ART 101: Art History - Ancient Art

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2026
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 54
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 108
Total Student Learning Hours: 162
Strongly Recommended: ENGL C1000.
District General Education: C1. Arts
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter

Catalog Course Description

This course covers the history of visual art from its prehistoric beginnings to the fall of the Western Rome Empire with a geographical focus on the art and architecture from Europe, North Africa, and the Near East. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • Evaluate the ways visual objects' aesthetics, subject matters and functions were informed by their historical, philosophical, religious and cultural contexts.
  • Demonstrate a knowledge of the history of Western art from its prehistoric beginnings to the fall of Western Roman Empire.
  • Recognize historic styles and techniques in Western art from its prehistoric beginnings to the fall of Western Roman Empire.
  • Compare historic styles as well as individual styles within Western art from its prehistoric beginnings to the fall of Western Roman Empire.
  • Distinguish and recognize major monuments of art and architecture within Western art from its prehistoric beginnings to the fall of Western Roman Empire.
  • Comprehend terms, media, and techniques and processes of Western art from its prehistoric beginnings to the fall of Western Roman Empire.

Major Course Content

  1. Background
    1. Development of Art History as a Discipline
    2. Art History and Problematizing the 'Canon'
  2. Prehistoric Art in Europe
    1. The Paleolithic Period
    2. The Mesolithic Period
    3. The Neolithic Period
  3. Art of the Ancient Near East
    1. The Fertile Crescent and Mesopotamia (including Sumer and Akkad)
    2. Later Mesopotamian Art (including Babylonian, Assyrian, Persian and Sassanian)
  4. Art of Ancient Egypt
    1. The Old Kingdom
    2. The Middle Kingdom
    3. The New Kingdom
  5. Aegean Art
    1. The Cycladic Culture 
    2. The Minoan Civilization on Crete
    3. The Mycenaean (Helladic) Culture
  6. Art of Ancient Greece
    1. The Geometric and Orientalizing Periods
    2. The Archaic Period
    3. The Classical Period
    4. The Hellenistic Period
  7. Etruscan and Roman Art
    1. The Etruscans (Etruria)
    2. The Republic, 509-27 BCE
    3. The Imperial Period 27BCE- 476CE 

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Academic article and other resources distributed by the instructor or linked on the Learning Management System.

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

Write a 2-3 page paper (12 point type, double spaced) on an artwork at a local museum using the provided questions as guides.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Research the work of art that comes from a culture covered in class and analyze it based on the elements and principles of art, its aesthetic properties, and its historical context (i.e. socio-political, religious, philosophical and/or technological developments of the culture).

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture

IGETC Area 3: Arts and Humanities

3A. Fine Arts