Description
This course has two intertwined themes: the ways in which people made sense of the world in one of history's first urban societies; and the ways in which that society has been interpreted since its rediscovery some 200 years ago.
We will study how literacy and numeracy developed in the cities of southern Iraq (Mesopotamia), some 5–6000 years ago, then focus on urbanism and kingship, as well as the training of scribes, scholars and intellectuals in the third and early second millennium BC. Next we turn to understandings of the body and the high social status of doctors and healers, despite their apparent ineffectiveness. Finally, we investigate how divine will was discovered and interpreted, through observation of the natural world.
In parallel, we will consider how big themes in nineteenth- and twentieth-century history, such as exploration and war, empire and race, religion and science, shaped and reshaped popular and learned views of the ancient Middle East, and continue to do so today.
Module deliveries for 2024/25 academic year
Last updated
This module description was last updated on 19th August 2024.
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