ARCH2214 Europe before Europe: from Mesolithic to Medieval

This topic gives an overview of European prehistory and early history (c. 9000 BP - AD 1000) to introduce the main periods (chronology), transitions, themes (migration, diffusion, replacement, etc.), technological and cognitive advances. The topic is interdisciplinary and combines the study of physical remains and material culture with literary and linguistic evidence and will gives students the context to study European / Mediterranean world in a way that will allow them to pursue further research in the area, but also to help frame the 1000 years that follows, including the colonisation of Australia (and the rest of the world) by Europeans.

This topic aims to:

• Provide an overview of the main periods, transitions, themes, technological and cognitive developments in Europe (c. 9000 BP - AD 1000)
• Address the use of various kinds of evidence (archaeological, historical, and linguistic) for investigating the past
• Contribute to an understanding of European chronology and archaeology

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the main periods, transitions, themes, technological and cognitive developments in Europe (c. 9000 BP - AD 1000)
2. Describe the roles of various kinds of evidence (archaeological, historical, and linguistic) in investigating the past
3. Demonstrate a strong knowledge of European chronology and archaeology