Art History 102 - Art in the Premodern World

This global survey of premodern art and architecture introduces students to a wide array of cultures across time and geographies. Each class will center on one monument of world heritage and include a discussion of its context and associated artifacts. Over the semester, students will gain a broad perspective of how humans invested their time and resources into monumental art and architecture. Sites featured in the course include Stonehenge, the Egyptian Pyramids, the Assyrian palace of Nimrud, Dura Eurpos, Hagia Sophia, the Dome of the Rock, the Great Stupa at Sanchi, the Todaiji Temple at Nara, Lalibela, Notre Dame of Paris, Ani, Angkor Wat, Chichen Itza, and Machu Picchu. For each of the sites discussed, we will look at a variety of media, from architecture, to sculpture, metalwork, manuscripts, frescoes, mosaics, and reliefs.