Ancient Languages and Cultures|Hebrew and Jewish Studies|Middle Eastern Languages and Cultural Studies

The module will introduce students to the basics of Sumerian grammar, which will be applied to a selection of Sumerian inscriptions and historical texts....

The module will introduce students to the basics of Sumerian grammar, which will be applied to a selection of Sumerian inscriptions and historical texts. Students will be expected to read Sumerian in the original script.

No language pre-requisites.

Ancient History|Ancient Languages and Cultures|Archaeology|Hebrew and Jewish Studies

The course will introduce Akkadian language to students of ancient languages, ancient history, and archaeology, who would like to become more familiar with...

The course will introduce Akkadian language to students of ancient languages, ancient history, and archaeology, who would like to become more familiar with Mesopotamian culture and literature.  Students will learn to read Akkadian in cuneiform script, to acquire a grasp of the grammatical structures and ability to read a selection historical and literary texts.

The course will follow a standard grammar of Akkadian which includes a variety of sample texts from different periods and text genres.  Students will have the opportunity to visit cuneiform tablet collections in the British Museum.   

Students will acquire a working knowledge of cuneiform script and acquire the tools for using the language in relation to other ancient languages and to its historical context.  The course will provide an introduction to the language which will allow students to comprehend scholarly literature on Akkadian and to assess cuneiform writings more effectively than can be done through translation.

This module is designed to make the student conversant with the geochemistry of a broad range of surface environments that exist now, existed in the distant...

This module is designed to make the student conversant with the geochemistry of a broad range of surface environments that exist now, existed in the distant past, and are predicted to exist in the future. A brief introduction to thermodynamics is followed by application of thermodynamic principles, and of unidirectional reactions, to reveal the origin, transport, and fate of elements in modern continental and marine waters. From this modern perspective, the geochemical evolution of the Earth since Precambrian times will be examined, followed by consideration of recent anthropogenic perturbations and projections of future climate from a geochemical perspective.

By the end of this module students will become conversant in:

The geochemical processes and pathways that have led to the composition of past and present environments on the Earth's surface;
	the consequences of element cycling, mineral-fluid reactions, and chemical transport in natural systems;
	and the relevance of geochemistry for understanding and mitigating human-induced challenges such as pollution and climate change.
Some first and/or second year Geology modules plus GCSE Maths or equivalent are prerequisites for this module.