ANT 205: CULTURAL CONTEXT OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY (Spring 2002)

9:30 to 10:45 am Tuesday/Thursday- Instructional Resources 112 (FV)

Library 214 (MC) and L-041 (FP)

Dr. Michael Fuller - Professor of Anthropology and Humanities
Office - Social Science Rm. 124
Office Phone: (314) 595-4414
Website: http://www.stlcc.cc.mo.us/fv/users/mfuller
Web Notes: http://blackboard.stlcc.cc.mo.us
Your new name is ________; Your password is ________
Email: mfuller@artsci.wustl.edu

Office Hours: MW 11-12 and 3-4 and TTh 2-4 and mornings by appointment

Purpose of the Course:
Culture refers to the patterns of behavior and thought which are learned and shared. The objective of this class is to study Greek Culture, Roman Culture, Jewish Culture, and Early Christianity by analyzing specific material culture (tombs, temples, art, altars, coins, etc.) and non-material (kinship system, political organization, economic system, and world view-religion). We will use artifacts, architecture, and written records as our primary sources. The purpose of this course is to examine the contributions made by anthropology to our knowledge of Christianity within the Roman Empire and specifically with Syro-Palestine, Mesopotamia, and Egypt

Textbook:
Coogan, Michael (Editor). ***REQUIRED***
1998 Oxford History of the Biblical Lands, 3rd edition. Oxford University Press.

Objectives:
Cultural and social analysis of Early Christianity is designed to aid in the understanding of the cultural contexts of the Jesus Movement and the Early Church. It asks: "What were the cultural traits present during the time of the Roman conquest of Palestine, the ministry of Jesus, and the Early Christian Church?" This class will have 3 specific objectives:

1. To understand the religious, political, and economic matrix in which the Jesus Movement an Early Christian Church developed.

2. To be able to read a passage in the New Testament and relate it to various anthropological concepts such as gender roles, marriage form, social organization, etc.

3. To examine the diversity of Early Christian world view.

No history book ever tells the whole truth. (Nat. Public Radio)

Course Requirements:

1. Everyone is required to take a mid-term and final examination. The final examination will be comprehensive. You are permitted to have handwritten notes or typewritten notes with you during an examination, but the use of photocopies or any printed book is absolutely disallowed. YOU MUST USE A BLUE BOOK TO WRITE THE QUIZ ANSWERS!!!! How do I do well on an essay examination?

A. Practice!!! I will give broad outlines before each examination.

B. Read all of the questions first.

C. Budget your time. Do not spend too much time on any one question.

D. Include facts to support your information and conclusions.

2. Everyone will be assigned a non-fiction book to read and review during the second half of the class. You will summarize the book in both a written and oral report submitted before the class. The written report is to be finalized in the best scholarly tradition (documented, footnoted, bibliography, double spaced, typed, neat, etc.). Due date: last class meeting in April. LATE PAPERS WILL BE SEVERELY PENALIZED!!!

Be absolutely sure that you use some of the internet resources that the teacher will discuss in the class. Failure to use internet resources will doom the grade to a C or B.

Be absolutely sure and compare the book which you are reviewing with the class textbook and with the following books in the reference section of the library. Failure to use library resources will doom the grade to a C or B.

Alpher, Joseph (Ed.)
1986 Encyclopedia of Jewish History.
[Reference 909:049 E56]

Broadman, John, Jasper Griffin and Oswyn Murray
1986 The Oxford History of the Classical World.
(in particular pages 254-274 & 748-770)
[Overnight Reserve at some campus locations]

Eliade, Mircia (Editor)
1986 The Encyclopedia of Religion.
[Reference 200.321 E56]

Grant, Michael and R. Kitzinger
1988 Civilization of the Ancient Mediterranean.
[938 C582 at some campus locations]

Minimum length of your paper is 7 typewritten pages. It can be longer, but never shorter. This will compose 1/3 of your grade.



3. Everyone will be assigned a "historic name" from the 1st century AD. You will use that name when you write three letters to another "historically named" student. The first assignment will require you to use the PERSEUS computer program. Handwritten letters will be accepted though typewritten will be very nice. These will not be graded for spelling or grammar. They will be graded for content. They should be at least 500 words long or longer. Remember – keep your name secret. Tell only your mother. Details of this will be handed out in class.

4. Your attendance is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, but I do not penalize you for being absent. You will discover that each absence is a severe handicap in terms of answering the questions on my examinations!

5. The ACCESS OFFICE - disAbility Support Services has been designated by the college as the primary office to guide, counsel and assist students with disabilities. If you receive services through the ACCESS OFFICE and require accommodations for this class, make an appointment to see me as soon as possible to discuss you approved accommodation needs. Bring your Instructor Notification Memo provided by the ACCESS OFFICE to the appointment. I will hold any information you share with me in strictest confidence unless you give me permission to do otherwise.

6. An Honors Contract can be developed for this class if your GPA is 3.5 or higher. Please contact the Honors Coordinator (Mary Seager at 595-4461 for FV, Sally Souder at 644-9271 for FP, or John Bayer at 984-7555 for MC) for more information..

7. Do the assigned readings from the textbook. It will require your quiet, concentrated attention. Yes, you may have to look up some new words.

8. All class presentations will be videotaped and can be reviewed in the college library.

9. Begin preparing for the examination on the first day of class by disciplining yourself to master the material every step of the way. By the time the exams come, you will be ready - and confident. That feeling of confidence is one of the major buffers of stress.

10. Make a friend in the class who you can telephone and study with during the week before the examination.

11. See me if your are having problems with the course.

12. HOSE ME DOWN AND I WILL FAIL YOU. Translation: you will be given a failing grade if you cheat on a test, cheat on the paper, or act in an uncivil manner.

13. How long do you wait until leaving the classroom if the teacher is late? Wait all hour until instructed to leave by a secretary or another teacher. Discuss the textbook questions with the other students until Professor Fuller arrives.

CAN I HELP UNEARTH EARLY CHRISTIANS?
Yes, but not this summer.
CAN I SEE ANCIENT SITES WITHOUT GETTING SAND UNDER MY FINGERNAILS???? Yes, I take spring break field expeditions to Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia during the past three years. This year, 2002, is Belize and Mexico.

DON'T WRITE YOUR NAME!!!

Fill this out and give to the teacher on the first day of class.

Have you visited an archaeological site in the Holy Land? Which one(s)?

What would you like to learn about Early Christianity

What is written in the Dead Sea Scrolls?

What kind of jobs are available for scholars of Early Christianity?