2026 Fall
MELC 10 001 - LEC 001
Formerly Near Eastern Studies 10
Middle Eastern Worlds: Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia
Benjamin Porter
Class #:24812
Units: 4
Instruction Mode:
In-Person Instruction
Offered through
Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures
Current Enrollment
Total Open Seats:
0
Enrolled: 118
Waitlisted: 3
Capacity: 118
Waitlist Max: 20
No Reserved Seats
Hours & Workload
3 hours of instructor presentation of course materials per week, and 9 to 8 hours of outside work hours per week.
Other classes by Benjamin Porter
Course Catalog Description
This course introduces students to the Ancient Middle Eastern world through its languages, texts, art, and material culture. Emphasis is placed on Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia as well as their neighbors in Iran, Turkey, Arabia, and Africa. Students are introduced to techniques scholars use to study this evidence, including philology, archaeology, visual analysis, and digital humanities. Topics include urbanism, kingship, science, religion, and death. Students interact with original materials in campus and Bay Area museums. No prior coursework is required.
Class Notes
Section 103 has some seats reserved for L&S First-Year Pathways students; any remaining seats will be released before the adjustment period begins.
Rules & Requirements
Repeat Rules
Course is not repeatable for credit.
Requirements class fulfills
Meets Arts & Literature, L&S Breadth
Meets Historical Studies, L&S Breadth
Reserved Seats
Current Enrollment
No Reserved Seats
Textbooks & Materials
See class syllabus or https://calstudentstore.berkeley.edu/textbooks for the most current information.
Guide to Open, Free, & Affordable Course Materials