ARCO2109: Semester 1, 2023

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Units ARCO2109 Semester 1 2023 [Normal day]

Unit of study_

ARCO2109: Asia: Ice Age to Empire

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Asia is the world's largest continent, home to the greatest environmental diversity on the planet. Its river valleys, mountains, steppes, jungles, islands and deserts have nurtured an extraordinarily rich variety of human responses to the pursuit of survival. As communities have evolved from small bands of hunter-foragers to large complex societies, their trajectories have diverged greatly in response to climatic, social and economic challenges. This unit offers a view of cultural development from the first humans to medieval times, presenting themes highlighting change, technological advances, interconnectivity, structures of power and our responsibility to protect the legacy of the past.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	ARCO2109
Academic unit	Archaeology
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points at 1000 level in Archaeology or 6 Junior credit points of ARCO and (ANHS1600 or ANHS1601 or ANTH1001 or ARHT1001 or HSTY1089)
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Alison Betts, alison.betts@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Alison Betts, alison.betts@sydney.edu.au
	Natali Pearson, natali.pearson@sydney.edu.au
	Roland Fletcher, roland.fletcher@sydney.edu.au
	Joseph W. Lehner, joseph.lehner@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Quiz 1 Short paper on assigned question, based on class readings and lectures	10%	Week 04 Due date: 13 Mar 2023 at 23:59	250 wds
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Quiz 2 Short paper on assigned question, based on class readings and lectures	10%	Week 07 Due date: 03 Apr 2023 at 23:59	250 wds
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Quiz 3 Short paper on assigned question, based on class readings and lectures	10%	Week 10 Due date: 01 May 2023 at 23:59	250 wds
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	1000 wd tutorial assignment Article review	20%	Week 13 Due date: 26 May 2023 at 23:00	1000 wds
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Quiz 4 Short paper on assigned question, based on class readings and lectures	10%	Week 13 Due date: 22 May 2023 at 23:56	250 wds
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	2500 wd essay Essay on topic of student's choice	40%	Week 13 Due date: 28 May 2023 at 23:59	2500 wds
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

4 x 250 wd quiz: short paper on assigned question, based on class readings and lectures

2500 wd essay: essay on topic of student’s choice. Students will be provided with guidance on suitable approaches.

1000 wd tutorial assignment: review of article written up as a summary and then used as the basis for student led class discussion

Assessment criteria

Result Name	Mark Range	Description
Pass	50-64	To be awarded to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard
Credit	65-74	To be awarded to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard
Distinction	75-84	To be awarded to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard
High Distinction	85-100	To be awarded to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction: overview of themes, landscapes and cultures	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Out of Africa and across Asia: our hominin ancestors	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Student Led Discussion	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	Life in the Paleolithic: glacial and post-glacial patterns	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Student Led Discussion	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	Patterns of Domestication: East Asia – West Asia	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Student Led Discussion	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	Herders and Farmers to Urban Polities: Mesopotamia North v South – Indus Valley – Southern Arabia	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Student Led Discussion	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	Herders and Farmers to Urban Polities: China – Central Asia – Eurasia - Anatolia	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Student Led Discussion	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	Interconnectivities: mobility, technology transfer, trade, cultural assimilation	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Student Led Discussion	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	Asian Iron Ages - Dark Ages, City States, Nomads and Empires: West Asia - The Neo-Assyrians: structures of empire	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	No Description	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	Asian Iron Ages - Dark Ages, City States, Nomads and Empires: Central Asia - Nomad confederacies	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Student Led Discussion	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	Asian Iron Ages - Dark Ages, City States, Nomads and Empires: East Asia	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Student-Led Discussion	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Asia in Late Classical/Medieval times	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Student-led Discussion	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Maritime Heritage in Asia	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Student Led Discussion	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Asia Overview: yesterday and today	Lecture (2 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this class can be accessed through the Library’s reading list system Leganto, available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Demonstrate expertise in the archaeology of Asia, with particular knowledge of the diversity and complexity of human society and its inter-relationships.
LO2. Demonstrate an understanding of how material remains can be used to reconstruct ancient lifeways.
LO3. Apply critical thinking to understand the significance of the archaeological record in a modern context.
LO4. Function as an independent learner, demonstrating the ability to communicate complex ideas in a sophisticated manner.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This is a new unit for 2023. It has never been taught before.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

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