University of Toronto - Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations

"We are concerned with the study of the civilizations and cultures of the Near and Middle East from neolithic times until the present, including their languages and literatures --Akkadian, Arabic, Aramaic and its closely related dialect Syriac, ancient Egyptian, Hellenistic Greek, biblical, rabbinic, mediaeval and modern Hebrew, Persian and Turkish -- archaeology,history, art and architecture. The Department''s programmes are conceived in the broad tradition of the humanities and provide an opportunity to study non-western complex societies and civilizations. An understanding of these societies will reveal the ultimate roots and historical development of western civilization."