August 24 2015 HY 101 Notes Outline I Before Civilization A History exists because of evidence even prior to writing B Humans domesticate then begin to settle and grow crops C Most successful of these early forming civilizations were the Indo Europeans a left language patterns behind for future generations b lived in an afro asiatic or semitic area c there are so many shared Indo European words that we continue to use to this day II Why Sumer A Orientation and Sources a cuneiform 1 Defined earliest written evidence 2 Literally means wedge shaped 3 Used clay tablets made of sand and water 4 Practiced from roughly around 3 500 2 000 BCE 5 Relate this idea of communication via symbols to modern day usage of emoji icons on the iPhone keyboard b Behistun Inscription 1 Persian Empire inscription with 3 different languages 2 Deciphered cuneiform from within the sculpture discussed later on B Firsts and Foundations Elements of Civilization a Writing starts around 3 500 BCE cities begin to develop Uruk Lagash around 2 500 BCE b Cities struggling to find shelter food and water in c War and competition spurred between the cities d Law was established and demonstrated to sustain the desert life e Agriculture commerce people begin management of the surplus of crops by irrigation and began to trade amongst themselves C Firsts and Foundations Religion Literature Science a Religion 1 Polytheistic meaning the Sumerians worshipped multiple Gods 2 Ziggurats common term defining Sumerian people as polytheists 3 Ziggurat of Ur c 2100 BCE building of Sumerian temple historically significant 4 interesting point the Sumerian gods acted like humans most of the time through showing fault and emotion like us b Science 1 Time Geometry the way that our modern clock works goes back to the discoveries made by Sumerian scientists a Example 6 and 10 based system roots of accounting engineering and much more were given to us from the Sumerians findings 1 Epic of Gilgamesh one of the most important pieces of literature to civilization as a whole a story is about two warriors who go on a c Literature trip together to search for immortality and end up devastated b teaches the devastating fact of life we grow old die and are eventually forgotten human realism is learned c the fundamental human perspective is gained from reading this work of literature III Why Egypt A Orientation and Sources a Hieroglyphics writing in the form of symbols to communicate 1 The Palermo Stone depicts the history of a dynasty of early Egyptian kings 2 The Rosetta Stone same text in 3 different languages a Hieroglyphics b Demotic language c Greek language b Papyrus abundance of papyrus by Nile River used to create paper scrolls used to write on a Irrigation important to Egyptian cities and the Nile B City Life gave life b Nomes administrative centers governed by Nomarchs managed equitable distribution of food in time of need c Agricultural Sustainability every year the Nile flooded Some years it was a large flood which is a good thing more water more growth and resources other years it was a small flood which would be a sign of a famine coming their way for the year 1 Nomarchs would have to deal with these issues concerning the Nile and see to it that the correct decisions were made with equally distributing food and other resources d Lower Egypt consisted of 20 Nomes e Upper Egypt consisted of 22 Nomes C Religion Culture a The Great Household phrase used by the Egyptians to describe their society s religion of polytheists worshipped multiple gods 1 entire civilization is part of the household b Pharaoh ruler of the Great Household 1 Had to make sure the sun came up and that the Nile River flooded 2 The pharaoh was ma at something like harmony and justice 3 Embodiment of harmony and of all things 4 Pyramids are sites of burial not sites of religion or worship c Culture Science Math and Medicine 1 Egyptians acquired an advanced intelligence 2 The Book of the Dead a handbook for the Egyptians concerning the after life what to expect for life after death b ethical component point made in book says the afterlife is determined by earthly decisions and puts a great deal of pressure on one s private life