This courses explores the material culture of the period 10,000 BCE to the Crusades in the region commonly called the ?Holy Land? (modern day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and Palestine). Following a chronological framework the course will examine the archeological evidence for the first permanent settlements, the rise of urbanism and the subsequent migrations/invasions by other groups such as the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks and Romans. The course will finish by looking at the arrival of the Islamic religion and the consequent Christian reaction resulting in the Crusades.

*Course content subject to change