Selected diplomatic exchanges will be analyzed, using original documents in translation. Manifestations An investigation of the phenomenon of writing, the circumstances of its invention, and its development and spread. The differences between writing and other semiotic systems are explored. The Origins of Literature in Ancient Mesopotamia Starting with the invention of writing around 3000 B.C., the course explores the early literary forms of the Sumerians, and the subsequent development of these forms by the Babylonians and Assyrians. Special attention is paid to the origin and development of the epic, culminating in the great Epic of Gilgamesh, but considerable time is also given to the vast mythological and historical literature, and such diverse genres as love poetry, proverbs, humorous dialogues, omens, and legal and medical texts.
All readings are in English translation.
A study of medicine in the ancient Near Eastern and Aegean worlds, including an examination of the practices of medicine in these ancient societies but with primary emphasis given to ideas about health and disease. Readings are selected from primary sources in the writings of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Israel, Greece, and Rome. Special attention is given to Hippocratic medicine, the synthesis of Galen, and the rise of humoralism. Many legal texts survive from ancient Egypt, such as contracts, mortgages, court records, and law codes. The goal will be to achieve an understanding of the central concepts of Egyptian law, ethics, and wisdom, and a broad familiarity with the primary evidence for these subjects.