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WESTERN CIVILIZATION I Prof. David Swartz Umberto Eco, The Name of the Rose “In the past men were handsome and great (now they are children and dwarfs), but this is merely the one of the many facts that demonstrate the disaster of an aging world. The young no longer want to study anything, learning is in decline, the whole world walks on its head, blind men lead others equally blind and cause them to plunge into the abyss, birds leave the nest before they can fly, the jackass plays the lyre, oxen dance. Mary no longer loves the contemplative life and Martha no longer loves the active life, Leah is sterile, Rachel has a carnal eye, Cato visits brothels, Lucretius becomes a woman. Everything is on the wrong path. In those days, thank God, I acquired from my master the desire to learn and a sense of the straight way, which remains even when the path is tortuous.” pre = before pregame prevent predict post = after postpone postscript postdate ÖTZI THE ICEMAN AND THE FIRST CIVILIZATIONS Week One Ötzi the Iceman Ötzi’s demise Frozen corpse of a Stone Age man discovered in the Alps Died from a arrow shot while fleeing “A Life in Ice” Mono = one monacle monopoly monochromatic poly = many polygon polychromatic polysyllabic uni = one unicellular unicorn unicycle I. The Emergence of Culture Ötzi: a transitional figure representing the trajectory from Stone Age culture to civilizations Stone-Age Culture Not just about survival Ways of living built up by a group and passed on from generation to generation Abstract, symbolic thought Tassili-n-Ajjer I. The Emergence of Culture I. The Emergence of Culture I. The Emergence of Culture A. Sedentary Life Fixed dwelling places Domestication of plants and animals Population growth I. The Emergence of Culture B. Religion Ritual Formal religious cults replace bonds of kinship Worship of fertility goddesses I. The Emergence of Culture Aztec goddess Bali goddess II. The Emergence of Civilization Civilization: a form of culture in which many people live in urban centers, have mastered the art of smelting metals, and have developed a method of writing Mesopotamia A “fertile crescent” between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers II. The Emergence of Civilization A. Ramparts of Uruk Forced into cooperation Population quadruples to 40,000 Rigid social structures of urban life II. The Emergence of Civilization B. Tools 1. New tools: especially the harder alloy of bronze 2. Pictograms: innovation of writing the greatest of all 3. Cuneiform: conceptual; multiple meanings; served to stratify society II. The Emergence of Civilization C. Gods and mortals 1. Divinities Numerous impersonal gods, each with a responsibility 2. Temples and rituals Sacrifice Mortality Ziggurat of Uruk made of mud bricks co/com = with/together committee combine cohesive contra/counter = against contraception counterfeit contrast sub = under/below submarine subway subdivision II. The Emergence of Civilization D. Mesopotamian Expansion 1. Akkadian Empire: King Sargon, tolerance, and decline 2. Babylonian Empire: Hammurabi, codification of law, and mathematics IV. Gift of the Nile A. Ideal conditions for an empire Geography: fertile soil and security from invasion Religion: God-Kings, pyramids and the afterlife IV. Gift of the Nile B. The Egyptian Empire Cosmopolitanism: the Hyksos, Semites, military conquest, and economic exchange Akhenaten: monotheism and plain style Tutankhamen: retrenchment and the Battle of Kadesh King Tut in 2007 Steve Martin, “King Tut” (1979) V. The Semites A. The Hebrew Alternative Mesopotamian origins Journeys to Palestine Familiar stories, yet Abraham rejects polytheism; makes a covenant with Yahweh From Ur to Haron to Hebron (Genesis 11-12) Egypt and Exodus Hebrews reenter the promised land Receive a new ethic and legal code (Ten Commandments) V. The Semites B. Kings like all the nations Judges: A loose confederation of tribes that unified armies in times of danger Davidic kingship: monarchy Prophets: Calling the people back to Yahweh “City of David” V. The Semites C. Exile Assyrians: Hebrew division; Tiglath-pileser III (722) New Babylonians: Nebuchadnezzar II V. The Semites D. Second Temple Judaism A new Judaism: text>temple; intention>ritual Rebuilding the temple: Ezra and Nehemiah Strands of Judaism: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes Epilogue • James Davison Hunter, To Change the World