Trypillian Civilization 5400 - 2750 BC

• Overview of the Trypillian culture and other early European agricultural civilizations.
• Archeological methods to study ancient civilizations, specifically Neolithic cultures of Ukraine.
• Historiography, archeological data, research methods, and bibliography of agricultural civilizations of ancient Europe.
• Hands-on field experience of archeological searches and independent scientific work.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge of the development of early agriculture and farming in Ukraine.
• Knowledge of the development of the Trypillian proto-civilization. 
• Ability to identify and place chronologically different types of Neolithic cultures in relation to the Trypillian culture.
• Familiarity with principal archaeological sources used to study early farmers and the Trypillian proto-civilization.
• Knowledge about "on-site" archeological searches and places of settlements of Trypillians in the different regions of Ukraine.

Course 1: Trypillian Proto-Civilization

Between the long eras of proto-historical hunter societies and the epoch of the first civilizations (such as those in Egypt and Mesopotamia) lies a long period. This period is associated with the formation of the bases of these civilizations, such as the creation of reproductive economies, handicrafts, first bridges, and written language. These historical-cultural periods of human development are called "proto-civilizations". Among the agricultural proto-civilizations of ancient Europe, the Trypillian proto-civilization existed from the 6^th until the end of 4^th millennium BC. This was a contemporary to proto-civilizations in Egypt, Mesopotamia, Hindus valley, and China. During this period these proto-civilizations were at approximately the same level of development. During the 5^th millennium BC, when agricultural proto-civilizations in the Balkans and Central Europe were gradually disappearing, the Trypillian culture (in Ukraine, on the boundaries of the European "civilized world" of that time) continued to flourish for another millennium. Proto-cities, monumental architecture, first foundations, handicrafts (metallurgies, weaving, ceramics), denotation systems as written language, all continued to develop and are reasons to consider Trypillia as one of the most interesting and developed proto-civilizations.

This course will have 26 academic hours of instruction (1.5 credits), including 14 lectures, 10 hours of practical studies including visits to museums and participation in archaeological expeditions, and 2 hours for the final exam. Archaeological expeditions include participation in excavations of Trypillian settlements, study of some elements of archaeological searches, and visits to places of existing remarkable archaeological discoveries. Students from both courses will participate in a short academic conference, presenting scientific abstracts. There will be a final exam at the end of the program, to receive credit from Kyiv Mohyla Academy.

Course 2: Ancient Farmers of Ukraine

This course is devoted to questions about the formation and development of early farming cultures on the territory of present Ukraine (7^th - 4^th millennium BC). Present-day Ukraine is a territory where at least twelve Neolithic archaeological cultures flourished. Some of them survived until the Copper Age and even until the beginning of the Bronze Age. During the Copper Age several qualitative changes took place in the agricultural economies. They spread over wider territories and achieve high level of development. The ancient agricultural formations of Ukraine became a part of the civilization of Ancient Europe. Therefore, an important part of this course will be the chronologies, the synchronization of Neolithic cultures of central and southeast Europe.

This course will have 26 academic hours of instruction (1.5 credits), including 14-hours of lectures, 10 hours of practical studies including visits to museums and participation in archaeological expeditions, and 2 hours for the final exam. Students from both courses will participate in a short academic conference, presenting scientific abstracts. There will be a final exam at the end of the program, to receive credit from Kyiv Mohyla Academy.