Ancient Near East. Cultural History History 110 GE C-1: World Civilizations & Writing Intensive Advanced Study Course Prerequisite: WPE Passing Score California State University, Sacramento  Professor Henry E. Chambers Thursday 6:00-8:50 PM Office Tahoe 3091. Hours: TR 9-10:00 AM, Noon-12:30. Office Phone:278-6234 Home Phone: (916) 486-0400.
	Catalog Description: The course will study the growth and development of the Ancient Near East from its origin in Ancient Sumer and Egypt to its fruition in the Babylonian, Assyrian, and Egyptian empires. Relgion, literature, social, and political institutions will be emphasized as integral elements in an historical process. Primary interest will be on the internal development of the two great cultural empires, Mesopotamia and Egypt as the foundations of the ancient Mediterranean civilizations and only secondarily on other Levantine peoples. As an Advanced Study course students will prepare different types of written exercises: two in class exams and three 4-5 page formal essays on the assigned readings and accompanying discussions. Your instructor will provide specific paper topic assignments for the papers.   Course Objectives Students will read, discuss, and write three short papers on a variety of Near Eastern texts. Each student will use computers for emailand accessing course materials. Babylonian and Egyptian Literarature will be the central focus for student appreciation of the two cultures. Babylonia and Egypt will stressed as the primary historical foundations for Mediterranean culture. Assignments The following assignments are due on the dates indicated. Assignment Points Due Date Essay I - Sumerian Civilization 20% Oct 4   Essay II - Babylonian Literature 20% Oct 18 Essay III - Egyptian Literature 20% Nov 29 Exam I - Mesopotamia 20 % Oct 25 Exam II - Egypt 20% Dec 20 Grade Scale   A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69   F 0-59 Reading Materials Required: William Kelly Simpson. ANCIENT EGYPTIAN LITERATURE. 3d Edition. Yale, 2003. S. Dalley. MYTHS FROM MESOPOTAMIA. Oxford, 1989. William Stiebing. THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST. Longman, 2003.   Weekly Topics and Readings: Agricultural Revolution   Topography Irrigation Technology Early Settlements Readings: Stiebing, pp. 1-25. Sept. 6 Early Dynastic Sumer to Neo-Sumerian Renaissance Peasant Agriculture and a Redistributive Economy Kingship and the Kengir League City and Temple Structures Early Sumerian Art and Archaeology Readings: Stiebing, pp. 29-61, 65-84, Sept 13 Sumerian and Babylonian Cosmologies Myth and Religion Cosmic World View Sumerian-Babylonian Pantheon Inanna and the Role of the Goddess in Babylonia   Readings: S. Dalley. MYTHS: Descent of Ishtar, 154-162; Nergal and Ereshkigal, 163-201;Anzu, 203-231; Adapa, 182-188; Etana, 189-200. Sept. 20 Old Babylonia: Creation of New Political, Economic, and Social Forms. Search for Social Justice Sumerian Legal Antecedents Freemen, Gurush, and Slaves Women in the Family and Kingdom Babylon as the Cultural Center of Mesopotamia Readings:. Stiebing, pp. 85-99. Hammurabi's Law Code. Sept. 27   Paper I Due   October 4 Babylonian Literary Norms Creation of a Canon from Sumerian Antecedents Sumerian-Akkadian Writing Systems Gilgamesh and the Struggle for Life: The Archetypal Hero Sumerian Narrative Tales Readings: Dalley, MYTHS, Epic of Gilgamesh October 4 Babylonian Literature Creation and Flood Stories Exhaltation of Marduk Adapa and Etana Tales Readings: Dalley, MYTHS, Atrahasis, 1-39; Epic of Creation, 228-277. Oct. 11 Paper II Due   OCT 18 Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian Traditions Assyrian Imperial Conquests Lesser Peoples: Hittites, Israel, and the Phoenicians Neo-Babylonian Renaissance: Wisdom Texts Babylonian Art and Architecture: Ishtar Gate Conclusion of Mesopotamian Civilization. Review   Readings: Stiebing, pp. 193-289. Oct 18 EXAM I Oct. 25 Old Kingdom Egypt: Political/Social Norms Egypt as an Island Culture Pharaoh as Divine Ruler Saqqara Complex of Zoser Geography and Irrigation Economy Peasant Labor. Slavery, and the Riverine Village   Readings: Stiebing, pp. 103-134, Simpson EGYPTIAN LITERATURE, Tale of Cheops and the Magicians, Teaching of King Amenemhat I for His Son Senwosret, Teaching for King Merikare, Three Autobiographies of the Old Kingdom. Nov. 1 Foundations of Egyptian Religion Early Cosmologies Horus/Re Cult and Pyramid Texts Creation of an Ethical System Readings: Simpson, Maxims of Ptahhotep; Pyramid Texts, Selections from the Coffin Texts, Book of the Dead 125: "The Negative Confession." Nov. 8.     . Middle Kingdom New Directions in Government and Literature Creation of a Literary Canon Search for Immortality and Life's Meaning Ma'at and the Egyptian Mean of Justice   Readings: Stiebing, pp. 139-159; Simpson, The Admonitions of an Egyptian Sage, Story of Sinuhe, The Man Who Was Weary of Life, Shipwrecked Sailor, Prophecies of Neferty, Tale of the Eloquent Peasant Nov 15. Thanksgiving November 23 (No class)   Paper III Due     Nov. 29 Imperial Egypt Egypt and the Hyksos Pharaoh and an Overseas Empire Readings: Stiebing,pp. 162-178; Simpson, The Kamose Texts, The Poetical Stela of Thutmose III, The Israel Stela   Nov 29 Egyptian Religion and Society Amun-Re's Temple at Karnak New Religious Forms: Aton and Amarna New Kingdom Egyptian Literary Forms Peasant Lifestyles Women's Varied Social and Political Roles Readings: Stiebing, pp. 178-190; Simpson, Hymns to Amun and Aton, Love Songs and the Songs of the Harper. December 6 Conclusion of the Ancient Near East Influence of Egypt on Classical Civilization Persian Conquest Legacy of the Ancient Near East Readings: Stiebing, pp. 225-227, 293-320, 323-328. Dec 13, Exam II   Final Exam Dec 20   Assignments: 1. Three papers, 4-5 pages in length. The first two may be redone for a second and higher grade. Paper assignments will be on specific topics provided by the instructor. Cribbing information or worse still, direct quotes without citation violates University policy and will not be tolerated. 2. Two Examinations, essay and short answer in format. Each exam will require one essay from a selection of two (50 pts) and ten short answers (50 pts) from fifteen available. Study questions will be provided for both examinations..   Computer Requirements: Each student must have a saclink account from CSUS. The course uses WebCt, a proprietary web site. Students must have access to a computer either at home or in campus labs and be able to use a web browser. Netscape works well for web access. Individual passwords and access numbers are your saclink number and the final four digits of the student ID number. Class notes, exam study questions, assignments, and email are available on the class WebCt site.   Page updated: August, 2007 AD