Assyria

This book is an interesting take on the description of the groups of people who interacted with the influenced ancient Israel. It gives a detailed account of group’s origin histories, rulers, architecture, art, religion and other contacts with biblical Israel. A part of it goes over the Mesopotamian religion and it includes articles on the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and the Persians. They are also articles about the Hittites, Canaanites and Amorites. The Sumerians in fact are the only…

Also known as the Cradle of civilization, Mesopotamia was a civilization made up of many empires including Sumer, Akkadian, Babylonia and Assyrian empires. The population of the empires was divided into social classes; the upper, middle, and lower class. Since social classes were so separated in Mesopotamia, there was a lot of room for inequality between the social classes and gender that leads to war; becoming a reality of everyday life. Men and women in Mesopotamia were both allowed to work.…

Beginning around 1200 BCE new bigger states built on the achievements of earlier societies. Around this time Afro-Eurasia became overwhelmed with drought which caused people to migrate from older communities to the new and recent empires such as the Neo-Assyrian, Persian, and the Zhou. Technological changes allowed communities to structure themselves, especially the communities devastated by the drought. Pack Camels, seaworthy vessels and iron tools for cultivation facilitated the rise of these…

Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus River Valley Civilizations all invented many new tools, and inventions which were some of the greatest until the 18th, and 19th Centuries. These Ancient Civilizations began around 8,000 years ago, and lasted for about 5,000 years Mesopotamia and Egypt are located near the Mediterranean Sea, and are in the Fertile Crescent. The Indus River Valley Civilization is located south of the Himalayas in India. All these civilizations had technologies that allowed them…

Aside from the Serpent and Eagle symbols, there were also the Imago (a Standard displaying the image of the emperor), the Manus (an open hand at the top of the banner), the Vexillum (a rectangular cut cloth of a certain color, sometimes with a number, attached to a pole), and Banners which designated military hierarchy (a red banner, for example, would designate a general). The Vexillum designated the type of unit (legion or cohort) and which legion it was. The Manus of the open hand symbolized…

Founded by the Ubaid people in 5900 B.C.E. Mesopotamia was known as the “Land between Rivers” and was positioned between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. These rivers often provided the people with water, since this region normally received only eight inches of rain per year. The Tigris and Euphrates were known to be ferocious and erratic, and would often overflow the lands. These reasons alone made life in Mesopotamia harsh, crude, and unpredictable. Even the Tigris would sporadically change…

With no name and created by an unknown artist, this stone statue was created in the 7th-8th century (during the Chinese Tang dynasty). As the intent behind this creation is unknown, other than it being a tomb guardian, the reasoning behind it caused a lot of intrigue. The most notable trait this sculpture possesses is the amount of different animals that it comprises of. The shape and the platform that the statue rests upon, as well as its mythological form give it a divine sense of self. Like…

In the year 576 BCE the Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar commissioned his builders to construct and design a monumental gate on the outskirts of the city. The gate was situated at the main entrance to the promenade, north of the city’s border to the temple of Marduk, chief God of Mesopotamian. The monument was dedicated and named after Ishtar, the Babylonian Goddess of; love, fertility, war and sex. (Wikipedia) If thou openest not the gate to let me enter, I will break the door, I will…

Reading Log – Exillic and Post-Exillic Literature Ezekiel 36-37 – These chapters were written by Ezekiel, a well-educated priest who was taken to Babylon to work as a slave for the royalty due to his superior talents and education. While in slavery, the priest becomes a prophet through spiritual experiences early in the book. The people have lost everything, which according to the Deuteronomic viewpoint was because of their sinful unfaithfulness to Yahweh. What is the message of chapters 36…

One of the other developments that a common language allowed was the development of a code of laws to help govern the empire. Laws helped to reaffirm power structures in the empire as well as protection of human rights, an idea that has lasted to present times. The ruler often used laws to express his will throughout the empire and these laws were distributed by the officials of the ruler were higher ranking than the citizens. Goodspeed discusses this structure in the Babylonians, “The…