstruction of the history of Iran from the Achaemenid to the Sasanid period, using the aid of primary sources.

Channel 1
CARLO GIOVANNI CERETI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The course will cover the main phases of pre-Islamic Iranian history: the Elamites, Medes, Achaemenids, Alexander, Seleucids, Arsacids, and Sassanids. It is designed as an introduction to the history, culture, and languages of the cultural area.
Prerequisites
None
Books
- Wiesehöfer, J. (2003), La Persia antica, Il Mulino, Bologna. - Piras, A. (2007), Medi e Persiani: dall’Iran al Mar Egeo. In: A. Barbero, Storia d’Europa e del Mediterraneo II.III Salerno Editrice, Roma, pp.305-333. - Cereti, C. G. (2009). Il mondo iranico dai parti ai sasanidi. In: A. Barbero,Storia d’Europa e del Mediterraneo III.VI Salerno Editrice, Roma, pp. 223- 262. - Cereti, C.G (2010), L'Impero Sasanide. In: A. Barbero, Storia d'Europa e del Mediterraneo III.VII. Salerno Editrice, Roma, pp. 289- 349.
Exam mode
During the oral exam, candidates will answer questions on the history of pre-Islamic Iran and discuss the thesis paper previously submitted.
  • Lesson code1044227
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseArchaeological Sciences
  • CurriculumArcheologia orientale
  • Year2nd year
  • Duration12 months
  • SSDL-OR/14
  • CFU6