Ancient Egypt's history spans over 4,000 years. In this class, we will examine the earliest evidence of Egyptian art and history. 

No prior knowledge is required, but some familiarity with ancient Egypt and burial practices such as mummification is helpful.

Week 1: Prehistoric Beginnings: Badarian and Naqada Culture
Much of the earliest evidence of ancient Egyptian culture dates back to the period between roughly 5000 and 3000 BCE. At this time, Egypt was not a unified civilization, but rather a collection of fragmented regions with local leaders. We begin to see two-dimensional images of people, animals, and patterns painted onto pottery, as well as clay figurines, ivory carvings, and slate palettes. Hieroglyphics were also developed during this time period. We will look at the evolution of early Egyptian pottery styles, examine grave goods, and learn the meaning behind certain prehistoric symbols and motifs.

Week 2: Early Dynastic Period
During the reigns of the first kings of a unified Egypt, many of the artistic motifs about kingship and Egyptian religion were established. We will examine artifacts such as the Narmer palette, the Scorpion macehead, and an ivory tag depicting King Den to see how the earliest kings were represented. Students will learn about the serekh, the precursor to the more widely known cartouche. We will also look at the evolution of royal tombs from the mastaba to the Step Pyramid of King Djoser. 

Week 3: The Age of Pyramids
During the next few dynasties, kings continued to experiment with pyramids, advancing from the Bent Pyramid of King Seneferu to the Great Pyramid of King Khufu (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World). Both royal and non-royal tombs were lavishly painted with scenes of everyday life as well as the afterlife. We will investigate the art and architecture of these tombs and pyramid complexes to see what they reveal about the lives of elite Egyptians as well as their beliefs about the afterlife.

Week 4: The Art of the Old Kingdom
In our final week, we take a deeper dive into the art of the Old Kingdom, paying special attention to how people were represented. We will learn what size, posture, and clothing tell us about people in ancient Egyptian images. We will examine sculpture, reliefs, and paintings to uncover similarities and differences in styles between the different Old Kingdom dynasties. 

My teaching style is conversational, collaborative, and encouraging. My goal is to motivate curiosity and enthusiasm about our subjects. I blend direct instruction with conversation, activities, and opportunities for students to apply what they learn. I like to show large images and ask students to make observations before sharing much information. I ask questions and challenge students to make connections and draw their own conclusions. I also encourage students to ask their own questions and be active participants in the learning process. I assess learning by asking open-ended questions and weaving pop quiz questions into the presentation.