Textiles and dress in ancient times. Exploring sources, theories, methods and hands-on approaches

An international summer school (7.5 ECTS, MA-level) at the University of Copenhagen.

This summer course offers a deep dive into cloth cultures of the ancient world, taking the Aegean and the Nile Valley as its main case studies. Students will discover and learn how to use different sources, methods, and theories to document and interpret ancient textiles and dress. From material approaches to critical discussions, the course will demonstrate how textiles and fashion were deeply embed in the fabric of ancient societies.

The course includes three main modules: 1) understanding a textile, 2) framing textile research in the Aegean and the Nile Valley, and 3) the multiple meanings of dress. This will be developed through lectures, practical hands-on sessions, museum visits, and readings that will often be grounded in ongoing research projects at CTR. Students will have the opportunity to work with real archaeological material and historical data, while building their own critical reflection on a topic of their choice, under the guidance of the CTR team.

The course is aimed at MA students in history, archaeology, art history, ethnology, museum studies, and anthropology, but anyone else interesting in the topic is also welcome.

Application deadlines

The application deadlines are as follows:

  • First round: 1 April
  • Second round: 1 June (after availability, and only for students enrolled at the Faculty of Humanities/UCPH)

Students must apply by 1 April by submitting application form including relevant documents. Deadline for second round of applications in case of remaining seats is 1 June.

This course will be taught in English, therefore good English skills are required. All applicants must have completed an Academic Bachelor’s Degree before summer school begins.

The course is open to international exchange, self-paying guest students and Danish students.

Accepted students will be notified before the end of April.

Access the application form

 

 

 

Applicants who have passed a minimum of one year of bachelor-level studies are eligible to apply for admission.

The course is aimed at MA students in history, archaeology, art history, ethnology, museum studies, and anthropology, but anyone else interesting in the topic is also welcome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, group work, written assignment, museum visits, reading, practical textile craft work (e.g. spinning and weaving), tests of textile techniques and controlled experiments, archaeological textiles first-aid and analysis.

Student workload

Category 

Hour 

Exam 

105

Excursions 

10

Preparation 

50

Lectures 

20

Group-work & hands-on

21

Total 

206

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learning outcomes:

  • Knowledge of historical dimensions to textile and fashion production
  • Understanding of interdisciplinary textile research, both in methods and theories
  • Knowledge of various types of primary sources
  • Skills in handling and documenting archaeological textiles
  • Skills in the critical analysis and evaluation of complex and sometimes conflicting theories
  • Understanding of the methodologies and advantages/difficulties associated with different sources
  • A technical and chronological overview of textiles and textile production in the ancient Mediterranean world
  • A hands-on approach to various textile crafts
  • Skills in structuring and writing a thesis around a well-defined research question
  • Competences in acting in cross-disciplinary and international research environment

Information regarding the exam – in Danish:

From ”Fagstudieordning Kandidattilvalg i historie 2022”, p. 10: https://hum.ku.dk/uddannelser/aktuelle_studieordninger/historie/historie_katv/

Selvstuderet emne 2 (7,5 ECTS)

Independent Study 2 (7,5 ECTS)

HHIK13031E

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contact

Questions about the course can be directed to: briang@hum.ku.dk

Questions about the admission procedure can be directed to: gueststudents@hum.ku.dk