The Ancient World Readings in Social and Cultural History

by Nagle, D. Brendan; Burstein, Stanley M.

• ISBN13: 9780205691876
• ISBN10: 0205691870
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-02-24
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

For courses in Ancient History (Ancient Near East - Egypt/Mesopotamia), Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome.    This collection of primary sources focusing on the social and cultural history of the Ancient Near East, Greece, and Rome is designed to encourage students to examine issues pertaining to a broad range of themes through the analysis of relevant ancient literary and non-literary texts.   Covering a wide variety of social and cultural concerns--ranging from marriage, family, war, and religion, to political culture, slavery, and entertainment--the texts are arranged thematically within a general chronological framework to provide a broad overview of life in the Ancient World.   Note: This volume is the companion reader to D. Brendan Nagle's The Ancient World: A Social and Cultural History, 7/e.

Author Biography

D. Brendan Nagle, University of Southern California 

Stanley M. Burstein, California State University, Los Angeles

Table of Contents

Preface

Temples and Priests

Flood Stories

The Flood in The Epic of Gilgamesh

The Flood in Genesis

Divinity and its Limitations

The Gods in Their Temples: A Sacred Marriage Drama

Sacred Prostitution

Covenant and Consequences

Hear O Israel! The Shema

The Covenant as a Marriage Contract: Hosea

The Call of the Prophet

Prophets and Palaces: Jeremiah Confronts the King

ldquo;I Will be With Him in Troublerdquo;: Personal Religion and Piety

Empire, Exile, and Monotheism

The Great Hymn to the Aten

Yahweh: The Lord of History

Tombs and Immortality

Book Writing: A New Form of Immortality

Caught in the Act: Ancient Egyptian Tomb Robbers

Palaces and Kings

Loyalty to the King: The Egyptian Theory of Government

But if Pharaoh Fails . . . ?

Women in Power

Ku Baba

Zakutu, Wife of Sennacherib

Jezebel

Athaliah

A Critique of Kingship: The Negative View of Samuel

War and Warfare

Sumerian Intercity Wars: Umma versus Lagash

Sargon of Akkad: The Idea of Empire

Egyptian Imperialism and Terror

Assyrian Use of Terror

The Fall of Jerusalem

The Horrors of Siege

POWs and MIAs

ldquo;A Palace of Cedar, Cypress, Juniper . . . and Tamariskrdquo;: Builders As Well As Destroyers

An Imperial Coup Drsquo;Etat: The Behistun Inscription of Darius I

ldquo;That the Strong Might Not Oppress the Weak, and That They Should Give Justice to Orphans and Widowsrdquo;

Hammurapirsquo;s Justice

ldquo;To Fill the Vast Land with a Plenitude of Food and Lasting Happiness: The Characteristics of a Perfect Kingshiprdquo;

The Justice of the Pharaoh

ldquo;They Carry the Sheaves, but Still Go Hungry; They Tread the Winepresses, yet Suffer Thirstrdquo;

A Model Persian Governor: Cyrus the Younger (ca. 400 B.C.)

Daily Life

Marriage and Property

Marriage and Children

Laws Regarding Sex

Disputes, Litigation, Punishment

Runaway Slaves

Crime and Punishment

Conducting Business

Negligence

Debt

Papyrus Lansing: A Bureaucratrsquo;s View of Life

ldquo;Wash and Perfume Yourself and Put on Your Best Clothesrdquo;

The Origin and Spread of the Polis System

A Greek Definition of the Polis

Greek Life in the Eighth Century B.C. 1: ldquo;The Shield of Achillesrdquo;

Greek Life in the Eighth Century B.C. 2: Hesiodrsquo;s Works and Days

Colonization and the Expansion of the Polis System: The Case of Cyrene

Herodotusrsquo; Account

Oath of the Colonists

Greeks and Non-Greeks in the Greek Colonies: The Foundation of Lampsacus

Greeks and Scythians in the Black Sea: Coexistence and Interaction

Warfare and the Polis

The Aristocratic Warrior

The Warri

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