AN AFTERGLOW OF THEM Crash Course in Ancient Western Civilization We look on past ages with condescension, as a mere preparation for us but what if we re only an afterglow of them? J. G. Farrell, The Siege of Krishnapur WHY STUDY WESTERN? What kinds of characteristics, innovations, or philosophies have enabled Western Civilization to develop in meaningful ways over the course of its history? Why do we study Western Civilization, and why study Ancient societies? What are the flaws of Kagan s arguments? Does Kagan s thesis support an unjustified philosophy of cultural superiority?
Homo Erectus -- approx. 50,000 years ago Out of Africa ANCIENT AN OPEN LETTER TO GRAMPS Thank you, Gramps, because After 50,000 years, we now stand erect and can live up to our namesake: Homo Sapiens Your ancestors went from egalitarian bands of hunter-gatherers to forming social hierarchy Your Neolithic ancestors invented agriculture, domesticated animals, and gave us beer You were one tough homie, and you survived long enough to pass down those traits Best Wishes, Modern Mankind ANCIENT
ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIAN
How did Mesopotamian civilization develop, and what were the characteristics of its society? What were the characteristics of the city of Uruk? What was the importance of Cuneiform? How did trade affect the Mesopotamian civilization? What was the importance of taxes and laws? How did the Neo-Assyrians create an empire? What strengths and weaknesses confronted the territorial empires of the Ancient world? Mesopotamian Civilization, 4000-2350 BCE First cities (Eridu, Uruk) 4000-3000 BCE Tigris and Euphrates Challenging Environment Irrigation & population growth City-States Sumerian Society: Priests, Ziggurats, Polytheism Monarchy and Patriarchy Sumerian Economy: Redistributive Economy
EPIC OF GILGAMESH EPIC OF GILGAMESH According to the Epic of Gilgamesh, how is a King supposed to behave in Sumerian culture? Based on the Epic, how would you define the concept of heroism in Sumerian culture? How are the gods portrayed by the Epic? What is their function, and what is their relationship to humans? How is nature depicted? The poem presents Enkidu as Gilgamesh s equal or second self. What does this represent about Gilgamesh? How is death regarded in the epic? How do humans come to terms with mortality and suppositions of the afterlife? What is the purpose of the story? GRAVESITE AT UR Gravesite examination at the Royal Tombs of Ur: What can these graves and artifacts tell us about the people interned here? If they were royalty, what does this tell us about Sumerian royalty? What can this tell us about Sumerian society? About their concepts of burial ceremonies and the afterlife? What doesn t it tell us about the Sumerians?
GRAVESITE AT UR Royal Tombs Vaulted or domed chamber below ground Many precious objects of gold, silver, bronze, lapis lazuli, etc Wagon & Oxen 0-3 other people (often both male and female) 3-74 guards and/or attendants No signs of violence and orderly arrangement Small cups nearby Females wearing fine garments and jewelry Lyres and musical instruments GRAVESITE AT UR Male Tomb 12 ft x 8 ft chamber Grave goods 2 oxen, 2 drivers Death Pit in tact 60 women in rows 6 armed soldiers near door Puabi s Grave 12 ft x 6 ft chamber Headdress, comb, lapis lazuli necklaces and rings, cosmetic boxes Cups bowls furniture 2 oxen, 4 men with daggers and whetstone 10 women in rows with 3 attendants GRAVESITE AT UR: ROYAL STANDARD
GRAVESITE AT UR: ROYAL STANDARD GRAVESITE AT UR: ROYAL STANDARD GRAVESITE AT UR
GRAVESITE AT UR GRAVESITE AT UR Assyrians/Neo-Assyrian/Babylonian Empires, 2000-539 BCE Economic and agricultural problems Long distance trade market based Bronze Artistic & Cultural Achievements
Assyrians/Neo-Assyrian/Babylonian Empires, 2000-539 BCE Written laws: Hammurabi s code King of Babylon the principles of truth and equity Hammurabi Discussion Questions: Prior to Hammurabi s Code, what specific type of problems could result from laws that were not written down? Which of Hammurabi s laws would be impossible to enforce in the modern world? Why? Are there any of his laws you feel are superior to our modern equivalent laws? Why? Are there any of his laws you think we could use if we modified them? Which ones? How should they be modified? Why? Do you find any of Hammurabi s laws brutal or unfair? Why? What effect would enactment of all Hammurabi s laws have on modern bureaucracy? Why?