Languages and Cultures of Mesopotamia and Anatolia

Language of Instruction: Dutch

Learning about the languages and cultures of Mesopotamia and Anatolia takes us to the deepest roots of western civilization. After all, for a large part, these roots lie in the Near East: Assyria, Babylon and Anatolia (part of modern Turkey), the country of the Hittites. This region gave us, among other things, agriculture, cuneiform, the alphabet and astronomy.

The Bachelor’s Programme
This programme revolves around the languages and cultures of ancient Mesopotamia, a large realm with a rich civilization. Students not only learn Old-Babylonian and Sumerian, but are also introduced to the world behind cuneiform: the heroic stories on the Creation and the Flood and also everyday matters taking place 40 centuries ago. During the first two years of the Bachelor’s programme, a major portion of time is spent learning the language and taking introductory courses dealing with the culture and history of ancient Mesopotamia. During the third year, students specialise in one of the following fields of study: linguistics, the history of the culture, or the archaeology of ancient Mesopotamia. Towards the end of the programme, students are expected to write a BA thesis.

See for more information the department website (in Dutch)

Practical Studies

Following the basic programme, the Languages and Cultures of Mesopotamia and Anatolia programme can be combined with one of the 'practical studies' or PraktijkStudies (International Management & Culture, European Union Studies, Journalism and the New Media, Book and Publishing or the Educational minor) or with other options and, possibly, an internship.