The Assyrian Empire was one of the most powerful ancient civilizations, holding sway over the entire region of the Ancient Near East. Ruling with great military might, the Assyrians constructed massive palatial complexes containing extraordinary narrative relief sculpture documenting their exploits. This class will examine these complexes, looking at the architecture, art, and writing that were intricate parts of the buildings.  Students will actively participate in critiquing various scholarly texts and objects from the Penn Museum and will be responsible for a series of writing projects dealing with these palaces and the context for which they were created. Students’ own writing skills are a main focus of this course. Specific exercises and assignments will concentrate on critical writing, analysis, argumentation, and comparison. 

Students will participate in writing workshops, and take part in peer review and revisions to improve their writing and communication skills.