Description

This broad survey investigates the development of the so-called "Cradles of civilization, " Ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Anatolia, the Levant and Persia. At times the class will dip deeply into these cultures, using primary texts as well as archaeological and artistic evidence to better understand the political, religious, economic, military, social and artistic evolution of these closely associated cultures. We will focus on themes such as the development of kingship as a secular and sacred ruler, the ideology of Empire, the environment, and the fragility of the inter-connected network of resources that developed. The ultimate goal is to understand the inter-cultural milieu of the Ancient Near East and demonstrate how much Western civilization owes to these historical developments.