1. The Cradles of Western Civilization Mesopotamia & The Ancient Hebrews

2. Mesopotamia Land Between the Rivers Fertile Crescent

3. A. Founding Myths 1.Mythopoeic “history” The Epic of Gilgamesh ca. 2100 BC 2.What is gained/lost? 3.Nature as source of ethics (near-eastern mythology)

4. B. Early urbanization 1.Sumerian Period (3200-2360 BC) Ur, Uruk, Eridu – religion, defense, trade 2.population explosion

5. C. Hydraulic society Wittvoegel = water & power 1. Class stratification warrior-kings priests peasants slaves

6. 2. Redefinition of gender roles - specialization of labor - female deities Ishtar Inanna

7. 3. Bronze Age technology (3300BC – 1300BC) Weapons, farm implements, mining innovation, specialization, cooperation

8. 4. Writing Cuneiform (Sumerians, 3500) From pictographs to alphabet Liberate meaning from symbol – abstract thought “Whoever has walked with Truth generates life”

9. D. Early confederations & empires 1.Akkadian Empire (2300-1800 BC) united Mesopotamia multi-ethnic facilitates dissemination of knowledge Sargon the Akkadian

10. 2. Old Babylonian Empire Hammurabi Code (1700BC) Unification through law Human-based legal code Expectations of people “If…then…”

11. The Ancient Hebrews The Hebrew Experience and Western Ethics

12. A. Rise of Semitic peoples Aramaeans, Chaldeans Languages: Arabic, Hebrew Battle of Kadesh, 1286 BC

13. A. Legacy of nomadism 1.Trade or raid - Mesopotamian influence - revulsion toward cities 2.Patriarchal system (Abraham, Isaac, Moses, etc.) God

14. B. History and Hebrew Theology 1.Abrahamic concept of God (El, later Yahweh) 2.The Exodus (1200 BC)

15. 3. The Covenant 10 Commandments; ethical monotheism - personal relationship w/ God - the individual and moral choice - active God

16. 4. The Hebrews & Western religion - God inhabits separate sphere * profane and sacred * emphasis on the next life - patriarchal religious system * protection and punishment - “humanistic” * role of individual is paramount * God cares

17. C. Lessons from the rise and fall of Israel 1.1000-922 BC David & Solomon urban v. nomadic 2.Mythopoeic sins of leader = sins of nation 722 – Assyrians 586 – New Babylonians Nebuchadnezzar II

18. D. The Babylonian Captivity and the New Faith 1.The prophets (Ezra, Nehemiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah) 2.Rebuild the Covenant 3.Separation and “purity” 4.Messiah complex