MMW 11 Midterm Passage IDs

Lewis Mumford, "The Crystallization of the City"

Signficance: Development of Cities --> Establishment of Civilization

Implosion > Explosion

Attracted rather than spread --> became dense --> packed under pressure --> massive walls of the city (cities becoming dense)

- movement into the city is the mobilization

- density leads to specialization therefore diversification (diverse elements)

Textual Evidence:

1) From same source: elements of civilization was all under pressure of a king or primary ruler

- diverse elements & density

2) From same source: Explanation of emergent cities where entry of diverse elements added on and adapted with each other

Epic of Creation

Significance: Marduk as absolute power (authority is absolute)

Words stand inviolate & command incontrovertible basically means that Marduk's laws/decrees cannot be challenged

Unspecified time means his authority is indefinite

Textual Evidence:

1) "Elected to fight" people chose him hence also making his rule divineness legitimate --> assembly of elders chose him temporarily due to his natural leader-like qualities

2) Splitting of Tiamat's body & creation of heaven + earth proves that he is stronger than other gods to Assembly of Elders and gave him the confidence to ask for absolute rule

Kings, The Hebrew Bible

Significance: Lebanon has resources (cedar trees) & King Hiram's Treaty so he sends forced laborers to Lebanon --> only 11/12 Israel tribes was forced labor, only one tribe, Judah, didn't have to send workers

Solomon's punishment was lessened because his father was David

Textual Evidence:

1) Treaty with King Hiram: reason why this labor conscription even starts --> olive oil + labor for temple building resources

2) Covenant to Build Temple: Solomons motive for labor conscription; Bias for Judah because Solomon is from Judah

The Book of Job

Significance: explanation for hardship despite being a good devotee to God challenges Deuteronomist perspective of transgenerational punishment

Despite what God does, you must stay devout --> God's actions are not comprehensible to people

"my right" --> health and wellbeing not guaranteed

"Spirit of God" --> God himself

"speak falsehood" --> cannot denounce no matter the hardship

"my integrity" --> he's still alive despite hardships, so without food he can exist & be

Textual Evidence:

1) Job was blameless: still got punished & still stayed faithful

2) Solomon doesn't get severe punishment despite oppression --> David was good, so Solomon is mostly spared (pro-Deut)

Robert Eno, "Deities and Ancestors in Early Oracle Inscriptions"

Significance: It didn't rain in Anyang, so people thought Di was angry at the city

King = highest shaman, so prognostication is basically fortune telling and concludes that "[Di] does not approve"

Textual Evidence:

1) Divination of Kings: pyromancy of oracle bones --> the fortune telling process --> his perfection of divination --> his political & religious legitimacy --> possibility of successful predictions prove legitimacy (King)

2) Turning to Di itself: proves cultural acceptance of Di as higher power

Confucius -- The Analects

Significance: proper sacrificial rituals are important & if you're not totally committed to the ritual, there's no point even doing it & it defeats the purpose

- Confucius emphasized rites & rituals to the dead and spirits

Textual Evidence:

1) Practice what you preach (Junzi) --> actually do the rituals

- "Do not do to others what you don't want other people to do to you"

2) Concept of Li --> directly refers to rites and ceremonies but has general meaning of good form and decorum, so partaking in these rites, you must do so ina. respectful & proper manner

Tao Te Ching (DaoDeJing)

Significance: Submissive & unyielding

Soft can wear away the hard overtime --> concept that's hard to understand

The teaching that takes no words is the ability of knowledge to show itself through experience

Textual Evidence:

1) Zhuangzi: can't give people experience

- expanded on wuwei --> social implications

- Laozi on the other hand was more political aspects

2) The more enforced the law is, the more people will want to break it

- reversal of the way