This course traces the political development and cultural history of Mesopotamia, from the territorial states of the Late Bronze Age to the world’s first empires in the first millennium BC, those of Assyria, Babylonia, and Achaemenid Persia. It also traces the subsequent history of Mesopotamia through the Seleukid and early Parthian eras, down to the end of cuneiform writing around the end of the first millennium BC. The course emphasizes the critical analysis of primary written sources (in translation) for reconstructing the history of the peoples of Mesopotamia. It also examines their achievements in literature, science and scholarship, and art and architecture.

Ancient Mesopotamia is well known as the birthplace of some of the world's earliest cities. This course investigates the physical form of the city in second and first millennium BC Babylonia (southern Mesopotamia) as the setting for the daily activities of its inhabitants. It examines the key components of the Babylonian city: houses; neighbourhoods and city districts; palaces; temples and ziggurats; streets and alleys; shops and markets; city walls, gates, and moats, as well as canals, orchards, and gardens. The course emphasises the reading and critical evaluation of written sources in translation, including selected royal inscriptions, topographical texts, and legal and administrative documents. It also considers ways of approaching the study of ancient cities and addresses the integration of textual and archaeological evidence. The focus is on investigating the relationship between Babylonian city form and contemporary social structure.

The course offers a detailed introduction to the Neo-Assyrian empire and how it functioned, based on study of a representative selection of written sources (in translation). It examines Assyrian kingship, imperial administration, and daily life as reflected in the texts, including the royal inscriptions, official correspondence, astrological reports, and everyday legal and administrative documents. The course studies a cross-section of Assyrian society taking into account various perspectives, from the king and his highest officials and court scholars to the lowest-ranking subjects and deportees. It also investigates the economic basis of the Assyrian empire, including taxation and tribute, booty from military conquest, specialist craft production, and agriculture. The course emphasizes the historical evaluation and interpretation of the primary written sources.

Provides institutional knowledge to support success during and after the PhD degree, early guidance on curricular and extra-curricular components of a PhD, and a broad overview of the academic and non-academic job markets as appropriate for first-year students. The Professional Development Seminar complements individualized advice from students' advisors. It is directed by a committee representing the various fields in the department, and addresses topics specific to NMC students. Attendance only; there are no assignments.

The course is designed to introduce the student to the Aramaic language through selected readings and a study of grammar. First term: Ezra 4:8‑6:18; 7:12‑26; and selected Aramaic texts from the 5th/4th centuries BCE. Second term: Daniel 2:4‑7:28. Grammar will be studied with reference to Hebrew and Syriac. Because of the type of Aramaic studied, students of Akkadian and Egyptian should be interested. The course is valuable for students concentrating on Syria‑Palestine.

As a first step in this course, Old Syriac inscriptions and contracts from Edessa and its vicinity (1st to 3rd centuries CE) are read. These texts belong to a late Aramaic dialect and, therefore, a description of the grammatical features of this dialect is given, as contrasted with Imperial Aramaic. As a second step in this course, sections from the Peshitta version of the Bible, namely the Pentateuch, are read and analyzed. Comparison of vocabulary, expressions, and verb usages in the Peshitta and in the various Targumim will be made. Exegetical commentaries of the Bible, verse homilies and hymns, historiographical literature, and spiritual and mystical writings could also be read. Syriac literature is of interest to Near and Middle Eastern studies, religious studies, church history and theology, Jewish studies, classics, mediaeval studies, etc.

This course introduces the student to the Jerusalem Talmud (y, Yerushalmi or Palestinian Talmud) which is the major amoraic legal compendium of the Land of Israel. Tractate Niddah has been chosen for representative study because of its unique situation as the only Talmudic Tractate in the Order of Purities and its evidence of the abrupt redaction and closure of the Tractate at the end of chapter 3. Recognition of the dialogic structure of the legal discussions concerning the Mishnah and its elucidation will be emphasized. Terminology, grammar, and syntax of Western Aramaic will be learned with reference to parallels in the Babylonian Talmud. Use of the Bar Ilan Data Base will be demonstrated.

We will begin with Chapter 3 of Tractate Niddah which deal with spontaneous abortion, definitions of personhood of the fetus, uncertain products of conception, intersex fetuses and fetuses of indeterminate sex, fetal development, and fetal malformations, and normal and breech births. Solid background in Biblical or Modern Hebrew is required.

Selected texts from the extensive Syriac historiographical literature will be read in the original Syriac language and scripts and analyzed for style, grammar, and content. The texts will be taken from Syriac chronicles, of which there is a series culminating in the voluminous works of Michael the Syrian (12th century) and Bar-Hebraeus (13th century). Both are precious sources, mainly but not exclusively, for the history of the Crusades. Particular attention will be paid to the history of the Middle East and Byzantium from the 5th to the end of the 14th centuries. Students are expected to prepare the texts in advance for reading and analysis in class.

Selections from exegetical literature on the Bible will be read in Syriac and will be analyzed not only for their linguistic form and data, but also for their interpretive content. Extant literature includes commentaries on Genesis and Exodus by Ephrem the Syrian (4th century), as well as commentaries on all biblical books by Ishodad of Merv (9th century) and Dionysius bar Salibi (12th century). In addition, numerous "scolia" on individual passages have survived, such as those of James of Edessa (7th century) and, further, his Hexaemeron, a commentary on the six days of creation. In light of the chronological span of the literature, some attention will be paid to the development of Syriac interpretive tradition.

Selected texts in the Pentateuch beginning with narrative section in Genesis chapter 3 (Garden of Eden), followed by the legal sections in Deuteronomy 25 (levirate marriage) and Exodus 21 (abortion) will be studied using the following Targumim: Onkelos, Pseudo-Jonathan, and Neofiti. The Samaritan (transliterated into Hebrew letters) will be collated as additional references. Midrashic sources of Pseudo-Jonathan and Neofiti will be discussed. A comparative study of the Targumim will be made in reference to grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and translation strategies. Solid background in Biblical or Modern Hebrew, or Introductory Aramaic or experience with Eastern Aramaic from the Babylonian Talmud is required. Students will be taught to use the Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon and become familiar with the relevant dictionaries and grammars.

Learning the syntax of Babylonian Aramaic and building vocabulary will be accomplished through study of the text of a Babylonian Talmud tractate and its traditional commentaries. Comparisons to Biblical Aramaic and other Aramaic dialects will be noted. Y.N. Epstein's Aramit Bavlit will be the reference for grammar study. M. Sokoloff's A Dictionary of Jewish Babylonian Aramaic is the required dictionary. Jastrow’s Dictionary of Talmud Babli, Yerushalmi, Midrashic Literature, and Targumim may also be helpful. Strong Hebrew background and/or introductory Aramaic required.

This course introduces students to the hieroglyphic script and the classical form of the ancient Egyptian language. After the basic elements of grammar are mastered, the class will begin the reading of simple hieroglyphic texts.

A continuation of NMC1201Y, in which the student is exposed to a wide range of hieroglyphic texts in the Middle Egyptian dialect. Sources of historical, literary, religious, and economic significance will be studied. The grammar and syntax covered in NMC1201Y are reviewed intensively.

The course introduces the student to the Late Egyptian dialect attested from the New Kingdom on and spanning the period from c. 1300-700 BCE. Students will be introduced to grammar, syntax, and orthography through readings of original texts; these will include stories, letters, business documents, and formal inscriptions.

In this course we read and analyze texts written in the cursive script known as "hieratic." Texts from all periods of Egyptian history will be read, hence a sound knowledge of all stages of the Egyptian language will be necessary.

An advanced language seminar that introduces the student to the grammar and writing system of Egyptian texts from the Old Kingdom and First Intermediate Periods (c. 2400–2100 BCE). Texts studied are from funerary, legal, administrative, and cultic contexts, with a focus on autobiographical texts and their development over time. All texts will be read in the original, and students will learn to analyze them in terms of both language/grammar and content. The historical and social, as well as the archaeological, context of the texts will be given due weight.

This is an advanced language seminar that introduces the student to the analysis, in terms of both language/grammar and content, of Egyptian texts of historical significance. Texts from the periods of the Old Kingdom up to the Late Period will be studied, and all texts will be read in the original. Particular attention will be paid to the cultural and social context of the texts, and questions such as how to best define "historical texts," and to what extent literary texts may be used as historical sources, will be discussed.

This is an advanced language seminar that introduces the student to the analysis, in terms of both language/grammar and content, of texts that elucidate Egyptian religious conceptions. Texts from all periods of pharaonic history will be studied, and all texts will be read in the original. A particular focus will be on texts from funerary contexts, for which the most complete sources can be found, but cultic, magical, and theological texts will also be studied.

Semester-long reading of ancient Egyptian Instructional Texts, aka "Wisdom Literature," this will be read in Egyptian hieroglyphic script.

An introduction to biblical Hebrew prose. Grammar and selected texts. For students with no previous knowledge of Hebrew.

A continuation of the study of ancient Hebrew grammar and texts. Focus is given to covering a wide variety of genres, e.g., narrative, chronicle, genealogy, oracle, prayer, hymn, and proverb.

A continuation of the study of ancient Hebrew grammar and texts. Focus is given to covering a wide variety of genres, e.g., narrative, chronicle, genealogy, oracle, prayer, hymn, and proverb.

A seminar on ancient Hebrew inscriptions, as well as the closely related Moabite, Edomite, Ammonite, and Phoenician texts. Knowledge of biblical Hebrew is supposed. A basic bibliography is supplied, and a grasp of the scholarly literature is required. The texts are prepared in advance and presented by the students, with emphasis on grammatical, syntactic, literary, historical, and religious questions, and with consideration of orthographic and paleographical issues.

This course focuses on text-critical study of the Hebrew Bible, providing an introduction to the manuscript evidence from the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Septuagint, the Masoretic text, and the Samaritan Pentateuch, as well as from other ancient sources. Issues pertaining to paleography, orthography, and manuscript production are discussed, as well as processes of textual composition and development, and techniques used by ancient translators (Greek, Latin, etc.). Of particular interest is the state of the biblical text leading to the time of canonization in the first or second century CE Elementary Hebrew is a prerequisite and elementary Greek recommended.

Against the background of the neighbouring civilizations, the course will examine Israel's view of her origins, the early settlement in Canaan, the united monarchy, the two kingdoms, their downfall and exile, and the restoration of the Jerusalem religious community in the Persian Empire. Socio-economic, cultural, and religious structures and accomplishments will be discussed at convenient points of this chronological framework.

This course will cover the Hebrew text of a biblical book (e.g., Samuel, Ezekiel) or a thematic group (e.g., wisdom literature, minor prophets) in order to develop skills of close textual analysis and to learn and apply the tools of critical biblical scholarship.

This course provides an advanced investigation of selected issues in ancient Jewish texts stemming from the Second Temple Period (5th century BCE to 1st century CE) and includes comparative study of biblical writings, apocrypha and pseudepigrapha, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and writings of ancient Jewish historians and philosophers. The specific topic of the course varies from one semester to another, and can deal with, e.g., language, scriptural interpretation, poetry and liturgy, theology, legal developments, and social and political history. The course has a strong research and writing component. Knowledge of Hebrew required. Greek or Aramaic may be recommended.

Mishnah and Tosefta constitute two of the three foundational documents of Middle Hebrew. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to specific features of this level of Hebrew (syntax, grammar, vocabulary), to note the developments from Biblical Hebrew, to examine these compositions independently, and to analyze their interaction (textuality and intratextuality). Tractate Niddah will be the focus of our analysis. We will also examine current scholarly positions concerning the redaction of these documents and their relationship to each other. Students will be trained to use the Bar Ilan Responsa Project database effectively to facilitate word searches and location of parallels to assist them in evaluating variant readings. Students will learn to interpret and to create a critical apparatus. Knowledge of Intermediate Hebrew (Biblical or Modern) required.

Law reflects the way in which society understands and organizes itself through common agreements and forms of restraint. This course examines the different ways religious legislation was generated in ancient Jewish communities and the different functions such legislation served in these communities. Special attention will focus on the legal codes embedded in the Torah, exploring the many similarities with and dependence upon other ancient Near Eastern legal corpora and judicial systems. Extra-canonical Jewish texts from the Second Temple and early rabbinic period will be studied as well, since they illumine the processes of scriptural exegesis and community development through which legal codes evolved.

Discoveries at Qumran near the Dead Sea unearthed a library of an ancient Jewish community containing over 900 fragmentary scrolls. Included were manuscripts of the Hebrew Scriptures, apocrypha and pseudepigrapha — some of which were previously known, many unknown — and writings composed by the community. Among them were texts concerned with religious law, exegetical texts, calendrical and sapiential texts, as well as liturgical and poetic compositions. This course focuses on selected Scrolls with special attention to the language, form and content, and scribal characteristics of these texts. Knowledge of Hebrew is required.