1) What defines civilization? What are the similarities and differences among the world’s earliest civilizations? Show how and why these similarities and differences are significant.
2) Give an account of the theories of political legitimacy we have discussed in our consideration of Mesopotamia and Egypt, for example, theocratic kingship, military aristocracy and royal absolutism. What advantages and disadvantages resulted from such theories?
3) Write an essay in which you explain the common political problem of political fragmentation in Mesopotamia and Egypt. What were the various solutions to the problem, and what problems resulted from the various solutions?
4) In as much detail as possible, develop an essay in which you compare the impact of geography on the development of the politics and culture of Mesopotamia and Egypt.
5) What general conclusions can you draw about the differences in the political and intellectual outlooks of the civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia? Compare especially Egyptian and Mesopotamian religious views. In what ways did the regional geography influence the religious outlooks of these two civilizations?
3 comments:
Mr. Nicholson,
Could you explain numbers 1, 2 and 3 in another way or give an example? I partially understand those, but not completely.
1. For one, what type of answer are you looking for "What defines civilization?"
2. Are we talking about how they got their power and what type it was (royal absolutism, and so on) and then the good and bad aspects of that?
3. Could you explain this one, specifically about the political fragmentation?
I have the same questions about 1, 2, and 3. Thank you.
#3 is getting me.
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