Kate Hunter-McPeake Humanities
From Tribe to Empire: An Examination of Political and Cultural Processes in the Nascent Persian State
Kate’s project will explore the origins of the ancient Persian civilization with a focus on its dramatic transition from tribal society to dominant empire during the seventh and sixth centuries BCE. In order to better understand the influence of the declining Mesopotamian and Elamite civilizations on the emerging Persian empire, she will travel to the Iran National Museum in Tehran and renowned archaeological sites including Persepolis and Susa in order to examine archaeological and art historical evidence from the period. Kate will also engage in intensive study of the Persian language and examination of textual sources in preparation for her research in the field. The results of her research will be presented in her Near Eastern Studies Senior Honors Thesis.
