ANT 381 Power and Identity in the Past
Why is inequality such a pervasive part of human society today, when it appeared only relatively recently in human prehistory? How did human societies first divide ‘haves’ from ‘have-nots’, and why has the 99% consented to be ruled by the 1% ever since? How did gender and ethnicity shape identity and access to power in past societies? This course uses the tools of archaeology to explore these questions in societies such as Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, and in the prehistoric Americas and Africa. It addresses core archaeological questions, including the origins of hereditary inequality, the class structure of ancient cities, and the role of gender, ethnicity, and other social distinctions in past societies.