Essays on Ancient Civilizations

Introduction

Rome is believed to date 2,766 years whereby it originated from a small Latin village. Rome grew to be a superpower, dominating the entire Mediterranean for many centuries (Arnason and Raaflaub 35). It was during the rule of the Julio-Claudians that Rome attained its highest levels of wealth and power. It could be referred to as the Golden time of the Roman Empire in terms of arts and literature. However, this period was also marked by notoriety and extravagance. The self-centeredness of the Julio-Claudians was evident, a phenomenon that was apparent in the persisting conflicts of interest and Continue reading...

Influence of Etruscan Literature on Ancient Rome Architecture

The architecture of ancient Rome is often described as distinctive in nature due to its hugely unique characteristics. However, a deeper analysis of this architecture reveals that it was significantly influenced by other civilizations. Ancient Rome architecture was inspired by architectural styles that preceded it and the influence of these civilizations is evident in most of the classic roman architecture pieces. The emergence of Roman civilization was contemporary with of the Etruscans, the Egyptian and the Greek dynasties. However, unlike all these cultures, the importance and relevance of the Rome Empire continued going as the first millennium BCE faded. Continue reading...

Theoretical Explanations of Two Prominent Pre-Industrial Civilizations: The Mayan Civilization and the Roman Empire from the Lens of Joseph Tainter and Arnold Toynbee

Introduction

Civilizations have characterized much of human history and have laid the groundwork for several innovations on human organization. As humans have learned to congregate in societies, they have developed their respective ways of living based on their understanding on the natural and social environment enveloping them within a given geographical area. Human organization inevitably comes into play, in which positions of authority are recognized and tasked to maintain and improve the political, economic and religious affairs Continue reading...

Introduction

Greek Bronze Age Civilization refers to Aegean civilization that developed around the Aegean Sea in ca. 3000-1200 BC. The civilization is divided into three main periods including Crete, the Greek mainland and Cyclades. The Crete period was referred as the Minoan civilization, the Greek mainland was called the Helladic period, and the Cyclades period merged with the Greek mainland during the early Helladic and with Crete during the Middle Minoan period. Aegean Civilization had two main cultures; the Minoan and the Mycenaean. The Mycenaean era is known as the "Age of Heroes" because it provided the source of the Continue reading...

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The Roman Empire came into power after a series of territorial acquisitions that ran across the Mediterranean Sea from Europe to the Asian continent. Upon its emergence as an empire, Rome stabilized itself under a number of emperors and was until the rise of Christianity considered among the most powerful forces with which to reckon. The Roman Empire has also been considered to have had major influence on the functioning of the modern world, a feat accomplished through its governance of Europe and in turn, its environs. From religion to governance, Rome’s ideologies were found to Continue reading...

Egypt is often seen by many tourists and experts as a land with many undiscovered treasures as the country became the home of one of the richest and oldest civilizations since the ancient times. Many would often fly to Egypt to see the remaining evidences of the once powerful civilization and even at the present day, experts find new information regarding the ancient civilization. However, while there are other ancient civilizations scattered around the globe, Ancient Egypt remains as a favorite for debate and study. This growing puzzle of understanding Ancient Egypt continues to deepen even further, driving the Continue reading...

The Christian movement begins in Jerusalem as a minor sect of Judaism that gradually separated from the beliefs of Judaism to spread quickly in the Roman world. Eventually, Christianity emerges as a formidable religion compared to other religions in the day long before the emergence of Constantine. Christianity is the first religion to receive support from the state (Barnes, 2010). This enables the religion to become a crucial force in the barbaric period. The role of historical Christianity in the first seven centuries is to absorb elements of ancient civilization and channel them to the middle Ages (Stark, 2006).
Continue reading...

Essay Questions

- The afterlife was centrally important to ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian cultures. Describe the ways in which the afterlife affected the art and architecture of these ancient civilizations. Be sure to use specific examples in your answer.
The ancient Egyptian civilization was based on belief in gods of other worlds. However, the Mesopotamian revolution relied on the belief in gods of this world. Therefore, the architecture of the ancient civilizations, especially the Egyptian civilization took place with reference to the gods and belief in the life after death. The Egyptians believed they should adhere to the respect of the Continue reading...

The Rise of Cities played an important role in society as well as documented history. Cities have risen up in a variety of cultures, from Egypt and Mesopotamia, to Rome, to Western Europe. Even the Aztecs and Mayans saw a Rise of the Cities. Cities marked the epicenter for development and change. The rise of cities in Mesopotamia was a great leap forward for the complexity of society because it essentially helped shape society. With the Tigris and Euphrates rivers flooding annually the farmers eventually came up with the idea of irrigation. For the time period, rivers were portrayed Continue reading...

Architecture and art have been a crucial part of the prayer and religion since the beginning of civilization. This includes religions like Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Greece traditional religion among others. This paper will discuss the history of faith and its dependence on art and architecture. The paper will highlight objects of art and architecture depending on their aesthetic, physical and theological value. As many researchers argue that this part of religion showcases the deep discussion that may also unfold the history and other important factors regarding that religion that many might not know or even ignore.
Erzen (122) argue Continue reading...

The dark ages in the European history could be attributed mostly to having made no worthwhile positive contribution to the development of the continent. It was a period that was characterized by stories of stagnated growth in the educational, cultural, as well as the artistic cultures of the time. Like the era was referred later on in history, it was an era most people do not want to say was part of their history. The dark ages were a period that is accepted to have begun with the fall of the Roman Empire and lasted until the advent of Continue reading...

Introduction

Ancient societies existed through a lot of strife politically, economically and socially. This essay explains issues in relation to the creation of a better world through the eyes of Confucius and Socrates. It also examines the crisis of the third century in the Roman Empire as well as the feudalism. States and Empires managed to overcome their challenges through socio-economic, as well as political reforms.

Creation of a better world

Confucius, the most significant Chinese philosopher, believes and teaches that the nature of men is the same but their habits separate them. He also believed that one should not do to others that which Continue reading...

Introduction

This paper analyzes the fall Europe into the dark ages (middle ages) after the collapse of the Roman Empire while the Islamic world entered into a golden age of learning and culture. In relation to the paper discusses the social, cultural, political and religious factors which accounted for the transformation of a largely Bedouin society into the center of the world learning while the collapse of the roman empire led to nearly a thousand years of backwardness among Europeans.

Analysis

Western medieval studies considered the beginning of the collapse of the Middle Ages the Western Roman Empire at the end Continue reading...

One of the writers whose name is William Faulkner said: “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” As he said, past is still going. His quote is similar to the history of art. Throughout art history, we learn and imagine about our past and how people used art to represent their lives on their period. One of the artworks that people used to represent their lives is vase. People used vase both, as art work and as household item. It was used to store water or wine in it or something else. As the time passes Continue reading...

The movie Bubblegum Babylon reveals the fact that the feel-good, appealing bubblegum pop is a cold business where the stars finally break up due their failure. It goes inside the music industry to explore how the billion-dollar business, which is built on catchy-looks, becomes the best marketing and merchandizing business to buy. The movie explains the profiling of producers, songwriters, impresarios behind the screen of the music, which sells the same band repetitively. It narrates how people with greed make use of the talent of the innocent ones to make money. The movie is a wakeup call for those Continue reading...

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English
Introduction to the Epic of Gilgamesh
Introduction – Authorship and publication details
Gilgamesh is a long narrative poem that is actually a Babylonian epic. The epic of Gilgamesh essentially focuses on a single hero as its primary theme and narrates the heroic acts of that particular hero. It is a work that can either be written text or an oral narration that was the main source of transition along significant cultural tales prior to the evolution of writing. This epic was translated into English by George Smith and was published for the first Continue reading...

Paleolithic period: The figure below shows a cave painting of bulls crafted during the paleolithic period which was approximated to be 15,000 BC (Boundless, 2014). The painting is found within the region of South Western France and is tittled ‘The Great Hall of the Bulls’. It is found within the caves where Paleolithic human beings made several drawings of animals especially bulls.
The figure above is the oldest among the three shown herein with a poorly developed art work. Though the artist employed various artistic aspect in the painting, the picture is considered primitive in nature. It is Continue reading...

- Explain and assess why Rome, during the period of the Roman Republic, was able to dominate the ancient Mediterranean world. This answer should pay attention to political, social, economic, and cultural factors.
Rome had mainly remained a source of power among the Mediterranean region by 133 B.C. There were several reasons for this dominance of Rome among neighboring countries including political, social, cultural and economic factors. For instance, the Romans conquered Greece by developing cultural ties with them. Socially, Romans had realsied that Greeks were weak on moral grounds. Similarly, Hellenistic regions were not easier for Romans to Continue reading...

Mystery of the Maya civilization

Maya civilization is considered as a mysterious civilization that existed in ancient time. However, the mystery of the Maya is still not undiscovered as no one is sure about the Mayans, their method of living and the the exact reason of the rapid collapse of the Maya civilization. It is believed that the Maya civilization started on 12th August, 3113 B.C., but the archeologists believed that the Maya civilization came into being in 3000 B.C. The Maya civilization, however, disappeared mysteriously in 800 A.D. – 925 A.D. The Mayans lived majorly in the areas, which are now known as Northern Continue reading...

During the ancient period there were a lot of empires. These empires were extensive that included a huge territory and population, and were extremely wealthy. All empires have expanded through conquest of neighboring states, but not all of them lasted a long time. Some of the empires collapsed in less than a few decades after their creation, while others have existed for centuries as a hegemon of the ancient world. So how does it happen that the Roman Empire and the Han Empire lasted for centuries, and the empire of Alexander the Great and Mauryan Empire of Ashoka have Continue reading...

Mesopotamia refers to the area near the Euphrates and Tigris river system, which corresponds to modern day Kuwait, Iraq, the northeastern part of Syria, the Southeastern part of Turkey and a small part of southwestern Iran (Potts, 2012, pg.557). In a wider sense, Mesopotamia refers to the area surrounded from the northeast by the Zagros Mountains and from the southwest by the edge of the Arabian Plateau and stretches from the Persian Gulf in the southeastern side to the spurs of the Anti-Taurus Mountains in the northwestern side. The Sumerians, Babylonians, Akkadians, Assyrians, and Chaldeans occupied Mesopotamia region. This Continue reading...

Mesopotamia and India are two most ancient civilizations of the world. Both of these civilizations were developed, well-organized and prosperous centuries ago. These ancient civilizations successfully developed an urban infrastructure system, agriculture, trade, art and architecture along with a well-organized society with appropriate provisions of law and order. These ancient societies were guided by their own religious codes. Hammurabi code propounded guiding principles for Mesopotamia while Bhagwat Gita guided the society of India. This paper intends to discuss how these religious codes successfully managed ancient societies of India and Mesopotamia in ancient times.
It is not easy to manage Continue reading...

Virgil " by Aeneid

Vigil, in his epic, Aeneid, tells of a story where he sets out to build Rome. He is particularly interested in the city and hence willing to go through all the hustle just to reach his destiny. As Aeneid travels through land and sea to accomplish his mission, he is met with good and bad people, who are all important in ensuring that his destiny is successful. He is well informed about the ancient Rome civilizations, which he uses to invoke favor. He travels with a group of faithful men around him just after the fall of their city ( Continue reading...

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Introduction
The code of Hammurabi is perhaps one of the earliest recorded attempts of humans to create a standardized justice system. Although most of the code’s provisions are considerably harsh, considering the time that the code was made, it can be considered as revolutionary. The code of Hammurabi was named after its author, King Hammurabi of Babylon. Historians believe that Hammurabi descended from the Sumu-abum dynasty of Ancient Babylon in 1894 B.C.. He ruled the city state of Babylon, the present day Iraq, between 1792 and 1750 B.C. Hammurabi was the sixth ruler of Babylon and Continue reading...

Introduction

The modern practices and belief systems are traceable to ancient societies. These modern societies are a product of the evolution of the ancient civilizations through a period spanning many centuries. The modern society has not replicated the ancient civilization; it has modified the ancient practices to fit the current needs and geographical conditions. The modern social systems in art, fashion, religion, language, science, economy and political administration have their foundation in the ancient ideologies. One of the ancient civilizations that have a profound effect to the modern society is the ancient Mesopotamia. Through its successive insightful and visionary leaders, Continue reading...

The Roman and the U.S. Empire: A Close Comparison

Introduction

Both of these empires characterized a certain centrality (p. 3). During the Roman Empire, Rome was the capital of the empire. The flows of tribute and taxes from the Roman provinces were directed there and to the primary armies. The empire, although, was not circular. It was an east-west extension, as required by the differences in the communications links provided by the Mediterranean and the boundaries of the Sahara and the Alpine ranges (p. 3).
The Roman Empire began the Roman Republic when Julius and Augustus Caesar changed it from Continue reading...

Introduction

The sixteenth century was marked by the rise of two hegemonic powers, the Ottoman and the Habsburg dynasties, which created many history pages because of their rivalry. The Ottoman-Habsburg rivalry was generated by several causes such as their hegemonic intentions of dominating new territories, their plans of settling their religion (Muslim versus Christian) in the conquered territories, their believed affiliation with the Roman Empire, or their millenary pride of ancient civilizations, which will be further elaborated within this essay.

Body

Being the two greatest powers of the sixteenth century, the Ottoman Empire and the Habsburg dynasty practically divided the world Continue reading...

In my opinion, Marcus Ulpius Traianus or Trajan was one of the best Roman generals and emperors. He was an outstanding emperor with the behavior of a simple Roman citizen. He was the first emperor born outside of the Rome. His popularity among the soldiers could be compared only with the popularity of Julius Caesar and Marcus Antonius. During his reign, the Roman Empire reached its territorial maximum. He was born on 18 September 53 in the Roman province of Hispania Baetica. During the reign of Nero Trajan’s father was included in the Senate. Trajan began his career Continue reading...

Mesopotamia referred to the region in the eastern Mediterranean Sea which was bound in the Northeast by the Zagros Mountains and the Southeast by Arabian Plateau. In the modern times, this land forms parts of Iraq, Iran and Turkey. Mesopotamia was watered by two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates, and it is famous for its association with the invention of the wheel as well as being regarded as the cradle of civilisation characterised by the mixture of cultures. As a land with many cultures, it is here that many works were developed and written that there is impact Continue reading...

Byzantine iconoclasm has numerously impenetrable membranes of conflicting attitudes and assumptions. Iconoclasm destructs a culture’s religion icon and monuments. The protesters of iconoclasm challenge the institutions since they have errors. Different religions can carry out iconoclasm that occurs due to disputes between factions in the religion. Christians work with the motivation of the Ten Commandments that forbid the worship of idols and images provided in iconoclasm. The intense use of Christian iconography originated from the gentiles after the religion of Christianity gained legitimacy from Constantine a Roman Empire in 312 AD (Morgan 45). A strong opposition rose with Continue reading...

[In Montmartre – Paris, France, at a fancy outdoor terrace, served by a young American boy.]
[Enter Antigone, followed by Gregor Samsa, who pursues Antigone everywhere, declaring his true love for her]
ANTIGONE: By Zeus, dear Insect, please offer me no more dishonor and allow me to rest at this table, thinking of my own troubles.
GREGOR SAMSA [with a squeaky voice]: Good Lady, I mean no harm to your exquisite beauty. I ask only to listen to the soft tone of my voice, to sense my true soul and see me as a person. Because I am a Continue reading...

- Literature produced in early Old English, a Germanic language with a Celtic imagination, expressed in Arthurian legend
- Legends of knights and honor
- Chivalric code
- Origin
- How chivalric code was passed on
- Definition
Dark Ages or commonly known as the ‘Middle Ages’ or the medieval era. This period is called ‘middle’ because it was midway between the end of the Holy Roman Empire in the fifth century and the beginning of Renaissance in the fourteenth century. However, this period in history does not have precise dates and most of the history is spread by Continue reading...

A critical analysis of the paintings of the Tower of Babel directly suggest the perspective of the both the translation and labor that refer to the utopian spirit of social critique as well as to the resistance to the authority. The art paintings appear to embody an expectation of a multiplicity of tongues as a result of the harsh judgment from the Supreme Being. The Tower of Babel may not be a realized vision. It can be understood in an angle where the Utopian ideal was to be discovered. The Utopian discourse was presented in a manner that allowed Continue reading...

[Author’s Name]
The Nile River is located in the continent of Africa, towards the north east. It is the world’s longest river and is considered as the backbone of the existence and culture of North African states. The River Nile inundated the Mesopotamian region and helped it to flourish otherwise it would only be a devastated area without the Nile River. Mesopotamia is used to signifying "the land between rivers." It included some part of the Middle East amid and about the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. In present times, this land is located in Iraq for the Continue reading...

Compare and contrast the reading and discuss the cultural, political, and religious influence/impact the foundation myths had in the shaping of Chinese, Japanese and Korean society and history.

Introduction:

The foundation myths in China, Korea and Japan differed somewhat although they also had some similarities especially in the inscriptions discovered in various tombs. In China there were great strides made in inscriptions whilst in Korea the emphasis was more on the she bear who bore Tangun with all its mythological implications. The Japanese myth is different and is more sexually explicit as we shall observe later.

Discussion:

‘Di’s role as Continue reading...

Introduction

The term empire is derived from the Latin imperium meaning power or authority. In political terms, an empire can be defined as a geographically extensive group of states and ethnic groups that are united and ruled by either an oligarchy or a monarch. This will be the meaning of the word empire in this essay despite its other uses in modern language to mean a large business enterprise. There were many empires in history but the notable ones include the Roman Empire and the Chinese empires which dominated most of the history between 200 BC and 200 CE.

History

The Continue reading...

Compare and Contrast Outline (Point by Point)

- Abstract
- Introduction
- Thesis: The Roman Empire and The United States have a large number of logistical differences, yet have surprising similarities in ideology.
- Type of Government
- The Roman Empire runs based on the autocratic leadership of an Emperor, advised by a Senate composed of many representatives of smaller territories (Wells, 1995).
- The United States is based on the leadership of a President, a Congress composed of representatives who create and pass legislation, and a Supreme Court that enforces the law (Zinn, Emery and Reeves, 2003).
- History
- The Roman Empire existed from Continue reading...

Introduction

The Fertile Crescent is a region that is crescent shaped that contains a fertile land that is usually called the arid and semiarid in the western Asia, Nile delta of the north east of Africa and the Nile valley. James Henry Breasted who was an archaeologist named the term Fertile Crescent. The countries that lie in the Fertile Crescent are Mesopotamia, Assyria, and Egypt. In the modern countries are Kuwait, Egypt, Israel, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria. It is presumed that education began since the human existence where parents pass on the traditions on values to their children who will Continue reading...

Mesopotamia holds a significant place and value in terms of history. It is significant on account of its cultural, political, architectural, and geographical existence. The region consisted of modern day multiple countries. The overall region was spread across the Mediterranean and mountainous areas of the region. It is amongst one of the first few river civilizations based and established along the major rivers of that region. The word Mesopotamia in itself means “between rivers” (Armstrong,3). Based on its rich cultural affiliations and influences its traces and influences can be traced in the other Middle Eastern civilizations as well Continue reading...

The Epic of Gilgamesh is usually an epic poem from Mesopotamia written within 2000 BCE. This poetry is one of the ancient literature works in the history of human. According to the scholars, epic of Gilgamesh originated from Sumerian poetry collected in the Akkadian epic in 18th century BCE. The poems were translated by George Smith and then first published in 1870. George Smith was a British Assyriology. Epic of Gilgamesh consists of eleven sections or tablets which are made up the main body. Later, a 12th tablet was added but it is not that recognized although it is Continue reading...