Hi folks,

This week I’d like you to pick one question from the Topics section of the review sheet and write about what you think is the most important perspective on this topic. Why do you think it makes a difference? What does it show us about the meaning of civilization as expressed in this particular time or place? I’m not looking for facts but a personal response—maybe one that might help someone else in the class see this event or idea in a new way.

the monumental buildings were important in the emergence of civilization because unlike stories that can change from generation to generation based on the person speaking it the buildings cannot be changed so the people coming to that place knows the culture and will respect it which makes civilization easier.

• What is “civilization”?

I would define civilization as a large group of people working together to form a society, something that can be helpful to all its members and foster its growth, development, and expansion.

The union of culture, innovation, and effort for the good of all.

The Scythians were nomadic Indo-European people who inhabited areas around the Black and Caspian Seas. These people were various nations descended from the original Indo-European inhabitants of the area and retained a decentralized and nonurban lifestyle, with a love for horses to use for a loose clan-based structure that spread out over a broad territory. The vast lands they inhabited were a link between Europe and Asia. To the Greeks, they represented barbarians who were strong and good with animals and had a great natural abundance with a large pastoral economy. The Scythians were the antithesis of urban civilization that, to the Greeks, were violent and bloodthirsty warriors who brought the heads of others to kings to claim a share of the loot after a campaign.

I believe that the development of writing was crucial for an urban civilization because through writing, whether on stones, tablets, or papyrus, information about customs, governments, businesses, economies, and important information such as agriculture, medicine, etc. could be preserved. There were many forms of writing such as cuneiform, hieroglyphics, and more. These were used to keep records of information, property rights, laws, cultures, rituals, religion, and more. For example, in Egypt, the hieroglyphic system preserved their culture, religion, and knowledge in papyrus. I believe that the information that was stored over the years in different civilizations was a great help to future civilizations in their development. Therefore, future civilizations would have sufficient knowledge in different areas and would be more advanced than past civilizations.

When we look at the success or failure of empires in ancient times, we need to think about both their geographical advantages and how they were able to manage internal and external challenges. Take Mesopotamia, for example its location between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers was key to its development. The fertile soil from regular flooding allowed cities like Uruk, Akkad, and Babylon to thrive. Babylon, especially under Hammurabi, was a model of success, thanks to a strong legal system, advancements in trade, and military conquests. These cities were able to build powerful economies and influence across the region, which made them resilient in times of hardship. Now, compare this to North Africa, where Egypt relied heavily on the Nile River. The Nile’s predictable flooding meant that the Egyptians could rely on a stable agricultural base, which is one of the reasons why ancient Egypt, with cities like Memphis and Thebes, lasted for so long. The centralized government under the pharaohs helped maintain order and control over vast territories. The long reign of the Old and Middle Kingdoms shows how effective this structure was in maintaining stability. However, both regions faced challenges that led to eventual decline. For instance, while Mesopotamia’s city-states were often successful, they were also constantly at risk of invasion, and their lack of a unified empire made them vulnerable to external threats. On the other hand, Egypt’s relative stability was disrupted by invasions from groups like the Sea Peoples and later the Persians and Greeks, which weakened the once unshakable pharaonic rule. So, it seems that while both Mesopotamian and Egyptian empires had major advantages in terms of geography and initial governance, their success was not guaranteed in the long run. External threats and internal challenges like divisions in leadership or rebellion played a significant role in the decline of even the most powerful empires. It shows that geography and advancements alone aren’t always enough to maintain success over time.

Primary source is a document which directly recorded past events and eras, and the information was created at the time the event occurred and has not been interpreted or analyzed later. It is definitely crucial and valuable for us to understand the actual thoughts and matter, and it would connect to know about the individual perceptions of people in the period. For instance, art creations, such as paintings or pottery, reflect well feelings and viewpoints of the creators, which can also highlight the historical background. A picture of "Bull leaping" which expresses ritual activities carried out in the Minoan civilization is a good example as it emphasizes the respect for nature and a spirit of harmony. Primary source let us understand our history deeply and it is absolutely a legacy of the predecessor.

Having intercourse with Shamhat introduces Enkidu to civilization. The “work of a woman” in the epic is basically bringing and caring for life (George 7). Shamhat was taming Enkidu through intimacy, bringing him from life in the wild to a civilized life. After being with Shamhat, Enkidu was rejected by the gazelles because they sensed he was no longer part of the wild, he was a man who was a threat to them. The process of his civilization is important because it highlights the role of women in Sumerian society. Women were to care for their families and prepare them for their roles in society. Opposite of men, women were seen as docile, harmonious, and caring. Shamhat cared for Enkidu and through her care, Enkidu learned his role in society.

Intercourse with the harlot, Shamhat, transforms Enkidu from a wild man to a civilized one, because Shamhat becomes something he can't find in the wild. The tameness of a community, and the comforting love/connection of belonging and bonding to a person. Enkidu's process of civilization is important, story-telling wise, because it allows him to befriend Gilgamesh, also because it signifies what the Sumerians are trying to communicate to us, and possibly the people of its time. That for mortals, binding together in community is important, for survival, for love and for growth- and that traditional male/female roles are the glue that holds it together. There is also an importance placed on deep connecting friendships through the characters Enkidu and Gilgamesh which is another important reason as to why Enkidu's process of civilization is significant. In a way, both Enkidu and Gilgamesh begin the story as barbaric wild men and in befriending each other they become civilized (of course with the help of female characters, such as Shamhat, throughout the story).

Civilization is the development and or advancement of a culture, society, and way of life. For a civilization to be created it needs an abundance of food, water, and fertile soil. Once agriculture and is resources are established people can start to focus on the other parts of a society. Tool making, architecture, medicine, and many more societal trades are all important parts of a civilization. The same group of people inhabiting the same space experiencing the same things are connected, as such they move oa one. Everything you do, you do for the society this would help increase the economy, societal standards, resources, protection etc. A common thread in civilizations from their inceptions to their falls is religion. Religion is important to a civilization because it forms an identity for the people to cling on and explains all the natural goings on around them. This goes back to the idea that I proposed before about how everyone in a society moves as one. For example the ancient Egyptians developed around the Nile river it flooded every year leaving rich fertile soil. They were able to use the rivers resources to create advanced cultural methods and adapted a religion to these methods. Ra, Horus, Set, and many more were gods that the ancient Egyptians believed in and were tied to the land. They connected to their culture and infused these values in their society its why Pharos could cement their rule by claiming their relation to the gods.

You call it an invention because humans no matter where they are always develop unique cultures, religions, societies, and empires. Studying these ancient civilizations shows how resourceful and intuitive the ancient people were. Civilizations are created and dictated by humans and so each empire and its advancements resulted in the advancement of humans. Math, science, writing, technology, agriculture are all advancements that were invented during those times. The changes that civilizations go through represents the strong, resilient, resourceful, and intuitive nature of the human race and their ability to survive. The top priority for ancient civilizations was to survive and securing a future after that it was to thrive. Establishing trade routes and expanding territory were all ways to do that. The ancient Romans expanded their territory all the way to parts of Asia this opened up trade routes and the use of non native resources. They also adapted some of the cultures they encountered into their own. Cleopatra, and the other Pharos of Egypt that came from Rome and such are examples of this. If one empire falls another one will rise from its ashes or take its place.

Because of the need to put the society's needs before your own you lose your individuality. The ancient Greeks despised anyone who didn't assimilate into their society's norms. Socrates's trial and murder is evidence of that. They believed women were in control of the private so the home while the men where in control of the public affairs. If you strayed from that path you were seen as a traitor and a disgrace. This is why the ancient Greeks hated Socrates so much, Socrates didn't believe in the gods and chose to focus on science. This made the ancient Greeks angry they believed he had turned the gods against them and betrayed his people. Living in ancient times was very difficult because of this. You were not allowed to chose your own path, your own lover, or your own status in life. If you were born poor that's what you would always be seen as. In ancient Rome particularly in Sparta men had to join the army and women had to get married and sire a child. This was predestined for you if you tried to change it in anyway life became extremely difficult, people would plot against you, people would shame you, and all the empires problems would be blamed on you. Individuality is an important part of human life but because of the way ancient societies were set up, individuality was crushed. People weren't stable and it was one of the factors that led to the fall of an empire.

Writing was a game-changer for early civilizations because it helped people stay organized and connected. As cities grew bigger and life became more complex, writing made it possible to keep track of trade, laws, and important events. In places like Sumer, cuneiform helped manage records, while in Egypt, hieroglyphics played a huge role in sharing religious ideas and reinforcing the pharaoh’s authority.

In the Eras of History video it points out that writing didn’t just keep things organized — it also helped ideas spread. He explains how the Phoenician alphabet made writing simpler, which made it easier for people to learn and use. This boosted trade and helped different cultures stay connected. Writing wasn’t just about putting words on clay or stone — it was the key to building strong communities and passing down knowledge for future generations.

The creation of Enkidu cured Gilgamesh’s tyranny. Enkidu taught him companionship and helped him make progress as a leader and a person. Their friendship lets Gilgamesh learn things like loyalty, mutual respect,and the need for human connection. When Enkidu died it helped Gilgamesh gain wisdom. It shows how friendship affects people and shapes someone’s purpose. Friendship is important which is something he was previously unaware of. We see in the Epic, after he died, Gilgamesh feared death immensely teaching him a lesson about mortality. He went on to a long journey seeking eternal life. He was denied immortality, also showing him you can’t have everything you want, curing some of his arrogance.