|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| − | == Michael Wood and Mesopotamia ==
| + | Back to [['''History 8 Mesopotamia Questions'']] |
| − | | + | |
| − | Michael Wood describes the new inventions of the Mesopotamian culture, as well as the advancements in technology they made. Wood characterizes this civilizations by stating that they had the first astronomy, literature, law, school, and the first map of the world. He also credits this civilization with the idea of measuring time in multiples of sixty. He also states that the first wheel was found at in the ruins of Sumer, an ancient Mesopotamian city. The wheel was probably first used to spin pottery, then was used as an aid in transportation. He believes that the most important invention of the Mesopotamian culture was the invention of their form of writing, cuneiform. Cuneiform was created around 3000 BC, and it was used in a variety of ways. The most common use for cuneiform writing was to keep track of economic related things, such as "facts and figures, bills, accounts, inventories, measures of dates or barley, parcels of land down to every rod, pole or perch." Wood says that the people of Mesopotamia were the first to have an understanding of economics. The people of this culture were commonly referred to as the economic man, or ''Homo Economicus''. These people were also the first to establish secular law. Wood explains that the people of Mesopotamia were famous for their literature, particularly their myths. They are credited with the first literature, the Legend of Gilgamesh, which reflects the culture's pessimistic views. Pessimism is one of the key characteristics of this society, per Michael Wood.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | http://nrhs.nred.org/www/nred_nrhs/site/hosting/Resource%20Collections/resourcefiles/resourcefiles/GilgameshHotlist/picspages/gilgameshwithlion.jpg http://www.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/mesopotamian-wheel.jpg
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | == Cuneiform ==
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | The cuneiform writing was carved into wet clay tablets, then allowed to dry. This process preserved the written records to be used for purposes in the future. We have found these tablets in the library of Nineveh, where the epic of Gilgamesh was found.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~kecangia/adab_files/CuneiformTablet1.jpg
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | == Why?==
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | Michael Wood characterizes Mesopotamia as the birthplace of the economic man. This is due to the fact that he credits many early invention to the people of Mesopotamia. He bases his views on the fact that the Mesopotamians invented the wheel and a written form of language, both very significant.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | == Sources ==
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | Manual Chapter 6 Page 89
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | Cuneiform-[[http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/cuneiform-writing-system-ancient-mesopotamia-emergence-and-evolution]]
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | Pictures-[[http://nrhs.nred.org/www/nred_nrhs/site/hosting/Resource%20Collections/resourcefiles/resourcefiles/GilgameshHotlist/picspages/gilgameshwithlion.jpg]] [[http://www.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/mesopotamian-wheel.jpg]] [[http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~kecangia/adab_files/CuneiformTablet1.jpg]]
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | - Vijay Patel
| + | |
