Expanding the Ancient World Workshop

This workshop will take place online; a Zoom link will be provided via email to registered participants.

Registration is required at this LINK.

Expanding the Ancient World is a series of professional development workshops and online resources for teachers. Keyed to the NYC Department of Education Social Studies Scope and Sequence, this program is designed to offer K-12 educators opportunities to develop their knowledge of the ancient world and to provide classroom-ready strategies for teaching the past with reliable sources. Featuring inquiry-based workshops, flexible lesson plans, and up-to-date research, Expanding the Ancient World aims to equip teachers with information and skills that they can share with their students. CTLE credits will be offered to New York State teachers.

This workshop offers a deep dive into the maritime trade networks of the Western Indian Ocean from the 1st to the 5th century CE. It will highlight how ancient societies and empires engaged in a complex web of maritime exchanges long before the modern era. We will start by defining the geographical and cultural boundaries of the Western Indian Ocean trade network, then introduce key theoretical frameworks and types of evidence for studying ancient oceanic spaces, trade networks, and people.

Together, we will analyze critical case studies, including textual sources such as the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea—a 2nd-century CE manual written in ancient Greek for investors that lists every product traded in the ports—as well as Indian Buddhist writings and South Indian courtly poems that reveal the impact of oceanic trade on local imaginations. We will also investigate archaeological findings from major ports such as Berenike in Egypt, Khor Rori in Southern Arabia, and Pattanam in India, along with trade goods ranging from ivory to spices, coinage, and small portable figurines, including an Indian figurine from Pompeii. Additionally, epigraphical evidence, including multilingual inscriptions and graffiti of ships from Cave Hoq in Socotra, dated between the 2nd and 4th centuries CE, will provide further context about the traders and their networks.

This workshop aims to equip educators with the knowledge and resources to effectively teach about the early interconnected world through the lens of ancient oceanic trade.

Workshop led by Priya Barchi (PhD Candidate, ISAW).

Participants will receive 1.5 CTLE hours.

If you have any questions regarding the Expanding the Ancient World program please email ETAW@nyu.edu.

Please check isaw.nyu.edu for event updates.

ISAW is committed to providing a positive and educational experience for all guests and participants who attend our public programming. We ask that all attendees follow the guidelines listed in our community standards policy.