The Golden Goblet ch. 1-3
Whom did Ranofer consider the greatest goldsmith in Thebes?
Zau
What was happening on the palace walls? Who stopped Ranofer from going to see it?
The execution of two tomb/grave robbers. Ancient was the person to stop Ranofer from going to see it happen.
What did the Akkadians adopt from the Sumerians?
Cuneiform (a writing system)
What did Akkad used to be before it became an empire?
What law code did Hammurabi create?
The Code of Hammurabi
Who did Ranofer think was stealing? How?
Ibni.
By placing gold in the wineskins.
What changes did Gebu make with Ranofer’s place of work?
Ranofer now works at Gebu's stonecutting shop.
Why did Sumerian villages build walls around themselves?
To protect themselves from each other.
What is the difference between a city-state and an empire?
A city-state is an independent city that governs itself. An empire is a large, expansive political dominion where a single city or group of people holds power over multiple different nations, regions, and diverse ethnic groups.
Where was Babylon located?
Near the Euphrates River in southern Mesopotamia.
What did Ranofer do for a living at the beginning of the story?
He worked as a lowly porter in a gold shop (collecting the gold sweepings and doing other basic chores).
He was not an apprentice!
At the beginning of chapter 4, who did Ranofer believe came to him during the night to help him with Gebu?
What is one Sumerian system we still use today?
The (base-60) numbering system
What were the two main reasons why the Akkadian Empire fell?
1. Bad leadership
2. Bad weather + environmental changes
How did Babylon transform into a city-state?
The Amorites conquered Babylon and created a dynasty. With the dynasty the Amorites established a government and a leader.
Why was Ranofer not working for Zau?
He was legally bound to Gebu who didn't want to free him or pay for his apprenticeship.
What superstitions did he have about the dark of night?
He believed khefts roamed around the streets at night causing a disturbance and doing bad things.
What was Ancient Sumer consisted of?
Multiple city-states
What year did Akkad conquer the Sumerian city-states?
2334 BC
What happened in Babylon after Hammurabi died? Did the empire grow or decline?
The empire slowly declined. The kings of the Babylonian empire after Hammurabi's death did not rule very well.
Why was Ranofer given the task to make gold leaves?
Ranofer was to make 50 gold leaves to decorate an elaborate, high-status necklace for Lady Ireneka'at.
What did Ranofer propose to Gebu so he would not have to work at the stonecutting shop? How did Gebu respond?
Ranofer told Gebu if Gebu bought him a donkey, he would leave, build his own mud-brick house, and sell papyrus. Gebu just laughed at the idea, brushing it off.
Where was Ancient Sumer located?
In southern Mesopotamia, situated in the plains between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
What are the two developments/improvements the Akkadians made that we mentioned in class?
1. Standardized weights and measures.
2. Improvement of their communication system (postal service).
Who was the first king of Babylon?
Sumu-Abum