Abstract This paper studies the Neo-Assyrian crisis between the Neo-Assyrian's and the Israelites. It discusses Micah's written prophecies which are divided into two distinct parts. The first section, from chapters one to five, deal with the coming destruction of the nation of Israel. The second half of the book deals with promises of a joyful, peaceful future, when the land is returned to the people, they are protected against invasion, and follow God as they ought. He says if they will just repent for their sins during the war and stand strong against the Assyrians religiously and politically, God will bless them. The paper conveys the message that God is always in control and acts according to the people's sins.
From the Paper "The rise of empires, their conquest and cruelty against smaller nations, and their eventual decay and destruction are the stuff of histories through-out recorded history. In the polytheistic, ritualistic days of old, the triumph of a nation was almost always considered to be not only a matter of military and strategic superiority, but the triumph of one regional god over another, of cultural and mythological superiority. Every war was a holy war, and fraught with religious meaning. It is absolutely necessary to understand this state of mind when approaching the prophecies and histories of the Jewish people in the time before they were scattered. At their foundation, in the times of the war-lord Joshua, they had brutally slaughtered the inhabitants of the nation, destroyed all their cities, and considered themselves to be the Holy Wrath of God upon the people of the land. Their triumph over the natives proved the superiority of their God and religious system. However, when times changed and neighboring kingdoms began to have superior military power, it posed a threat not only to the people of Israel, but also to their ideas about God. Most of the recorded writings of the prophets deal explicitly or implicitly with the question of God's power and relevance at a time when his people's power and sovereignty is threatened."
Tags: history, military, triumph, war, God, Jewish, people, Micah, sins, political, fear
This paper discusses the religion and society of the earliest known human civilization, Mesopotamia, which is located in the region between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in present-day Iraq.
Abstract This paper explains that Mesopotamia, named "land between two rivers" by the Greeks, is the generic name for many different civilizations that existed in this area over a long period, but were relatively similar in their cultures, religions, and societies. The oldest is the Sumerian, followed by Akkadian, Babylonian, and the Assyrian civilizations. The author points out that the importance of religion in the lives of the ancient Mesopotamian people was overwhelming and affected all aspects of their lives because, in the absence of other fields of intellectual discourse that are available to the modern man, only religion could provide the Mesopotamians an explanation of the forces that governed their existence. The paper relates that, although women's position in the society varied between city-states and changed over time, the Mesopotamian society basically was highly patriarchal, with the wife's position in the household firmly below that of her husband.
Table of Contents
Religion
Importance
Sources of Information
Sumerian Beliefs
Developmental Stages of the Mesopotamian Religion
Mesopotamian Religion
Temples
Mesopotamian Society
Caste System
A Patriarchal Society
From the Paper "The characteristics of the Mesopotamian society and the way in which developed were largely determined by the geography of the region. The rich fertile soil of the area, which was the result of the rich silt and water provided by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, attracted settlers to Mesopotamia. The rich land meant the creation of food surpluses, which allowed some settlers to move away from agriculture and into trade. It also resulted in the growth of the population that, in turn, gave rise to the process of urbanization. Most of the land was owned by temples and the king, which was "leased" out to workers who were provided with the land and tools in return for part of the profit."
Abstract This paper discusses the ancient Roman Empire. The paper examines how it managed to maintain its stronghold for five hundred years in the West and nearly one thousand years in the East. The paper explores why their dominance lasted so long and compares the Roman ways of empire building with those of the Assyrians.
From the Paper "During the Roman Empire reign of 1000 years, there were a number of changes which occurred in the army. When the Rome originally came into power, its strength lay in the "large supply of strong farmers, led by tough and practical nobles. The first soldiers were all Romans who owned property, but as the empire grew, many of the farmers disliked fighting away from home for a long time. In the 2nd century BC the rules were changed so that the soldiers no longer had to own property, and poorer men could join the army as a full-time career (Suggitt)." Over time, there were improvements made concerning conditions and pay. The army also possessed all of the components necessary to be a strong military force such as "good leaders, training, discipline, weapons, armor, equipment, and numbers. During the wars with Carthage the Romans also built up a large and effective navy (Suggitt).""
Abstract This paper explains that urbanization, the arrangement of the design of the private and public buildings of a city and that of the intra-city arteries of communication and fortifications, reflects the needs and aspirations of the community within the existing frame of the ecological and technological areas of the period. The author points out that during the last phase of the Assyrian empire, beginning with the reign of Ashur-Dan II (934-912 BC) and lasting until almost 600 BC, when the Assyrian empire dominated most of Mesopotamia and parts of Palestine, Egypt, Media and Anatolia, the Assyrian kings radically transformed the cultural, political and geographical landscape of Upper Mesopotamia by the implementation of the processes of urbanization. The paper stresses that the Chaldean tribal groups, a loosely connected with prominent chieftains opposing urbanization, shifted allegiance according to the distribution of military strength, refused to pay taxes or to render services to the government, waylaid caravans and to attack and plunder settlements and small cities.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Program of Urbanization
Administrative Restructuring
Capitals
Economic Foundation
Southern Societies
Uruk and Ur
Anti-Urban Bias
Citizenship
Conclusion
From the Paper "In these Mesopotamian cities, there grew a concept of citizenship that was the result of the driving force of the urbanization process. The old and important cities enjoyed certain privileges and exemptions with respect to the king and his power. They had a legal status that differentiated in essential points from that of any other community, In Babylonia, these cities were Nippur, Babylon, and Sippar, in Assria, the old capital Asur, and later, Harran in Upper Mesopotamia. In principle, the inhabitants of these free cities claimed freedom from work, freedom from military service, as well as a tax exemption. These privileges were neither new nor exception, Certain persons with restructed libery, in the Sumerian empire of Ur were said to be exempted from carrying earth, and inhabitants of Nippur were exempted from military service and paying tribute in silver and gold. This shows that the resistance against the claims of a central authority for services of its subjects is characteristics not only of a non urbanized group, but also one of the aspirations of city-dwellers."
Abstract The following paper examines arguments around the issue of the death penalty which involve cultural, economic, environmental, ethical, legal, moral, philosophical, political, practical, religious, social and sociological theories.
From the Paper "Traditional historical methods of execution included: (1) beheading or decapitation; (2) breaking on the wheel; (3) burning; (4) crucifixion; (5) drawing and quartering; (6) garroting; (7) hanging; (8) peine forte et dure; (8) shooting; and (9) stoning. Such forms of capital punishment are now regarded today as barbaric, cruel and unusual, ghastly, and unthinkable. In the United States, the death penalty is now carried out in one of five ways: (1) electrocution; (2) firing squad (rarely used, yet the law remains on the books in certain states); (3) gas chamber; (4) hanging; and (5) lethal injection. The two most commonly accepted and implemented forms of capital punishment are the gas chamber or lethal injection."
From the Paper " The purpose of this research is to outline the development of civilization in the Near East. The civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Hittites, the Jews, the Assyrians and the Persians will be examined, among others.
Mesopotamia
The Valley of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers is one of the points of origin of human civilization. A semi-circle, bounded on the north by mountains, on the south by the desert of Arabia, with an outlet to the Persian Gulf, this 'Fertile Crescent' as it has come to be known, favored the growth of coherent cultures. In the northern part, called Mesopotamia, rain is plentiful and the soil rich. The land is blessed with resources of stone, (...)"
Traces the development of civilizations from Mesopotamia and Egypt and the influence of the Hebrews on their societies, as seen in historical ancient documents.
Abstract Mesopotamia was the land of four primary civilizations: the Sumerian, the Akkadians, the Babylonian and the Assyrians. The paper shows that the Hebrews, like the Akkadians, belong to a group of people known as Semites and from there we can see the influence of Mesopotamian culture in some of the Hebrews traditions. The paper shows that during the same time, civilization began in Egypt. A distinct difference can be seen in the social, religious and political system from Mesopotamia and the link between the two civilizations are the Hebrews. The paper examines historical documents from all three societies - "The Epic of Gilgamesh", first passed on by word of mouth and later recorded by the Sumerians around the third millennium and finally edited and written down in cuneiform by the Babylonians; "Instructions of Kagemni", a set of etiquette amongst Egyptian noblemen and government executives; and finally the Holy Hebrew Bible ("Tanach"). The paper shows how the three societies are linked through proof in these documents.
From the Paper ""Hymn to Aton" reflects the political and social status of the time and adds to the importance of the aid of god to proper management of a territory and the people within. This was the first and only attempt of a Egyptian ruler to a monotheistic society. It could be argued that this could be an isolated attempt or that the Hebrews somehow influenced Amenhotep IV to this change. It is very important to consider this possibility since it would make the transferring of similar traditions between the Mesopotamians, the Egyptians and the Hebrews civilizations understandable.
The role of women is important and well respected in Egyptian civilization, perhaps more than Mesopotamian. The "Hymn to Aton" recognizes the importance of both sexes for procreation. This document is used just as the "Laws of Hammurabi" to better control his territory at a time when the clergy and the multitude of gods and temples are gaining popularity and, obviously, control."
This paper uses the work of Delacroix and Picasso to demonstrate both the vast changes that took place in painting over a time span of only 80 years as well as the similarities that remained.
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts Eugene Delacroix's "Death of Sardanapalus" and Pablo Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" to illustrate the great many changes that took place in painting over a period of 80 years. The paper suggests that both of the paintings are representative of something new in artistic terms. It goes on to suggest that, in spite of the many changes that did take place, there remained an important similarity in the approach both artists took too the subject matter of their paintings; in these cases female nudes.
From the Paper "Eug?ne Delacroix's Death of Sardanapalus (1826) and Pablo Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907) were painted only eighty years apart and demonstrate the immense changes that had taken place in painting in that span of time. Curiously, however, they display a remarkable similarity in their approach to subject matter which may not be immediately apparent. Both of these paintings represented something new in artistic terms."
Tags: female, nudes, Cubist, ideas, Byron, Assyrian, king
Abstract This paper explains that the major event marking the beginning of civilization was the development of agriculture, which was made possible by the presence of three important rivers--the Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia, the "Cradle of Civilization", and the great Nile River in Egypt. The author points out that, only after the development of village/farming life, the civilized societies of the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Hittites and the Sumerians in Mesopotamia and the Egyptians in the Nile River valley originated or further developed concepts such as government, law, formal religions, writing, monumental architecture, measurement and calculation. The paper relates that, in the days of the Pharaohs, the land of Egypt was dotted with marshes and island ridges and what is now arid desert valley was grassy meadows well suited for grazing cattle and hunting --the fertility of Egypt was proverbial.
From the Paper "In contrast to the civilizations that arose and perished in the "Cradle of Civilization," the Nile River defined the culture that lived by virtue of its presence--ancient Egypt. Originating deep in Africa, the Nile River descends through many cataracts to sea level at the delta in Egypt, where in its annual flooding, rich soil is deposited. Hemmed in by its narrow valleys, the Nile flows through regions that may not have a single drop of rainfall in a decade. Yet crops grow luxuriantly from the fertilized silt, just as they did in ancient times. Thus, the great Nile made life possible and allowed the peoples of Egypt to build one of the greatest civilizations of all time."
Abstract This paper examines how military dress holds an uncontested significance in the history of our world and how, although war is brutal and often despicable, it molds the setup, politics and society of all lands. It looks at how, beginning with Mesopotamian civilizations, military dress has never ceased to develop and improved and how the period of time between Mesopotamian civilization and the Late Medieval era demonstrates an incredible evolution of military dress and war technology.
From the Paper "The Etruscan army was developed for self-defense, unlike civilizations that had systems of reserves. The military was organized with a foundation of town levies. Troops were enlisted on a social basis. The Etruscan army developed a strategy of combat in which they attacked the phalanx of the opposition from the side. This was hugely successful and this began the art of military tactics. Etruscans attacked Carthage in North Africa and began expanding their empire. The infantry was the main force of the army, utilizing such weapons as the battleaxe and spear. The Etruscans wore pot shaped helmets, fashioned from copper."
Abstract This paper discusses Islamic art, music and dance. It presents these three aspects of Islamic art in the form of an exhibition and details the history and practices of each art form. It begins by discussing five Islamic musical instruments, then goes on to discuss Islamic views on dance and finally looks at the different cultural influences that contribute to Islamic art.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Music
Dance
Art
From the Paper "Muslims have had different views about dancing. Throughout Islam history, there have been times of greater acceptance or rejection of dance. Some believed there should be no dancing. To others, folk dancing between the same sex is acceptable, but not between mixed couples. Also, some see dancing as a way to become closer to Allah. Sa'adi, a Persian poet wrote about a band of travelers who came upon a boy who danced beautifully. Everyone was amazed by his talents, except a man who complained that dancing was wrong. However, his camel lifted his feet in dance and threw the rider to the ground. Those around said that even God's creatures could enjoy the dance, so why not he?"
Abstract This paper explains that the thesis of this exegesis of "Hosea 11: 1-11" is that, when a nation goes deeply into sin and worships the gods of money and sex, then God sends a prophet to warn the people who are participating in this great sin. This prophet must arise from the people who are sinning and let those who would turn away from the evil in society know how to come back to God. The paer explains that the events in "Hosea" took place during the Assyrian period and then describes the three part structure of this portion. The text of 'Hosea' is included.
Table of Contents:
Text
Thesis
Exegesis
Argument
From the Paper "In this passage, Hosea is strongly warning and rebuking the northern Kingdom of Israel for their turning to idol worship and away from God's Covenant with them. Their corruption in matters of their worship and their morals is terrible to behold. In his personal life and in his preaching, Hosea is actively pleading and warning his fellow Israelites to repent and turn back to Jehovah God, a God who has loved them and sheltered them and kept them in times of terrible turmoil. Hosea warns them that if they do not do this, a terrible fate awaits them, as they shall be utterly destroyed."
