Social Organization/Control

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(Duiker 7-15, Brians 7-16, 18-21; optional, p. 17) * Map Quiz over map 1.3 on p. 10

Questions about Duiker: *What are the basic characteristics of a civilization? *What were the main social classes in ancient civilizations? Briefly describe Sumerian architecture. Explain who Hammurabi was. What were the main characteristics of the Code of Hammurabi? Describe the picture on the top of the Stele of Hammurabi. *What are some of the main features of Mesopotamian religion? What is cuneiform, and why is it important?

Questions about “The Epic of Gilgamesh: The Flood Story:” *How does Ut-napishtim know that some land besides Mount Nimush has appeared above the flood waters even though he cannot see it? What test does Gilgamesh have to undergo in his attempt to become immortal? What is the point of the loaves of bread?

Questions about “Sumer-Akkadian Hymn to Ishtar: What characteristics does Ishtar have besides beauty?

Questions about “The Code of Hammurabi:” What do these laws tell us about attitudes toward slavery? *Clearly men had more rights than women in this society; but what laws can you identify that seem aimed at protecting certain rights of women? Which laws deviate from the egalitarian standard of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” and instead discriminate between social classes in assigning punishments?

Question about Sumerian proverbs: Which proverbs express sympathy for women?

Question about Babylonian proverbs: What social custom is referred to in the final proverb of this group?

Lecture topics:
The First Cities: Mesopotamia
Sumer: Ur
Religion
Architecture: The Ziggurat
Invention of writing
Literature & mythology
Emergence of kings
Gilgamesh
The Flood myth
Sargon of Akkad
Hammurabi’s law code
Mathematics

Helpful Hints:

• Carefully separate this time’s notes from those for next time so you don’t mix Mesopotamian features up with Egyptian ones.
• Have the name “Sumer” firmly in mind and identify some of the images you are shown to use as examples on tests.
• Note which images and writings are linked to Akkad (Ancient Babylon) rather than Sumer.
• Don’t mix the neolithic mother goddesses up with later fertility goddesses like Ishtar (she isn’t shown as enormously fat, for instance).
• Be sure to concentrate on the selection from Hammurabi’s Code in Reading About the World. If you follow Duiker in asserting that the laws were always hard on women it’s a dead giveaway that you haven’t read the reader version.

Supplementary materials:

• The Enuma Elish
• Gilgamesh Study Guide
• Complete text of Hammurabi’s Code
• Assyro-Babylonian Mythology
• Babylonian and Egyptian mathematics
• Cuneiform writing
• Evolution of Alphabets
• The Palace of Ashurnasirpal II: A video fly-through
• Frequently-asked questions about Sumer (and answers to them)
• The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
• The Ancient Near East
• Sumerian Beer

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(Duiker 15-22)

* Sign up for Library Assignment Topics

Questions about Duiker: *What roles did the Nile River play in the development of Egyptian civilization? What does the “Hymn to the Nile” have to say about this role? What is being referred to when the hymn talks about when the Nile is “sluggish”? *What were the natural barriers which protected Egypt? Which is further north: Upper or Lower Egypt? Briefly describe the social class structure of ancient Egypt. *Why was Osiris especially important? What were the main functions of the pyramids? *What made Akhenaten different from other pharoahs? *Describe women’s roles in ancient Egypt. Lecture topics:

Lecture topics:
Geography
Technology
Hieroglyphics
Government
Narmer unites Upper and Lower Egypt
The Egyptian empire
Ramses II
Hatshepsut & her achitect Senmut

Helpful Hints:

• If you haven’t already, draw a strong line between your notes on Sumer/Akkad and today’s notes. You don’t want to mix Egypt up with Mesopotamia when it comes time to study for the test. Hammurabi had nothing to do with Egypt.
• A way to remember how to spell “Hatshepsut”: think of a sheep wearing a hat and a suit coat. Hat+shep+sut.
• Be sure to note down descriptions of several of the images you’re shown today, as always.

Supplementary materials:

• Images from excavations in Egypt (click on the city you are interested in)
• University of Memphis Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology
• Egyptian picture archive
• Pilgrimage to Abydos
• Cleopatra: A Multimedia Guide to the Ancient World

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(Brians: 22-32)

Questions about “Hymn to Sekhmet-Bast”: Who created the other gods? Does this hymn try to discourage wicked behavior? Where?

Questions about “Hymn to Osiris:” What pairs of opposites are used to describe various aspects of Osiris? *What is one of Osiris’ functions?

Question about “Your love, dear man, is as lovely to me:” *What are the qualities that the speaker prizes in a good marriage?

Questions about “Once more you pass her house, deep in thought:” Why does the lover want to replace the wooden door with a new one? How is this poem flattering to the man?

Questions about “If I could just be the washerman:” What fantasy is the speaker indulging in here?

Question about “Dialogue of a Man With His Soul:” *What are some of the experiences in life that the poet seems most to prize?

Question about “In Praise of Learned Scribes:” *What are the main advantages of being a scribe?

Question about “Hymn to the Aton of Akhnaton:” *What are some of the blessings of sunlight listed in this poem?

Lecture topics:
Religion
Akhnaton’s monotheistic revolution
Nefertiti
Art & Architecture
Tutankhamen’s tomb, temples, pyramids
Themes from daily life depicted in tomb paintings
Music and Dance
Literature

Helpful Hints

• Take special note of some of the names and attributes of the female gods you learn about in this lesson.
• Take careful notes on the love poems from the New Kingdom: they are very useful in answering questions about the roles of women in Egypt.
• When noting the roles women played, don’t confine yourself to what Duiker says; pay attention to the material presented in class and write down brief notes about the pictures.

Supplementary materials:

• Secrets of the Pharoahs
• The History of Ancient Egypt
• Culture of Egypt
• Splendors of Ancient Egypt
• Index of resources for the study of ancient Egypt
• Highlights from excavations in Egypt (click on the city you are interested in)
• University of Memphis Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology
• Ancient Egyptian Art at Emory University
• Papyrus manuscripts
• Egyptian picture archive at the University of Pennsylvania
• Splendors of Ancient Egypt
• Pilgrimage to Abydos
• An excerpt from the Egyptian Book of the Dead
• Nefertiti Resurrected

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(Duiker: 28-42, 63-65)

Questions about Duiker: How did the Assyrian military machine create a climate of terror? What were some of the boasts of the Assyrian kings? In what ways did the Assyrians continue Mesopotamian culture? *What kinds of scenes were depicted in Assyrian palace reliefs? Who were the Chaldeans? What were the main achievements of Cyrus? What was the attitude of the Hebrews toward him? *Why is Zoroaster important? Who are the Dravidians and Aryans? *What are some of the main characteristics of Harappa? *Describe one piece of art from Harappa or Mohenjo-Daro. What was the first state to unify most of China under a single ruler? *What are “oracle bones?” What were some of the religious beliefs of the Shang? What is the best-known sort of art made by the Shang?

Lecture Topics:
Near Eastern Empires:

• Note sequence of empires, common artistic themes.
• Old Babylon
  • Distinguish Old Babylon from Neobabylon.
• Assyria
  • Note main characteristics of Assyrians, why people rejoiced to see them overthrown.

Neobabylonians

• Relationship to Jews

Persia

• Cyrus, relationship to Jews,
• Greeks.

Indus Civilization

• Period covered,
• relationship to later Indian culture, to Mesopotamia.
• Harappa
• Mohenjo-Daro

Shang China

• Achievements in bronze
• Human sacrifice.
• Writing

Helpful Hints

• Memorize this chronological sequence: Sumer, Akkad (Old Babylon), Assyra, Babylon, Persia.
• Note which artistic and other themes continue throughout Mesopotamian civilizations.
• Note the evidence for a strong centralized government in the Indus civilization.
• Note the importance of Chinese ideographs and how they differ from Mesopotamian written languages.

Supplementary materials:

• Images from ancient Mesopotamia
• Assyrian materials in the Oriental Institute Virtual Museum, University of Chicago
• Assyro-Babylonian Mythology
• Akkadian language
• The Palace of Ashurnasirpal II
• Harappa The ancient Indus civilization.
• Around the Indus in 90 Slides
• The Indus Riddle An interesting article on changing ideas about the Indus culture
• Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley
• The Yellow River
• Condensed China: Chinese History for Beginners
• Late Shang Dynasty Vehicle

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(Duiker: 22-28)

* World Wide Web assignment due

Questions about Duiker: *Why is the alphabet of the Phoenicians important? *Why is Solomon famous? *Why was the Hebrew temple in Jerusalem important? What effect did the Assyrians have on the Hebrews? What effect did the Chaldeans have on them? What effect did the Persians have on them? *What are the main characteristics of Jewish conceptions of God? *How did the prophets transcend Jewish separateness to embrace a concern for all humanity?

Lecture topics:
Origins of the Hebrews
Traditions about Abraham,
Moses
Conquest of Canaan
Evidence of influence of
Canaanites on Hebrews
The Kingdom of Israel
Major characteristics of the principal
kings of the united kingdom
Saul
David
Solomon
Division and Fall of the Kingdom
When conquered and by whom
What happened to the exiles?
Exile and Return
Influence of Zarathustrianism on Judaism
Jews and Seleucids
Oppression and revolt
Jews and Rome
Subjection by Rome, continued tension
Judaism in the First and Second Centuries
Messianism, the Bar Kochba
revolt
The Diaspora

Supplementary materials::

• The Israel Museum, Jerusalem
• Frequently-Asked Questions about the Canaanites

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(Brians 33-51)

* Library assignment, step 2 due

Questions about the Hebrew Creation Narrative:
*The introduction to the section called “Creation and Fall” lists several questions answered by it. Choose one of these questions and explain what in the story tries to answer the question you have chosen. What image from the story of the Fall influenced later images of the Virgin Mary?

Questions about the “Story of Abraham:”
*What significance does this story have for Muslims?

Questions about the Law: *In what ways are the laws on slaves different from those of Hammurabi’s Code? What restriction is placed on men who marry more than one wife? What does the law have to say about the proper treatment of enemies and aliens?

Question about “The Passover Haggadah:” What does the Haggadah say is the function of the statutes which God has given the Jews?

Question about “The Shema:” *What does the Shema say Jews should believe?

Question about Proverbs: *How does Proverbs say enemies are to be treated?

Questions about Psalm 19: What image is used in Psalm 19 to describe the rising of the sun? According to Psalm 19, in what way is knowing the law not sufficient to protect the believer?

Question about Psalm 137: How do the Jews react when the Babylonians ask to be entertained with some of their exotic folk songs? *What vengeance is hoped for against the Edomites who sided with the Neobabylonians when they conquered Judah?

Question about “Song of the Suffering Servant:” What are the main characteristics of the “suffering servant” described in Isaiah 42: 1-9?

Lecture topics:
The Covenant
Monotheism
The Law
Concept of History
Transforming Role of the Prophets
Humane Ethics
The Messianic Ideal
Influences on Later History

Supplementary materials:

• The Israel Museum
• Searchable Bibles in various languages
• The Torah and Judaism
• Milk ‘n’ Honey Discussion of the Torah from a Jewish perspective
• The Temple Mount
• Dead Sea Scrolls
• Frequently-asked questions about Judaism
• A Hebrew calendar
• Judaism Reading List

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(Duiker 90-96: Brians 52-58)

Questions about Duiker: *How did the geography of Greece tend to encourage Greek communities to be fiercely independent? *Where did the Minoan civilization arise? What were the main characteristics of Mycenaean civilization? What were the titles of the two most famous Greek epic poems? *Why was Homer so important to the Greeks?

Questions about Homer: The Odyssey, “Odysseus & the Cyclops”: Why is it so easy for Odysseus to get the cyclops drunk? What is the point of Odysseus telling Polyphemos that his name is “Nobody?”*How does Odysseus manage to escape Polyphemos? *What character traits can you deduce from Odysseus’ actions and words besides his obvious cleverness? Explain your answer. Lecture topics:

Lecture topics:
Minoan Civilization
Myceneans
Mythology
The Gods
The Trojan War
The Odyssey
Supplementary materials:

• Sports in Minoan Crete.
• Winged Sandals: Greek Mythology
• Greek Mythology
• The Pantheon
• Euripides: The Cyclops (A comic play based on the Polyphemus episode from the Odyssey)
• The Odyssey: An interactive Web game
• More pictures from Mycenae
• Homer’s Iliad (Translated by Samuel Butler)
• Homer’s Odyssey (Translated by Samuel Butler)
• Sophocles: Agamemnon (A Greek tragedy depicting the return from the Trojan War of the leader of the Greeks.
• Images from Western art of the classical gods
• More images of classical gods

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Duiker 96-104, 107-108; pictures on pp. 109; Brians 59-60, 84-88)

* Map Quiz on map 4.1 in Duiker, p. 92

Questions about Duiker: What were the main characteristics of the Greek polis? Why were the tyrants important in Greek history? *Discuss a couple of interesting facts Duiker tells us about Sparta. What are some of the details which Plutarch tells us about the rearing of Spartan boys? How did the reforms of Cleisthenes create the foundations for Athenian democracy? *What were the main characteristics of Athens’ democratic system in the age of Pericles? What was the main cause of the Peloponnesian War? Where and when was drama first created? What were the names of the three great Greek playwrights? What are the main characteristics of Classical Greek art? What is the Parthenon? *Name three of the chief Greek Gods and specify what they were gods of. What was the function of the oracle of Apollo at Delphi? What percentage of the population of Athens was excluded from citizenship? *How were women treated? What was the Greek attitude toward homosexuality?

Questions about Pericles’ Funeral Oration: What are the main virtues that Pericles praises as characteristic of the Athenians? How does he contrast Athens with Sparta? What does he say is the proper role of women?

Questions about “Xerxes at the Hellespont:” What incidents described in this selection depict Xerxes as superstitious? *As tyrannical?

Lecture Topics:
The Polis
Definition, main characteristics
Athens and Greek Democracy
Nature and limits
Athens’ empire
Sparta
Military organization
role in history
Pottery
Basic styles
Sculpture
Evolution of the classical style
Architecture
The Acropolis and Parthenon

Supplementary materials:

• The Perseus Project Index to Ancient Greek resources
• Perseus Atlas Project
• Overview of Greek History, from Perseus
• Herodotus: The Histories
• Thucydides: History Of The Peloponnesian War
• Aeschylus: The Persians (a Greek tragedy based on the victory over the Persians written by a playwright to fought them)
• Pericles’ Funeral Oration translated by Richard Hooker
• Diotima
• More images of Greek architecture
• Greek art in the Vatican Museum
• The Olympic Games
• The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization (PBS)
• Blacks in the Ancient Greek and Roman World

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(Brians 61-71, 89; video: excerpt from Antigone)

Questions about Greek Lyric Poetry: Tyrtaios: “Spartan Soldier:” *What does this poem tell us about Spartan values?

Sappho: “To Anaktoria:” *Why does Sappho compare Anaktoria, who has left her, to Helen of Troy?

Sappho: “Seizure:” Why is the speaker so upset by what she sees?

Questions about Sophocles’ Antigone: Why does Creon insist on treating Eteocles’ body with such contempt? What value does Antigone oppose to Creon’s insistence on the final authority of the state? *Evaluate Creon’s arguments. Do they have some validity? Explain.

Lecture topics:
Lyric poetry
Music
The First Delphic Hymn
Theater
Sophocles: Antigone

Supplementary materials:

• Ancient Greek Theater
• Greek Tragedy
• Translation of Sophocles’ Antigone
• Images of the Ancient Stage

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