Section A: Question 1
Enheduanna was the daughter of Sargon of Akkad. As a high priestess at the temple of Ur, she wrote a hymn of praise to Ishtar, or Inanna in Sumerian, the goddess of love and war. Enheduanna wrote a hymn about the Sumerian goddess Inanna because of the similarities between her and the Akkadian goddess, Ishtar. Although the Sumerians and the Akkadians were two separate cultures, they both worshipped a goddess of love and war. These similarities between the two goddesses allowed Enheduanna to justify the conquering of Sumer by the Akkadians,influencing the minds of the Sumerians by creating propaganda. In the Ishtar handout, it says, “Destroyer of foreign lands, you have given wings to the storm, beloved of Enlil you made …show more content…
Enlil helped Inanna destroy Sumer, which is what An chose to happen. Whilst she was Akkadian, she wrote about the Sumerian goddesses to show the Sumerians that it was the Akkadians divine right to conquer Mesopotamia, not the Sumerians. The Akkadians were chosen by An, the highest God, to rule. Enheduanna did this to help Sargon I gain control over the Sumerians. Writing this hymn praising Inanna helped create loyalty to the king. The Sumerians were most likely resentful of the Akkadians for conquering them and creating subjects out of them. They wouldn’t want to follow a king who had just subjugated them. So, Enheduanna used propaganda to sway the minds of a people. “You burnt down its great gates, Its rivers ran red with blood because of you, its people had nothing to drink…” (Ishtar Handout pg.1). Enheduanna influenced the Sumerians’ thoughts by creating the idea that Akkad was destined to rule Sumer. Creating this propaganda would allow Sargon I to rule over the …show more content…
The New Kingdom Empire was very similar to the Mesopotamian empires. They were both located by major river valleys in the desert. However, unlike the Nile in Egypt, the Tigris and the Euphrates often had unpredictable and sporadic floods, making the two rivers seem life-threatening. A complicated network of irrigation ditches had to be built because of this flooding The Nile tended to be more predictable, so the Nile was seen more as a source of life and renewal. Irrigation projects did not have to be as complicated, although they were still needed. Both empires were polytheistic societies, or societies that worshipped many gods. However, they interpreted their gods much differently. “Ferocious floods, heavy downpours, scorching winds, and oppressive humidity were all part of the Mesopotamian climate. These conditions and resulting famines easily convinced the Mesopotamians that this world was controlled by supernatural forces and that the days of human beings ‘are numbered’” (World History pg.13). Mesopotamian gods were unpredictable, and humans only lived once, with no afterlife. The Egyptians however, had a more positive intake. Their gods gave humanity wisdom and justice, although they were harsh too. Egyptians also believed in an afterlife that everyone could look forward to.
Enheduanna was the daughter of Sargon of Akkad. As a high priestess at the temple of Ur, she wrote a hymn of praise to Ishtar, or Inanna in Sumerian, the goddess of love and war. Enheduanna wrote a hymn about the Sumerian goddess Inanna because of the similarities between her and the Akkadian goddess, Ishtar. Although the Sumerians and the Akkadians were two separate cultures, they both worshipped a goddess of love and war. These similarities between the two goddesses allowed Enheduanna to justify the conquering of Sumer by the Akkadians,influencing the minds of the Sumerians by creating propaganda. In the Ishtar handout, it says, “Destroyer of foreign lands, you have given wings to the storm, beloved of Enlil you made …show more content…
Enlil helped Inanna destroy Sumer, which is what An chose to happen. Whilst she was Akkadian, she wrote about the Sumerian goddesses to show the Sumerians that it was the Akkadians divine right to conquer Mesopotamia, not the Sumerians. The Akkadians were chosen by An, the highest God, to rule. Enheduanna did this to help Sargon I gain control over the Sumerians. Writing this hymn praising Inanna helped create loyalty to the king. The Sumerians were most likely resentful of the Akkadians for conquering them and creating subjects out of them. They wouldn’t want to follow a king who had just subjugated them. So, Enheduanna used propaganda to sway the minds of a people. “You burnt down its great gates, Its rivers ran red with blood because of you, its people had nothing to drink…” (Ishtar Handout pg.1). Enheduanna influenced the Sumerians’ thoughts by creating the idea that Akkad was destined to rule Sumer. Creating this propaganda would allow Sargon I to rule over the …show more content…
The New Kingdom Empire was very similar to the Mesopotamian empires. They were both located by major river valleys in the desert. However, unlike the Nile in Egypt, the Tigris and the Euphrates often had unpredictable and sporadic floods, making the two rivers seem life-threatening. A complicated network of irrigation ditches had to be built because of this flooding The Nile tended to be more predictable, so the Nile was seen more as a source of life and renewal. Irrigation projects did not have to be as complicated, although they were still needed. Both empires were polytheistic societies, or societies that worshipped many gods. However, they interpreted their gods much differently. “Ferocious floods, heavy downpours, scorching winds, and oppressive humidity were all part of the Mesopotamian climate. These conditions and resulting famines easily convinced the Mesopotamians that this world was controlled by supernatural forces and that the days of human beings ‘are numbered’” (World History pg.13). Mesopotamian gods were unpredictable, and humans only lived once, with no afterlife. The Egyptians however, had a more positive intake. Their gods gave humanity wisdom and justice, although they were harsh too. Egyptians also believed in an afterlife that everyone could look forward to.