History/Culture
Culture Definition
What is just the way we do things around here
The definition of civilization
“The word civilization comes from a Latin word (civitas) meaning “city” and it refers to human culture lived in cities or under their influence”
What does Mesopotamia mean?
In Greek, "land between the rivers"
Who is the main character of the Epic of Gilgamesh?
Gilgamesh
Where is Sumer?
History Definition
What is the systematic study and interpretation of the human past based on written, oral, and material evidence?
“History is the study of people, actions, decisions, interactions and behaviours. It is so compelling a subject because it encapsulates themes which expose the human condition in all of its guises and that resonate throughout time: power, weakness, corruption, tragedy, triumph”
Definition of state
State is the formal term we use to describe a country. The state is usually defined as an organized community living under a unified political system. So states are about government – an organization of people who make decisions, organize society, and enforce rules.
What two rivers are in the fertile crescent?
Tigris and Euphrates
Who is Gilgamesh's friend?
Enkidu
Name 2 major cultural advancements credited to the Sumerians
Writing, Cuneiform, the wheel, sundial, ziggurats, etc.
The study of history matters because
Those who don't know the past are doomed to repeat it, and to understand how the world we live in now came to be. Every story about the past starts at a different point—one that fits its unique narrative. Although a simple version of history is easier to consider, the story would be incomplete.
Definition of Empire
At its most basic, an empire is a complex political organization where a dominant central state controls weaker peripheral (outer) states. There is no single recipe for making an empire, but the main ingredient is always control.
What is the climate of Mesopotamia?
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, why do the gods flood the world?
Because they were annoyed with the human noise
Name the 3 major challenges the Sumerians had to overcome
Region had few natural resources, flooding was unpredictable and could be destructive, no geographical barriers for protection
Studying other cultures matters because
In order to understand the world we live in and why people think the way they think, we have to understand their culture and where they come from.
Difference between state and empire
States usually transformed into empires by conquering neighboring regions and exacting taxes or tribute from those they conquered. The conquered peoples were usually considered inferior to citizens of the empire.
Why is Mesopotamia good for agriculture?
What kind of character is Gilgamesh?
He's arrogant, he's strong, half-god half-man, he's a ruler, he doesn't care for weakness, he wants eternal life.
What were the Sumerians solutions to the challenges they faced?
They formed complex trade networks, they developed complex irrigation networks, they built large walls around their cities made of mud bricks
What does one of the inventions we studied reveal about the culture that it originated from?
Answers vary
Define primary and secondary source
Primary sources are direct, firsthand evidence from the time of an event, while secondary sources analyze, interpret, or summarize those primary accounts after the fact
What are the four important civilizations of Mesopotamia?
Sumer, Akkhad, Babylon, Assyrians
What does the Epic of Gilgamesh tell us about the culture of the Babylonians?
Answers vary
Why does studying the civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia matter?