History of Western Civilisation - Wednesday 5th Period: Discussion 1: Introduction and Sumeria

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

All right, then. I bet you all thought that I wasn't going to make you do the stand-up-and-introduce-yourselves bit. Sorry.

Since this section of the class is all about discussion and sharing ideas, I think we first should share our names. I'm not going to ask why you're taking this class, since I imagine most of you are taking it because History 101 is something of a basic requirement. Instead, tell me what period of history has some meaning for you. A different time than your own, please, if you are historically displaced or from somewhere other than Earth. If you know nothing about another period in history... make something up. Please.

Then we're going to spend the hour talking.

Optional reading I totally gave you all yesterday:
Sumerian Language Page -- http://www.sumerian.org/
Wikipedia Entry on Sumer -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumeria
The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature -- http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/

[[OCD Threads up. Comment away!]]

Comments

DISCUSSION 2

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

As Ms. Fraiser brought up yesterday, iconic images are part of our cultural heritage. What images bring to mind ancient civilisations for you? A plow? A wagon wheel? Mud brick buildings? A squiggly line indicating water with a sheaf of wheat indicating grain, put together indicating beer? Give me some images.

Re: DISCUSSION 2

[harried-potter.livejournal.com]

"The spinario (http://www.utexas.edu/courses/citylife/imagesr/spinario.jpg). Because people of ancient civilisations plucked their feet all the time? They had no shoes, you see...They stepped in things."

Re: DISCUSSION 2

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel shrugged, "I haven't really studied the topic before, so unfortunately the images I think of are pretty much the cliches. The pyramids, the Sphinx, the Acropolis, Tut's mask."

Re: DISCUSSION 2

[psi16.livejournal.com]

Lyta couldn't help the grin that slipped across her features. "Sand. Lots of sand." She shrugs. "I know there were oases -- and that the area around the Nile can be very green and fertile -- but all the popular images I've ever seen are in the middle of a desert."

Re: DISCUSSION 2

[janet_fraiser]

"Rivers," said Janet. "Didn't all of the major ancient civilizations spring up near rivers? Also, a sickle or a sheaf of wheat, which I assume would symbolize cultivated crops."

Re: DISCUSSION 2

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

Large stone monuments, such as the pyramids and the ziggurats, and the acropolis, and other such things. Later civilizations did not seem to build such towering piles of stone in such great numbers.

Re: DISCUSSION 2

[suzotchka.livejournal.com]

Ivanova nods tiredly, as if to indicate that she agrees with Hamlet. Her head may be sinking towards her arms. Maybe.

Re: DISCUSSION 2

[blueskin-mystiq.livejournal.com]

"Egyptian tombs with hieroglyphic writing."

Re: DISCUSSION 2

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

Archie taps a finger against his chin in thought. "Stone cairns, I suppose. Obelisks." His mouth twists into a mildly sardonic smile. "Sarcophagi."

Re: DISCUSSION 2

[dorky-broots.livejournal.com]

"Papyrus, from Egypt and Mount Olympus from Greek and Roman times. Um, pictures of it. Definetly the pyramids."