Archaeology

The course aims to introduce students to the historical, cultural, and religious complexity of the Caucasus region, with particular focus on the southern Caucasus (Colchis, Iberia, Armenia, and Caucasian Albania) from the first millennium BCE to the Late Antique period. After defining the geographical and political boundaries of the Caucasus, the course will explore the diversity of human presence and the different forms of political organization in the region: from the nomadic societies typical of the northern Caucasus to the emergence of kingdoms in the southern part, highlighting the interactions of the northern Caucasus with the Central Asian steppes and of the southern Caucasus with the civilizations of Western Europe, Mesopotamia, and Persia, starting from the Greek colonies established along the coasts of the Black Sea and in Colchis. The course emphasizes the value of local sources (Armenian and Georgian), which will be critically examined in their historical and cultural contexts alongside classical sources and data of material culture, with attention to the region’s political, religious, and social dynamics. A comparative approach will be adopted, aimed at relating different local traditions to each other and to the major neighboring empires, particularly the Romano-Byzantine and Iranian spheres, in order to assess their political, cultural, and religious impact. Special attention will be given to the role of Christianity in shaping the identities of the Caucasian peoples and in the formation of cultural and religious landscapes, with reference to architectural traditions of the period. By the end of the course, students will be able to analyze the forms of political and social organization in the Caucasus from the first millennium BCE to Late Antiquity, evaluate interactions with neighboring civilizations and the role of Christianity in defining cultural identities, and critically interpret both local and classical ancient texts.

The course is open to students without any particular prior background or prerequisites.

The recommended bibliography is purely indicative: students will be invited to select a portion of the suggested texts (approximately 100 pages) according to their specific interests. It is also possible to choose other relevant texts, depending on individual preferences. J. Gippert – J. Dum-Tragut (eds.), Caucasian Albania. An International Handbook, Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter 2023. D. Braund, Georgia in antiquity: a history of Colchis and Transcaucasian Iberia, 550 BC-AD 562, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1994; R.G. Hovannisian (ed.), The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times: Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century, Mazda 1993. In addition to the indicated texts, selected passages from ancient authors will be provided and discussed during the lectures, forming an integral part of the examination program.

Students are strongly encouraged to attend classes regularly.

The exam consists of an oral examination on the content of the lectures, on the readings of ancient authors analyzed in class, and on other readings agreed upon during the course, also taking into account the specific interests of the student.

Additional texts and readings may be provided according to the students’ specific interests for further individual study.

The course consists of in-person lectures that involve substantial interaction between the instructors and the students.