Mesopotamia
Where was Mesopotamia located originally?
Located between the Tigris and the Euphrates River.
What is An/Anu the God of?
The God of Sky/Heaven.
What are 3 purposes does religion serve?
Any of the following:
Hope, Sense of community with other people, Higher purpose to life, Gives guidance for how to behave, Connection to a higher power, Can be used to control
Agriculture
The science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products.
What is the difference between a primary and secondary source?
A primary source is a piece of evidence extracted from the time of study.
A secondary source is a piece evidence created after the time of study, usually in reference of a primary source.
Why did the civilization grow so quickly in this location?
There was:
1) access to fresh water from Tigris & Euphrates river
2)access to oceans for food, trade
3)mountains for resources, protection etc.
What is a lammasu?
The lammasu was a human-headed winged bull or lion and it guarded Assyrian palace doorways and city gates to frighten away the forces of chaos.
What are 3 common elements in religion?
Could be any of the following:
Supernatural beings/forces, Holy or sacred, sinful acts, Salvation /after life, Mode of worship/rituals/festivals, Liturgy and ideology, Places of worship, Religious “leaders”, or “Magic”
The Hanging Gardens
Gardens located in Babylon that were built high above the ground on multi-level stone terraces. The plants weren't rooted in the earth like a traditional garden. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
What is the significance of the Hammurabi Code?
Hammurabi's Code is the first piece of evidence in human history of order, and law. It is significant because it shows us many traits about Babylonian Society. It teaches us what they value, the state of authority and shows us that the punishment back then should fit the crime.
What is a ziggurat?
An ancient temple in the form of a pyramid or terraced towers used to feel closer to the Gods.
Name any 4 Gods.
Could be any of the following:
An/Anu, Enki, Inanna (Ishtar), Utu/ Shamash, Ninhursag/Belitili, Marduk
Religion in Mesopotamia was polytheistic. What does that mean?
People worshipped many different gods and goddesses. Each city-state selected one of the gods as its personal patron and the people believed the city belonged to that god.
The Fertile Crescent
An area that stretches from the Persian Gulf through Northeast Syria to the Mediterranean Sea and was the site of some of the world's first permanent farming villages.
What does the Epic of Gilgamesh tell us about how Mesopotamians viewed the afterlife?
The Epic of Gilgamesh shows us how they believed no one can be more powerful than the Gods and that death is unavoidable.
What is the order of the Mesopotamian civilizations?
Sumer, Babylonia, Assyria, and Chaldea
What does a Pazuzu look like?
He looked like a human body with the feet and claws of an eagle, and the head of a monster.
What was the purpose of Scribes in Mesopotamia?
Scribed were able to read and write in cuneiform, and they worked for either the palace, the temple or the government reading and writing.
Oracle
A divine or supernatural communication, or the plan where such communications takes place.
What role did mythology play in the religion of ancient Mesopotamians?
Mythology included tales of demons, who lived in the fearsome underworld and fought constant battles with the deities of good which represents how the underworld was seen and feared of.
What is cuneiform? And what was it used for?
It was one of the earliest forms of writing and was based around picture signs. It was used to keep accurate records in trade and agriculture.
Who is Utu/Shamash? AND what does he hold, and why?
Utu/Shamash is the Sun God. He holds a knife with a jagged edge so that he can cut his way through the mountains at dawn.
What were demons seen as in Mesopotamia? and who created them?
Demons were created by the Gods and they were seen as either good or evil with human bodies and animal or bird heads.
Dead Sea scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls are ancient Jewish and Hebrew religious manuscripts that were found in the Qumran Caves in the Judaean Desert that contain excerpts of the Old Testament.
What are the limitations of Hammurabi's Code?
We do not see how these punishments played out, how court looked like, and if it was it bias or not during their time.