The Cradles of Western Civilization

Mesopotamia

&

The Ancient Hebrews

Mesopotamia

Land Between the Rivers

Fertile Crescent

A. Founding Myths

1. Mythopoeic “history”The Epic of Gilgameshca. 2100 BC

2. What is gained/lost?

3. Nature as source of ethics(near-eastern mythology)

B. Early urbanization

1. Sumerian Period (3200-2360 BC)Ur, Uruk, Eridu – religion, defense, trade

2. population explosion

C. Hydraulic society

Wittvoegel = water & power

1. Class stratification warrior-kings priests peasants slaves

2. Redefinition of gender roles - specialization of labor - female deities

Ishtar

Inanna

3. Bronze Age technology (3300BC – 1300BC)

Weapons, farm implements, mininginnovation, specialization, cooperation

4. Writing Cuneiform (Sumerians, 3500)

From pictographs to alphabetLiberate meaning from symbol – abstract thought

“Whoever has walked with Truth generates life”

D. Early confederations & empires1. Akkadian Empire (2300-1800 BC)

united Mesopotamia multi-ethnic facilitates dissemination of knowledge

Sargon the Akkadian

2. Old Babylonian EmpireHammurabi Code (1700BC)

Unification through law

Human-based legal code

Expectations of people“If…then…”

The Ancient Hebrews

The Hebrew Experience and Western Ethics

A. Rise of Semitic peoplesAramaeans, Chaldeans

Languages: Arabic, Hebrew

Battle of Kadesh, 1286 BC

A. Legacy of nomadism

1. Trade or raid - Mesopotamian influence - revulsion toward cities

2. Patriarchal system(Abraham, Isaac, Moses, etc.)

God

B. History and Hebrew Theology

1. Abrahamic concept of God (El, later Yahweh)

2. The Exodus (1200 BC)

3. The Covenant10 Commandments; ethical monotheism

- personal relationship w/ God

- the individual and moral choice

- active God

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

C. Lessons from the rise and fall of Israel

1. 1000-922 BCDavid & Solomonurban v. nomadic

2. Mythopoeicsins of leader = sins of nation722 – Assyrians586 – New Babylonians Nebuchadnezzar II

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