History of Western Civilisation - Wenesday 5th Period: Exam 1

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Methos, kindly, has a full spread from Jeff, God of Biscuits spread out. Everything from doughnuts to bagels to cookies. Coffee and soda provide caffiene.

Methos himself is sitting at his desk, working on what looks like a photocopy of an ancient manuscript. He's translating it into a spiral bound notebook. He's frowning and thumbing through several of the pages.

On the board is written:

EXAM 1

Pick three topics and write or handwave 100 words (at least) on each:

- Sumeria
- Egypt
- Crete
- Greece, political
- Greece, cultural

When finished, you may turn in your papers and leave.

NO TALKING.

Comments

Re: TURN IN YOUR ANSWERS: WC EXAM 1

[psi16.livejournal.com]

Egypt: Given the diverse tapestry of religious history in Ancient Egypt, it comes as no surprise that many different forms of theism evolved, mainly henotheistic in nature. A short interval of monotheism (Atenism) occurred under the reign of Akhenaten, focused on the Egyptian sun deity Aten. Akhenaten outlawed the worship of any other god and built a new capital (Amarna) with temples for Aten. This religious change survived only until the death of Akhenaten, and the old religion was quickly restored during the reign of Tutankhamun, most likely Akhenaten's son by a minor wife. Interestingly, Tutankhamun and several other post-restoration pharaohs were excluded from future king lists, as well as the heretics Akhenaten and Smenkhare. >[Source: "Egyptian Mythology," Wikipedia. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_mythology)]

Greece, Political: The hallmark of democratic Athens was the freedom of its citizens, especially the freedom to speak their mind in the Assembly, and the city vibrated with opportunities that scandalized such conservatives as Plato. The assembly in Athens was a legislative body open to all citizens, any of whom could address the Assembly... There was also a Council, consisting of five hundred citizens selected by lot, which prepared business for the assembly. The use of the lottery for the Council and other offices presupposed the democratic principle that all citizens were qualified to assist in government. Generals, however, were elected, and could have considerable influence. All officials faced formal scrutiny on leaving office, so that they could be punished for corruption or malfeasance while in office...By Greek standards, this was extreme democracy, even though citizenship was limited to adult males whose parents were citizens. Women, slaves, and a large population of resident aliens were excluded.
[Source: Pages xii - xiv of the introduction, On Justice, Power, and Human Nature: The Essence of Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War, translated and edited by Paul Woodruff.]

Greece, Cultural: For most of Greek history, education was private, with only the wealthy families able to afford teachers. During the Hellenistic period, some city-states established public schools. Boys learned how to read, write and quote literature. They also learned to sing and play one musical instrument and were trained as athletes for military service. They studied not for a job but to become an effective citizen. Girls also learned to read, write and do simple arithmetic so they could manage the household. They almost never received education after childhood.

A small number of boys continued their education after childhood. While they were teenagers, they studied philosophy as a moral guide in life, and rhetoric to help make persuasive speeches in court of a political assembly. In the Classical period, this training was necessary for an ambitious young man. One important part of a wealthy teenager's education was a mentor relationship with an elder. The teenager learned by watching his mentor talking about politics in the agora, helping him perform his public duties, exercising with him in the gymnasium and attending symposia with him. The richest students continued their education to college, and went to a university in a large city. [Source: "Ancient Greece," Wikipedia. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greece)]