Situated at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, Cyprus has been a meeting place of cultures for more than 10,000 years. This course explores the island's extraordinary archaeological heritage through its major sites, museum collections and iconic artefacts. Participants will discover Cyprus's role in ancient trade, copper production, maritime networks and Mediterranean politics, while encountering fascinating historical figures from Zeno of Kition and Cleopatra to later visitors and scholars. Along the way, you'll learn to recognise distinctive Cypriot styles in pottery, sculpture, architecture and other archaeological remains, gaining a deeper appreciation of one of the Mediterranean's most influential yet often overlooked civilisations.

DELIVERY MODE

Online

COURSE OUTLINE

Week 1: An Introduction to Cyprus

• Focus on the geography, geology and climate of Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean and its impact on human activity and the key material culture that we will be looking at (architecture, ceramic, stone, glass and metal)

Week 2: The Neolithic and Early Bronze Ages

• Review archaeological evidence of human arrival on the island and its impact on the environment and copper’s role in Cypriot history

Week 3: Late Bronze Age Cyprus

• Explore Cyprus’ role in Eastern Mediterranean trade and contact before the collapse of Bronze Age cultures and Cyprus in Egyptian and Hittite texts

Week 4: Iron Age Cyprus

• Explore Cyprus’ contact with other cultures like Phoenicians, Assyrians, Persians, Egyptians and Greek and influences on Cypriot art and culture and the development of ancient writing on the island

Week 5: Hellenistic to Roman Cyprus

• Examine the increasing Hellenisation of the island with Greek language and Greek and Roman cultural identity in key sites Paphos, Salamis and Kourion

Week 6: Medieval to Modern Cyprus

• Look at the cultural impact of Byzantine, Arabic, Crusader, Venetian, Ottoman and British influence on the island

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Recognise key artistic and cultural trends across the island's history in pottery, sculpture, metalworking and other materials, and to understand the key archaeological sites of Cyprus.