Art History 290NE - Issues in Art History: 'Nature and Environment in the Ancient World'

The course examines landscape design and images of nature in ancient societies, including not only Egypt, Greece, and Rome, but cultures along the Silk Road. How was the natural world conceived, and what roles did it play in religion, politics, and social life? The historical meanings of landscape provide a basis for discussing current issues of technology, tourism, and climate change. The course emphasizes looking and describing, as we move between the classroom, museums, and the outdoors.