A History of
Western Civilization
(Part I)
From the beginnings
until the Middle Ages
What is “Western Civilization”?
The societies of Western and Central
Europe and their close genealogical,
linguistic, and philosophical colonial
descendants.
A history of Western Civ includes an
examination of the cultures that took
part in its formation.
Four themes for the course
What should our proper daily conduct and attitude to life be?
How is happiness and well-being achieved?
Is there a reality higher than humans, and how should this affect
the way people live?
Why and how should people live together in a society?
How is control gained and held by a ruling power?
What is the best way to run a state?
Are we all created equal? How are hierarchies legitimized?
Does our individual philosophy or religion have a bearing on this
question?
What is the nature of history?
Is the past useful for the present?
How should history be written?
What advances have been made in science and technology?
For what reason are these advances made?
How do these advances affect our society?
The Search for “Civilization”
What’s a Civilization?
A civilization is a culture that has
attained a degree of complexity
usually characterized by urban life.
Characteristics usually include intensive agriculture,
a significant division of labor, a system of recordkeeping, monumental architecture, and heavy
population.
The Geography of Mesopotamia
SUMER: The First Civilization
Advancements Leading to Civilization
Creation of arable land
Bronze
New plow
Transport
Potter’s wheel
Remains of temple
in Uruk
c. 3000 BCE
SUMER: The First Civilization
Sumerian Writing
c. 3100-2800 = Protoliterate period
• pictographic writing
c. 2800 = Literate period begins
• syllabic writing
Key Terms
cuneiform
Early Dynastic Period c. 2800-2350 BCE
Power and Politics
Classes of Society
Warfare
Key Terms
Gilgamesh
Akkadian Empire c. 2334-2100 BCE
Origins
Sargon of Akkad
(2334-2279)
Literature
Key Terms
Semites
Akkadian
Akkadian Empire
Sargon of Akkad
Enheduanna
Stela of Naram-Sin
Sargon of Akkad
“I am Sargon, the great king, the king
of Akkad. My mother was a high
priestess, my father I did not know.
The brothers of my father dwelled in
the hills. My city is Azupiranu, which
is situated on the banks of the
Euphrates. My mother the high
priestess conceived me, in secret she
bore me. She set me in a reed
basket, with bitumen she sealed my
lid. She cast me into the river from
where I could not get out. The river
bore me up and carried me to Akki,
the drawer of water. Aqqi, the drawer
of water, brought me up as he dipped
his basket. Aqqi, the drawer of water,
took me as his adopted son. Aqqi, the
drawer of water, appointed me as his
gardener. While I was a gardener,
Ishtar granted me her love, and for 55
years I exercised kingship.”
–The Birth Legend of Sargon.
Old Babylonian Empire c. 1894-1595 BCE
Origins
Hammurabi
(1792-1750)
Key Terms
Amorites
Babylon
Old Babylonian Empire
Hammurabi
Excerpts of Hammurabi’s Code
If any one brings an accusation against a man, and the accused goes to the
river and leaps into the river, if he sinks in the river his accuser shall take
possession of his house. But if the river proves that the accused is not
guilty, and he escapes unhurt, then he who had brought the accusation shall
be put to death, while he who leaped into the river shall take possession of
the house that had belonged to his accuser.
If any one brings an accusation of any crime before the elders, and does not
prove what he has charged, he shall, if it be a capital offense charged, be
put to death.
If any one is committing a robbery and is caught, then he shall be put to
death.
If any one "points the finger" (slander) at a sister of a god or the wife of
anyone, and cannot prove it, this man shall be taken before the judges and
his brow shall be marked.
If a man takes a woman to wife, but has no intercourse with her, this woman
is no wife to him.
If a man's wife is surprised with another man, both shall be tied and thrown
into the water, but the husband may pardon his wife and the king his slaves.
If a man brings a charge against one's wife, but she is not surprised with
another man, she must take an oath and then may return to her house.
More excerpts…
If the "finger is pointed" at a man's wife about another man, but she is not caught
sleeping with the other man, she shall jump into the river for her husband.
If a man wishes to separate from a woman who has borne him children, or from his wife
who has borne him children: then he shall give that wife her dowry, and a part of the
usufruct of field, garden, and property, so that she can rear her children. When she has
brought up her children, a portion of all that is given to the children, equal as that of one
son, shall be given to her. She may then marry the man of her heart.
If a man wishes to separate from his wife who has borne him no children, he shall give
her the amount of her purchase money and the dowry which she brought from her
father's house, and let her go.
If a man's wife, who lives in his house, wishes to leave it, plunges into debt, tries to ruin
her house, neglects her husband, and is judicially convicted: if her husband offers her
release, she may go on her way, and he gives her nothing as a gift of release. If her
husband does not wish to release her, and if he take another wife, she shall remain as
servant in her husband's house.
If a woman quarrels with her husband, and says: "You are not congenial to me," the
reasons for her prejudice must be presented. If she is guiltless, and there is no fault on
her part, but he leaves and neglects her, then no guilt attaches to this woman, she shall
take her dowry and go back to her father's house.
…and a few more…
If she is not innocent, but leaves her husband, and ruins her house,
neglecting her husband, this woman shall be cast into the water.
If a man takes a wife and this woman gives her husband a maid-servant,
and she bears him children, but this man wishes to take another wife, this
shall not be permitted to him; he shall not take a second wife.
If a man takes a wife, and she bears him no children, and he intends to take
another wife: if he takes this second wife, and brings her into the house, this
second wife shall not be allowed equality with his wife.
If a man puts out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out.
If a man knocks out the teeth of his equal, his teeth shall be knocked out.
If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly,
and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder
shall be put to death.
If a slave says to his master: "You are not my master," if they convict him his
master shall cut off his ear.
Mesopotamian Culture
Religion
Gods
Images
Sacrifices
Priests
Key Terms
Marduk
Ziggurat
epic
Enuma Elish
Epic of Gilgamesh
Old Babylonian Literature
ziggurat
The Enuma Elish
Excerpts from the Enuma Elish
They strove in single combat, locked in battle.
The lord spread out his net to enfold her,
The Evil Wind, which followed behind, he let
loose in her face.
When Tiamat opened her mouth to consume
him,
He drove in the Evil Wind while as yet she had
not shut her lips
As the terrible winds filled her belly,
Her body was distended and her mouth was
wide open.
He released the arrow, it tore her belly,
It cut through her insides, splitting the heart.
Having thus subdued her, he extinguished her
life.
He cast down her carcass to stand upon it.
After he had slain Tiamat, the leader,
Her band was shattered, her troupe broken
up;
Then the lord paused to view her dead body,
That he might divide the form and do artful works.
He split her like a shellfish into two parts:
Half of her he set up as a covering for heaven,
Pulled down the bar and posted guards.
He bade them to allow not her waters to escape.
He constructed stations for the great gods,
Fixing their astral likenesses as the stars of the Zodiac.
He determined the year and into sections he divided it;
He set up three constellations for each of the twelve months.
After defining the days of the year by means of heavenly figures,
He founded the station of the pole star [Nebiru] to determine their bounds,
That none might err or go astray.
…In her belly he established the zenith.
The Moon he caused to shine, entrusting the night to him.
He appointed him a creature of the night to signify the days,
And marked off every month, without cease, by means of his crown. …
Making the mist smoke, piling up . . .
These he planned himself, took into his own hand.
Putting her head into position he formed thereon the mountains,
Opening the deep which was in flood,
He caused to flow from her eyes the Euphrates and Tigris,
Stopping her nostrils he left . . . ,
He formed from her breasts the lofty mountains,
Therein he drilled springs for the wells to carry off the water.
The Epic of Gilgamesh
What is an epic?
A long narrative poem that
embodies the values of a
culture.
An epic has three
main elements:
1. A hero
2. A journey
3. A homecoming
Epic of Gilgamesh (cont’d)
Questions for Discussion:
What are the main points in the praise of Gilgamesh (Book
I)?
What is the problem in Uruk (Book I)?
What is Gilgamesh’s reason for wanting to go fight the
monster Humbaba (Book III)?
Why does Gilgamesh resist Ishtar (Book VI)?
Why does Enkidu curse the trapper and the prostitute
(Book VII)? What does the god Shamash say in response?
What advice does Shiduri the tavern-keeper give
Gilgamesh (Book X)?
In the story of Utnapishtim, what do the various actions of
the deities allow us to infer about how the Mesopotamians
viewed their gods and goddesses? (Book XI)?
What does the last scene suggest about Gilgamesh's
present attitude toward the meaning of life?
Epic of Gilgamesh (cont’d)
Themes
Meaning of life found in being
fully human
There is an unbridgeable gap
between gods and humans
Immortality found in what you
leave behind
Sexual knowledge leads to a
moral transition from nature
to civilization