Sanders, Babylon: H. M. Oates The Epic Of Gilgamesh
History 111A
(Ancient Near East)
Professor Spyridakis
Fall 2013
REQUIRED READINGS
J. Oates, Babylon
N. K. Sanders, ed., The Epic of Gilgamesh
J. A. Wilson, The Culture of Ancient Egypt
H. M. Orlinsky, Ancient Israel
Before the midterm, read relevant chapters on the main Mesopotamian cultures in Oates ' Babylon as well as the Sanders and Wilson books. Orlinsky 's Ancient Israel should be read in the second part of the course, along with relevant materials on Persia in Oates ' Babylon. These readings supplement the lectures which offer a personal interpretation of ancient history and emphasize the cultural, religious and intellectual legacy of the Ancient Near East.
Exam questions will be based primarily on themes …show more content…
Choosing your subject: First, pick a topic that appeals to your particular interests, e.g., art, religion, laws, medicine, trade, family, social justice, philosophy, etc. Then you must pick a particular analytical approach. What will your subject tell us about the wider context of Ancient Near Eastern history? Helpful to your understanding of the Ancient Near Eastern history would be either economic, political, religious, cultural or social approaches. For instance, a social approach could include studies of philosophies or religion (e.g., What does the role of temple priests tell us about religion?) Narrow your topic to a particular time period. For example, if you want to take an economic approach, write on resources and trade and examine how trade is used by certain tyrannies. Keep your time span restricted so that your paper has a clear focus. The more narrow the topic, the better the paper. Avoid papers that are mere description, chronology of events, or straight …show more content…
Preparing to write your paper: Once you have collected enough material, read through all the notes you have taken. Then, before beginning the paper, write a one-page summary/outline of what you want to say. Be sure to organize the themes of your paper, so that you will have a clear introduction and thesis statement, several paragraphs in which you develop your ideas in order, and a tightly argued conclusion, in which you summarize what you have proved. A thesis must be more than a description of the topic; it should state your interpretation of the materials you have read. A helpful hint: Write your thesis AFTER you have written your paper; one never knows exactly what your evidence will prove until you are
(Ancient Near East)
Professor Spyridakis
Fall 2013
REQUIRED READINGS
J. Oates, Babylon
N. K. Sanders, ed., The Epic of Gilgamesh
J. A. Wilson, The Culture of Ancient Egypt
H. M. Orlinsky, Ancient Israel
Before the midterm, read relevant chapters on the main Mesopotamian cultures in Oates ' Babylon as well as the Sanders and Wilson books. Orlinsky 's Ancient Israel should be read in the second part of the course, along with relevant materials on Persia in Oates ' Babylon. These readings supplement the lectures which offer a personal interpretation of ancient history and emphasize the cultural, religious and intellectual legacy of the Ancient Near East.
Exam questions will be based primarily on themes …show more content…
Choosing your subject: First, pick a topic that appeals to your particular interests, e.g., art, religion, laws, medicine, trade, family, social justice, philosophy, etc. Then you must pick a particular analytical approach. What will your subject tell us about the wider context of Ancient Near Eastern history? Helpful to your understanding of the Ancient Near Eastern history would be either economic, political, religious, cultural or social approaches. For instance, a social approach could include studies of philosophies or religion (e.g., What does the role of temple priests tell us about religion?) Narrow your topic to a particular time period. For example, if you want to take an economic approach, write on resources and trade and examine how trade is used by certain tyrannies. Keep your time span restricted so that your paper has a clear focus. The more narrow the topic, the better the paper. Avoid papers that are mere description, chronology of events, or straight …show more content…
Preparing to write your paper: Once you have collected enough material, read through all the notes you have taken. Then, before beginning the paper, write a one-page summary/outline of what you want to say. Be sure to organize the themes of your paper, so that you will have a clear introduction and thesis statement, several paragraphs in which you develop your ideas in order, and a tightly argued conclusion, in which you summarize what you have proved. A thesis must be more than a description of the topic; it should state your interpretation of the materials you have read. A helpful hint: Write your thesis AFTER you have written your paper; one never knows exactly what your evidence will prove until you are