History Before the 1500s - Midterm

Who wrote "The exaltation of Inana"?

Enheduanna

Who wrote "Confucius"?

Confucius

Who wrote "The Life and Teachings of the Buddha"?

Followers of Buddha

Who wrote "The Exodus readings"?

Excerpts from the Hebrew Scriptures

Who wrote "The Philosopher King"?

Plato

Who wrote "Zoroastrian Hymns"?

Zoroaster

Who wrote "Life of Lycurgus"?

Plutarch

Who wrote "Infancy Gospel of Thomas"?

Thomas the “Israelite”

Who wrote "Sermon on the Mount"?

Mattew

When was "The exaltation of Inana" written?

About 2300 BCE

When was "Confucius" written?

551 BCE - 479 BCE

When was "The Life and Teachings of the Buddha" written?

563 BCE - 483 BCE

When was "The Exodus readings" written?

6th Century BCE

When was "The Philosopher King" written?

429 BCE - 347 BCE

When was "Zoroastrian Hymns" written?

628 BCE - 551 BCE (or 1400-1000 BCE)

When was "Life of Lycurgus" written?

75 AD

When was "Infancy Gospel of Thomas" written?

140-170 AD

When was "Sermon on the Mount" written?

70 - 100 CE

• Describes Inana as a powerful goddess embodying both nurturing and destructive qualities.

• One of the first recorded writings

"The exaltation of Inana"

• Rules to live by

• Respecting your elders and those who came before you

• Extremely Specific

"Confucius"

• The following of a Monks journey to “enlightenment”

• Desire = Suffering

• Life = Suffering

"The Life and Teachings of the Buddha"

• Attempt to build a tower to reach heaven - upset the Lord

• Hebrews being liberated from Egypt

• God speaks to Moses - Ten Commandments

"The Exodus readings"

• Dialogue between Socrates and Glaucon

"The Philosopher King"

• A strong moral code

• Be good and true and do good

"Zoroastrian Hymns"

• The lives of Spartans

• The rules and traditions of the Spartans

"Life of Lycurgus"

• The childhood of Jesus

• Meant to bridge the gap for people in different religions and make Christianity more appealing

"Infancy Gospel of Thomas"

• Jesus speaking to everyone from the mountain top

• Moral code to live and abide by

"Sermon on the Mount"

What kind of source do historians usually use and prefer to use when studying civilizations? Is that
kind of source always available to historians? Why not? What are sources can non-historians (linguists,
archeologists, anthropologists) use to understand these civilizations?

• Writing

• No

• Not always a written language or one left behind

What civilization did the earliest known writing come from? Give two examples of writing from this
civilization, and describe some elements of their society based on these writings.

• Sumer

• “Exaltation of Inanna”

• Recordings of Wages

Name two civilizations, other than ancient Rome, that had running water or a drainage system.
According to this course, why is it important to acknowledge these earlier technologies when thinking about history?

• Sumer

• Nile River Valley Civilizations

• It highlights creativity and problem-solving capabilities

• reflect an advanced understanding of engineering, public health, and resource management.

Name and describe two religions/thought systems from the early Chinese dynasties that have
continued to influence or inform Chinese life and society

• Confucianism - emphasizes moral integrity, social harmony, and the importance of education

• Buddhism - Four Noble Truths: These outline the nature of suffering and the path to overcoming it.

Why have historians struggled to understand early civilizations that thrived in the continent of Africa?
Name and describe at least one civilization that we do know about.

• Very little writing

• Nilo-Saharan-Speaking people of Nubia - 2000 - 650 BCE, In and out of conflict with Egypt, Pharaonic practices

Describe the religion of the ancient Hebrews and the philosophies of the ancient Greeks. What do they
have in common and how do they complement each other?

• Both the ancient Hebrews and Greeks emphasized ethics and moral behavior

• Both traditions engaged with fundamental questions about existence, purpose, and the nature of the divine

• Both traditions have profoundly influenced Western thought, ethics, and spirituality

How did Rome serve as an incubator for Christianity? Name and describe at least four specific ways.

• Legalized and Institutionalized Christianity

• Persecuted Christians, bringing more attention to them

• “Orthodox” the religion

• Opened it for Gentiles - Baptism

How would you describe Saudi Arabia in the Ancient World? How can you understand this area
through the History of Commodities?

• Huge trade industry

• Huge caravans

• Rich in Frankincense and Myrrh