Legacy of Ancient Mesopotamia

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

Ancient Mesopotamia is considered to be a cradle of the Old World Civilisation. However, is much less known that the Classical World, or even Ancient Egypt. Therefore, a question may arise, what is the reason to the claim stated in the first sentence? The aim of the course is to disseminate the basic knowledge on Mesopotamian civilization. On this foundation I am going to demonstrate, that indeed many elements of the Modern World stem from Ancient Mesopotamia, in the direct and indirect way. As a result, participants of the class should be able to understand more fully the roots of present-day culture, economy and society, and to trace elements constituting it in the Near Eastern past.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Basic knowledge of the early history of Old World civilisations.

Good knowledge of English.

Basic presentation skills.

Syllabus

Week 1:           Natural Conditions of the Near East

 

Week 2:           The Discovery of Ancient Mesopotamia

 

Week 3:           The Order of the World

 

Week 4:           The Cuneiform Writing

 

Week 5:           The Discovery and Dissemination of Alphabet

 

Week 6:           Agriculture and Animal Husbandry: the Neolithic Revolution

 

Week 7:           From Subsistence to Wealth Economy

 

Week 8:           Mesopotamian Rations as Welfare System

 

Week 9:           Cities and the Urban Life

 

Week 10:          The King

 

Week 11:          Officials and Self-governance

 

Week 12:          Looking into Sky

 

Week 13:          Insights into Future: Divination and Horoscopes

 

Week 14:          Cultural Transfers: the Greeks and Ancient Lore

 

Week 15:          Legacy of Ancient Mesopotamia: a Summary

Reading list

Jack Sasson (ed.) Civilisations of the Ancient Near East, vols. 1-4, New York 1995 (selected chapters)

Stephanie Dalley, T. A. Reyes, David Pingree, Alison Salvesen, Henrietta McCall, The Legacy of Mesopotamia, Oxford, 1998 (selected chapters).

Michael Roaf, The Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia and the Near East, New York 1990.