What kinds of technological and social developments are part of creating civilization?

The kinds of technological and socila developments are part of creating civilization like architecture, agriculture, and many different type of labor, like hunter and collector. The domestication of plants and animals decided the beginning of agriculture allowing to growth the population. Agriculture, science, technology and literature where part of creating civilization.

The intercourse between Enkidu and the harlot Shamhat leads to Enkidu’s transfer from wild to civilized because Enkidu is in a way being reborn. Shamhat is essentially guiding Enkidu through a symbolic growth, because shamhat is a woman she is in a way symbolizing the role of a mother like other sumerian women because she is helping Enkidu be reborn and also through intercourse Enkidu is becoming civilized because he is crossing over the boundary of being wild like an animal into becoming a man because he is losing his virginity. The process of Enkidu’s civilization is significant because it shows the role and influence that Sumerian women had within society, it represents the growth and support that Sumerian women were able to give it also reflects how Sumerian women supported the future of their society.

Civilization is the word used to describe a society that is advanced in development as well as in organization. Some important aspects of civilization is that there must be some type of settlement as well as some form of rules and government. The motivation of creating civilizations is the idea of safety and comfortability. Prior to the first civilizations many groups of people were nomadic and part of the issue with this was the fact that it was very difficult to develop agriculture while moving around which made food a problem and it's the same with water. Furthermore by living nomadically it is very difficult to bring things with you as you can only bring what you carry. Civilization represents the change from the hunter gatherer lifestyle to a much calmer and focused on societal development lifestyle. It is a sacrifice in the sense its a loss of freedom but also in the way that you now are not only looking out for yourself but for the community. The types of technological developments that will be made are agriculture, water collecting, metal work, architecture as well as food storage. Societal developments are laws, rules, government, religion and currency.

The inevitability of death, the pain of loss, and the limitations of human power are fundamental to the human experience, influencing how we live and derive meaning. Death serves as a stark reminder that regardless of our accomplishments or status, we are all subject to the same fate. The experience of losing a loved one underscores life's fragility, imparting profound lessons to Gilgamesh about the impact of grief and propelling him to seek purpose beyond himself. Despite humanity's relentless pursuit of control—whether through wealth, strength, or knowledge—natural and existential boundaries exist that cannot be overcome. Gilgamesh's pursuit of immortality, whether literal or through leaving a legacy, serves as a poignant reminder that power, no matter how vast, is finite. Embracing this reality infuses life with urgency, compelling us to live wisely and with compassion while acknowledging the constraints within which we exist.

The idea of the flood plays a central role in both Sumerian and Egyptian culture by reflecting their views around divintity and the relationship that both cultures have with their gods. Both cultures see the flood as an act of gods, giving this major event a religious meaning. However, their beliefs on why the flood happens is COMPLETELY different. The Sumerians saw the flood as a bad thing, a horrific event created by their gods to punish them, further pushing the belief that their gods are dangerous and cant be trusted. The Egyptians saw the flood as a very good thing, created by their gods to nuture them, since the flood made their soil fertile and resulted in more food. This pushed the belief that their gods are good and benevolent.

 What kinds of technological and social development are part of creating civilization

The emergence of civilization is a complex and multifaceted process driven by significant technological and social developments. These advancements enable the growth and sustainability of complex societies, distinguishing civilizations from earlier human societies

Technological Developments

Technological innovations play a crucial role in shaping civilizations. For instance, the domestication of plants and animals marked the beginning of agriculture, allowing for stable food production and population growth. The development of metalworking, particularly copper, bronze, and iron tools, facilitated agricultural efficiency and expansion. Advances in energy production, such as harnessing wind and water power, enabled the mechanization of tasks, increasing productivity—transportation innovations, including the wheel and maritime navigation, facilitated trade and cultural exchange. Communication breakthroughs, like writing and early mail forms, allowed for information dissemination and governance.

I believe the development of writing is very crucial to an urban civilization since it enables the recording and safeguarding of information, enabling complex systems of governance, trade, law, and cultural understanding to be maintained and passed on throughout generations, which is essential for ensuring the smooth functioning and growth of a large, heavily populated society. Writing was very crucial because to be considered a civilization, you ought to have written records. At the very least, they record the names of kings, but they also honor significant events such as wars, natural disasters, and agreements signed with foreign countries. Writing is also necessary for keeping track of who owns the land as well as creating contracts.

Civilization is when early humans stopped living as huntergatherers and start forming large societies that had an organized and centralized government, moral and law system. Huntergatherers moved around to find food they were never in one place for long. But populations grew and they discovered agriculture so they stopped and settled. Civilization is called an invention is because humans created it to solve the problems ghat came with many people being in one place. They came up with systems like social hierarchy, religion, laws and stuff for cultural identities and to manage large people. Civlization brought stability and progress but also it required people to give up their personal freedom and autonomy to be apart of the collective.

It would be better in that regard to consider a relationship of cultural borrowing and adaptation between the Minoan and the Mycenaean civilization, whereby the latter should have borrowed from the former those elements constituting the very fundamentals of Minoan civilization and thence adapted these to suit their ends. This is furthered as it was the case that the Mycenaeans adopted most of the Minoan administrative practices, such as Linear A to Linear B, some of the religious elements, and the artistic style while introducing their own more militaristic and fortified societal structures. The Mycenaean Conquerors of Crete represent a further development after the fall of Minoan civilization and hence integrated the cultural achievements of the Minoans but reshaped them in their expansionist and warlike society. The interplay of cultural inheritance and modification brings out the way in which the Mycenaeans fleshed out the outline of Minoan culture and in turn bequeathed a civilization that would underpin later classical Greek culture.

It is said that the Mycenaeans took over most of the key elements which made up Minoan civilization, including the writing system. The switch from Linear A to Linear B is a clear example of cultural transmission in that the Mycenaeans took the Minoan system and adapted it for their own language, showing how well the adaptation by the Mycenaeans of Minoan administrative practices was oriented to suit the more expansive and military society. The Minoan Palace of Knossos speaks to a more peaceful, trade-based society with its open courtyards and elaborate art. In sharp contrast, the palace of Mycenae, with huge defensive walls called Cyclopean fortification, represents a very militaristic and defensive frame of mind to which Mycenaean society had turned. Architectural differences reveal ways in which Mycenaeans adapted Minoan forms for use in their more bellicose culture. The Iron Age section focuses on the trade and interaction between the diverse cultures of the Mediterranean. With the conquest of Crete, the Mycenaeans absorbed the Minoan cultural ways into their own and integrated them even further within the greater Mediterranean trade system. This supports the theory of the adaptation and further expansion of the Minoan influences by the Mycenaeans. The Minoan religious figures, such as the snake goddess, were adopted into the Mycenaean culture; however, the Mycenaean culture was more focused on warrior gods. Mycenaean art represents a combination of the martial and heroic themes of the fluid naturalistic style of the Minoans. It endorses that the Mycenaeans had adapted the Minoan motifs in relation to the Mycenaean values, particularly those in connection with war efforts and heroism.

What do Ishtar’s interactions with Gilgamesh tell us about her as a goddess? What factors are involved in Gilgamesh’s rejection of her?

Ishtar’s interactions with Gilgamesh provide significant insights into her character as a goddess and the dynamics of their relationship. Ishtar embodies both love and war, representing the complexities of femininity and the duality of desire. She is passionate and assertive, showing both her seductive power and her capacity for destruction. She often approaches her relationships with a sense of entitlement. She expects to be desired and revered, and her anger when rejected reveals her eruptive characteristics. This duality highlights how she can be both nurturing and vengeful. As a goddess of love and fertility, Ishtar represents the life-giving aspects of nature but also the chaos that can accompany intense desire. Her interest in Gilgamesh reflects her desire for connection and the complexities that come with it. Gilgamesh recognizes that Ishtar’s past relationships have ended poorly for her lovers, often leading to their demise. He fears becoming another victim of her wrath or experiencing the pain that follows her affection. Gilgamesh preoccupied himself with his quest following Enkidu’s death. He prioritizes his search for meaning over romantic entanglements, seeing Ishtar as a distraction from his ultimate goals. He also openly critiques Ishtar's character, emphasizing her disloyalty and tendency to discard lovers. He sees her as someone who can be destructive, and this influences his decision to reject her. By rejecting Ishtar, Gilgamesh asserts his own agency and independence. He challenges the traditional power dynamics between gods and mortals, asserting that he will not be swayed by her allure. Overall, Ishtar’s interactions with Gilgamesh reveal her nature as a goddess, while Gilgamesh’s rejection reflects his growing wisdom and determination to guide his own path in the face of divine influence.

Conquest is easy, and dominion is hard, but why is it this way?

During the Iron Age, people started to produce more weapons and tools, armies were fully equipped and motivated to fight. Attacking your weaker neighbor and appropriating their natural and human resources was never easier. Some civilizations invaded others and expanded their territories from one natural barrier to another, and then fell.

The fact that all empires fall earlier or later shows us that it is not that easy to maintain power over enslaved peoples. The New Assyrians and Babylonian empires which kept their subjects in fear, abused and assimilated them, and deported rebels failed as well as the Persian empire which respected peoples’ cultures and religions. It happens because every nation, small civilization, or community has an identity that can’t fully exist and develop under another bigger one. When the emperor or the king abused that identity, people rose against them. They wanted to be free, and the failure of the Persian empire showed that even the mentality and philosophy of the neighboring country, Greece, could destroy the system that had been built for hundreds of years. Identity is important. If you conquer someone, you have already attacked their identity, and it leads only to the failure of keeping it or to destroying the entire nation for territory and resources.

Since they left no writings, how do we know anything about the Indo-Europeans origins?

As writing is a needed form of communication within the ancient world and our modern world of today, there were many aspects of different civilizations that were dependant on such as while others were not. The Sumerians who were in use of clay tablets to write the Cuneiform language and as the Egyptian usage of the hieroglyphics - these recorded forms of stories, memos, transactions are still with us today to see with the naked eye despite dust and brittle or broken. What about the ones that don't have a form of physical context? Well, with the usage of statues and carved sculptures within the walls that would tell the stories of those who lived long ago. An example would be the Philistines, a warlike group of peoples whom lived on the sea coast south to which they were known to be threating and with the usage of their weapons due from the art of their Hebrew enemies, they would sculpt them with iron weapons for they were considered to dominate weaker groups or people and use it to their advantages as it would bring joy to their faces. As we learned recently, that the Persians would also have a similar way of story-telling, to which Persian rulers had humongous murals that would depict them and their great deeds amongst side of cliffs, the second ruler of Persian culture (Darius) had been in use of this idea for the sake of his origins or credibility by creating his story of the defeat of the Medes.

The Egyptians it seems in their hearts believed that the faro is a god himself living on earth and ruling as well, in the roles between the gods and people. They considered the pharaoh as central in the purpose of preserving maat which was the intended wellbeing of the kingdom. His divine status endeavored to give him the supremacy of all people and things that including, politics, religion, and the military. On ground however, the effective power of the pharaoh was compromised by the extensive bureaucracy which was essential for running such a high-caliber and sophisticated society. Regional governors, priests, and officials accumulated great power and had to be managed by the pharaoh in order to run the kingdom. Furthermore, natural calamities, poverty and aging enemies might challenge his power since these were believed to mean that he had no more approval from his gods.

From the readings, examples like the priesthood's growing clout during the New Kingdom or the power shift during the First Intermediate Period indicate that the pharaoh’s dominance was nevertheless not always absolute. The case of the Amun priests was quite similar in the late periods where they were almost formidable than the pharaoh by that time proving that even a great pharaoh became relatively shell of his earlier power within the sphere of religion and politics.

I believe that civilization represents a complex web of social, political, and technological developments that arise from the need for organization and stability in increasingly populous societies. Its creation is motivated by various factors, including the necessity for agricultural production, trade, and social order. Civilization, in this sense, can be viewed as an invention because it requires deliberate efforts and innovations such as writing, governance, and monumental architecture that reshape human interactions and relationships. However, this invention comes with sacrifices, as individuals often relinquish certain freedoms and personal autonomy for the sake of collective security and order.

Historically, the emergence of civilization can be traced back to the Agricultural Revolution, which shifted communities from nomadic lifestyles to settled farming. This transition enabled the accumulation of surplus food, which in turn led to population growth and the need for more structured societies. For example, in Mesopotamia, the development of irrigation systems not only enhanced agricultural productivity but also necessitated complex governance structures to manage these resources. This is evident in the establishment of city-states, where authority figures like priest-kings emerged to oversee these communities.

In terms of monumental architecture, structures such as ziggurats in Mesopotamia and the pyramids of Egypt served not only religious functions but also symbolized the power and permanence of the civilization. These edifices required substantial labor and resources, demonstrating how the pursuit of civilization demands sacrifices from individuals and the environment. Furthermore, as discussed in our readings, the Epic of Gilgamesh reflects Sumerian values, emphasizing the tension between individual desires and societal obligations, illustrating the duality of civilization as both a source of order and a catalyst for personal conflict.

In summary, civilization is an invention that arises from human needs for organization and stability, marked by significant technological and social developments. While it fosters progress and community, it also requires sacrifices in terms of personal freedoms and resources, a theme deeply ingrained in the narratives and structures of ancient societies.

Monumental monuments like Mesopotamian ziggurats and Egyptian pyramids showed the advanced social organization and leadership abilities that were emerging throughout the time, helping civilization flourish. Extensive labor force coordination and mobilization were required for these endeavors, showing a higher level of social complexity than in previous cultures.

These gigantic buildings also show how religion grew in early civilizations. Mesopotamian ziggurats were used to house the city's main god and as a pathway to heaven. Egyptian pharaohs, believed gods and immortal, were buried in pyramids. These constructions show how important religion was to these early civilizations and how powerful religious leaders were.

Egyptian pyramids demonstrate the pharaohs' absolute power during the Old Kingdom (2700–2200 BCE). Pharaohs were gods and could organize Egypt's populace for any purpose. The gigantic pyramids, built over many years by thousands of Egyptians, reflect the importance of rank and reputation in ancient communities. The monarchs and nobles that commissioned these constructions were powerful and wealthy. The Egyptian pyramids symbolized the pharaohs' divine stature and rule, as well as their graves.

However, the increasing shrinkage of pyramids and the rise of magnificent burials for nobles in their nomes imply a power shift. This shows that monumental architecture may have first strengthened central rulers but also sparked a more strong aristocracy that opposed the status quo.

` The events and characters in The Epic of Gilgamesh reflect Sumerian ideas about gods, humans, and civilization. The Sumerians had to try to follow gods because if they didn’t, they would punish them, and civilization would fall. The cure for Gilgamesh’s tyranny is the creation of Enkidu because he didn’t have friends similar to him before Enkidu and Gilgamesh liked Enkidu’s qualities like fighting monsters and being adventurous. Intercourse with the harlot transfers Enkidu from the wild to civilization because that thing snaps him back to reality and he realizes civilization is where he belongs. His process of civilization was significant because he helped Gilgamesh defeat the bull of heaven that was making a mess of civilization. Ishtar’s interactions with Gilgamesh tell us about her as a goddess he hopes Gilgamesh falls in love with her. The factors involved in Gilgamesh’s rejection of her is all her previous lovers have a tragedy of death. The theme is involved in Enkidu’s death and Gilgamesh’s search for immortality is he is scared of death that why he wants immortality.

I believe that things like architecture, Agriculture; such as crops and pastoralism, different types of labor; such as hunters and gatherers, trade/bartering with each other and/or other civilizations, and tools such as labor tools and weapons. An example of this was during our first classroom discussion when discussing what makes a civilization and the transition from nature to civilization as well as chapter 1 of the textbook book where it states the beginning of civilization before civilization was fully instated and that the use of all of these things together is what created full civilizations.

Floods played central roles for both Egyptians and Sumerians as they affected their civilisations in different but substantial ways. For the Egyptians, the Nile River was seen as a blessing. It would flood predictably and leave fertile soil for agriculture in its aftermath. As a result of this, Egyptians trusted their gods, who they believed controlled the land- the land provided everything they needed. Consequently there was no fighting over resources.

In comparison, floods for the Sumerians did not represent the same positive opportunities that it did for their Egyptian neighbours; the Tigris and Euphrates River valleys were geographically open to invasions and liable to unpredictable floods that gave the Mesopotamians pessimistic views of the gods and the world.

The similarity between these two cultures is that they both believed the weather and climate were controlled by their gods due to their pagan systems. Paganism meant multiple gods who acted as local natural forces with the ability to bless their people, or cause devastation. These two cultures experienced different treatments from their Gods, resulting in different levels of trust in them- Sumer received the shorter end of the stick.