Mesopotamia

Out of the four early civilizations, Egypt was the most civilized and technologically advanced. Without the Egyptians, we wouldn’t have most of the everyday things we have now. They made pyramids that have truly stood the test of time. We don’t even have the technology to mimic the pyramids today! Most of the inventions that the Egyptians made are still used currently. The early Egyptian civilization was created on the Nile river. The Nile made fertile black soil perfect for farming. When the…

Machu Ricchu Machu icchu a site that was slipped away and forgotten. It was site that was conceived to have been a collection of lands and a sacred religious haven for Inca leaders. In the 16th century the whole civilization was wiped out by the Spanish intruders. For hundreds of years this site remained undiscovered ever since the event occurred no one was able to stumble upon it until one American archaeologist, Hiram Bingham found it unexpectedly on an expedition in 1911. The site was…

“What you believe about who you are, where you came from, affects your whole worldview.” (Ham) Although everybody has a worldview, they may not know what shapes it. Throughout history, worldviews have shaped civilizations, which have furthermore shaped their societies. Creation stories and legends often have an immense impact on one’s worldview. The Babylonian, Akkadian, and Hebrew civilizations are among the first with strong, yet contradicting, worldviews. Each of their worldviews…

In Chapter 1, the cultures and societies discussed include Mesopotamian civilization, Egyptian civilization, the Hittite empire, and the Persian Empire. Major influences from these civilizations and empires have contributed to Western Civilization. Mesopotamian civilization developed between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers and evolved to three definite societies: Sumer (2000s B.C), Babylonia (1000s B.C.), and Assyria (after 700s B.C.). The first known cities were founded by the Sumerians…

Since the ancient times, rivers have always been associated with life. From the sides of Yangtze to the banks of Nile, the most powerful civilizations were established. The region had served as a source of livelihood and sustenance among the settlers for there was a consistent supply of food. The watercourse acted as the major means of transportation that encouraged trade among different settlements. In no time, water from rivers was used to build irrigation to support emerging agriculture. The…

The heroic tale of Beowulf is an example of one of the oldest known works in the Old English. The poem consists of 3,182 lines and is believed to be over 1,000 years old. The poem’s author remains unknown. This may seem very hard to believe because the poem is an epic tale of a King of what is now known as Scandinavia at a time when monsters and dragons roamed the Earth. The tale is centered around “The Great King Beowulf” and his epic battles. King Beowulf is believed to be great by many, but…

Aerys II Targaryen was King of the seven kingdoms for many years. These kingdoms are the North, the Riverlands, the Vale, the Westernlands, the Stormlands, the Reach, and Dorne. Through out all of the kingdom’s, he was known only as the “Mad King”. His wife, Rhaella, had three children with him. Rhaegar, Viserys, and Daenerys were the heirs of the “Mad King”. While in battle, he was killed by his own hand. His son, Rhaegar, took reign over the seven kingdoms after proving he was no where near…

Statue of Gudea vs. The Royal Acquaintances Memi and Sabu Anonymous Student University of the People BUS 1105 Statue of Gudea vs. The Royal Acquaintances Memi and Sabu Introduction In ancient societies like the ones of the Statue of Gudea as well as The Royal Acquaintances Memi and Sabu, sculptures told a story. Sculptures throughout history have been created for different purposes, but these two exhibit two very distinct purposes and features – the first was a representation of royalty and…

The genres of tragedy and epic have many similar components, however, they are not the same genre. Certain elements differentiate the two genres from each other. While both are very similar, they are both imitations of great deeds, heroes, and tragic suffering, the way these elements are conveyed is different. Tragedy portrays all this through action, while epic depicts all this through language alone. By reading and analyzing the Oresteia, Gilgamesh, and the Odyssey a reader is able to…

The Cyrus Cylinder, also known as the first human rights declaration, was founded in 539 B.C.E. It is a barrel-shaped baked clay cylinder, which was inscribed in Babylonian Cuneiform. Babylonian Cuneiform is also known as wedge-shaped writing. The text that is written on the Cyrus Cylinder is known to be a declaration about the 539 B.C. Iran and Iraq War. The cylinder is named after the great Cyrus of Persia. In 1879, the cylinder was excavated by archaeologist, Hormuzd Rassam. The Cyrus…