CHAPTER 2EARLY SOUTHWEST ASIA

CIVILIZATION

• Complex• Urban• Specialists• Socio/cultural• Mesopotamia

SUMERIANS

CUNEIFORM

• Writing

EPIC OF GILGAMESH

• Poems • Heroism• Good vs. Evil

BABYLONIANS

CODE OF HAMMURABI

• 300 laws• Adultery, slavery, prostitution• Punishment

• What protections did women have in Babylonian law? Why is it clear that this was a patriarchal society?

• What kind of economy did Babylonia have? How were economic disputes settled?

• Are these laws similar to laws in our modern societies?

SCIENCES

• Math• Astronomy

BEER

• Not before 10,000 bce• Widespread: 4,000 bce• Wheat/barley

• Fermentation

• Flavors• Trial and errors

EPIC OF GILGAMESH

• “They placed food in front of him, they placed beer in front of him; Enkidu knew nothing about eating bread for food, and of drinking beer he had not been taught. The young woman spoke to Enkidu saying: Drink the beer, as is the custom of the land. He drank the beer-seven jugs!-and became expansive and sang with joy.”

BEER

• Religious • Supernatural forces

• Today?• Drink to: good health, happy marriage, etc.

• Healthy?• Boiled water• Protein, Vitamin B

BEER

• Settled, orderly life vs. pre-agricultural times• Payment

• Laborers, officials, bride price

• Friendly, unpretentious social interaction• Throughout history?

HEBREWS

• 1800 bce to Palestine• Religion • Old Testament

• Yahweh

• Impact?

• Hebrews• Trade with Egypt, Mesopotamia

• Egypt: • architecture, math, writing

• Mesopotamia: • political traditions

The Mediterranean Region