ARTH 201-B Perspectives of Art History

• Instructor: Dr. Anna-Maria Moubayed

This course is the first of two courses (ARTH 201 and ARTH 202). It provides a comprehensive introduction to the artistic and architectural products of the ancient world, spanning from prehistory to Ancient Near East and Egypt, the civilizations of Greece and Rome, cultures around the Silk Road, the Byzantine Empire, and the Early Modern period (ca. 1400). Through detailed, roughly chronological lectures and critical analysis, students explore a range of significant works of art and architecture, examining their historical contexts, civic, religious, and political functions, and their lasting impact on later cultures.

The overall structure of the course is derived from the canonical tradition of art history as it has been constructed in the West from the eighteenth century onwards – a tradition which chronologically orders bodies of work said to exemplify developments through time, while making certain assumptions about what constitutes "art," and about which periods, places, and people are most worthy of study. However, lectures will also question the supremacy of this canonical perspective and its approach to organizing knowledge. This course will also integrate content from areas of the globe that have typically been excluded from the western art-historical cannon, for instance: art and architecture along the Silk Road.

Finally, the course, in which tutorials play a vital role, is taught with art history majors in mind as it is a core component of the art history undergraduate degree and provides a knowledge base that enables further study in the field. It integrates archaeological findings and contemporary historiography to deepen students' appreciation and knowledge of art and architecture history. Assigned readings are complemented by culturally and historically specific case studies and primary sources, offering a rich and diverse perspective on the material. By engaging with these sources, students develop visual literacy skills and gain a foundational understanding of art historical methods and objectives.