EDWARD'S LECTURE NOTES:
More notes at http://tanguay.info/learntracker
C O U R S E
Western Civilization: Ancient and Medieval Europe
Ian Moulton, Arizona State University
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C O U R S E L E C T U R E Differences between Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt Notes taken on March 20, 2016 by Edward Tanguay |
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kingship and law in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt
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environment, climate, and geography affect societal order
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things that humans can't change
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society order is usually seen as the law
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but when no laws in place, it's
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the relationship between the ruler and the ruled
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the relationship of the ruled in terms of each other
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societies and leaders understand order differently
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sources of social order and why it was forced the way it was
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myths
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law codes
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architecture
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religious beliefs
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civilizations in Mesopotamia and Egypt
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Egypt civilization arrives after the Sumer civilization in Mesopotamia
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3500 BC
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likely some contact between them
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but Egypt developed essentially as a distinct civilization of its own
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in both places, social order changed as the value of the land increased
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the kind of kingship depended on location of civilization
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if people were passing through who might pose a threat
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if they were being left alone
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if others could attack without notice
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Mesopotamia
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volatile rivers
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changing weather
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people who move across this landscape
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so for leaderships and religion
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theme of rivalry
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who is going to contend
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how might one win
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the land of warring sky gods
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gods that can rival the king
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gods represented in things like lightening, thunder and dust storms
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generally threatened people as a whole but could also threaten a king
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a king is supposed to lead
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if regular warfare, these skills are important
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cities almost always had walls
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a sign that there was always some threat afoot
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growing population in cities
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suggests increased social problems
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the god-king must be a warrior and dominate
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people have recourse
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don't have a vote
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but can ask gods for help
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king is expected not to interfere with the established order, should respect gods
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Epic of Gilgamesh
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tells the story that the king is not supposed to abuse power and what the gods do when he does
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Egypt
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also a relationship between religion and leadership
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but a greater theme of balance
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the "land of divine harmony"
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the goddess Ma'at was in charge of balancing conflicting cosmic forces
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Egypt was different than Mesopotamia
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a more of less consistent environment with regular flooding of the Nile
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consistent agricultural production as well as herding
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had fewer invaders given their geography
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desert and sea around them
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fewer people were going to be wandering through or have access to their resources
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here God is truth, law, and justice, and if the Pharaoh doesn't keep this balance, then the are may be subject to problems
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the Nile might become irregular
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an invasion might occur
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strength and production might decrease
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comparing Mesopotamia and Egypt
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differences
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different geographies
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different threats
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different understandings therefore of order
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unlike the Code of Hammurabi and other Mesopotamian law codes, there isn't a law code found in Egypt
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although in Egypt a well ordered society was an absolute priority
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there is a theme of balance in Egypt vs. the conflict and required dominance seen in Mesopotamia
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similarities
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a god-king
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an implied recourse that the people should have to their gods if the king doesn't act correctly
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land is in both cases is at the resources