5. pre classic cultures
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
1/40
Pre-civilizations
in the Paleolithic and Mesolithic Age
60 000 years ago: Aborigines in Australia.
30 000 years ago in Europe: Chauvet caves,
wall paintings, religious cults. Hunter-gathering communities in Europe,
Asia, Africa, S. America.
Nomadic cultures; migrating, temporarilyresiding in caves.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
2/40
Beginning of civic lifestyle:
the Neolithic Age Switching from nomadic to civic lifestyle; building
houses of clay and straw.
Jericho (Tel-As-Sultan), near Qumran, vicinity of theDead See. Use of natural walls to settle. A first civic
(city-like) culture?Domesticating animals, agriculture.
6 000 Farming in Greece, Egypt, Far East; pottery.
5 000 Middle East: gold and copper melted.
5 000 Neolithic settlements in Banpo, China.
Sumerians of Mesopotamia.
3 000 BC. INDIA, EGYPT, CRETE.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
3/40
THE SUMERIANS
The Sumerians, a non-Semitic tribe
spoke the language that was quite different
than languages spoken by Semitic tribesin the region.
The Sumerians came from the Persian Golf and
settled in Mesopotamia.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
4/40
SUMERIAN CULTURE
7000 BC. settled in Mesopotamia and
established cities: Ur, Uruk, Nippur
Paradise-like, fertile land between the Tigris
and Euphrates Rivers, yet requiring
communal work, communication and laws.
Overproduction: storage of surplus,
transport, commerce and recording thetransactions (written language).
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
5/40
Sumerian culture Polytheism:
An = supreme god
Enki = god of sea and water
Ki = goddess of the earth
Enlil = god of air, wind, weather and fertilityEa = god of magic and creativity,
Ninkisi = goddess of pleasure and brewing.
System of hierarchic priesthood: The temples. Treatment of wounds: plasters immersed in herbal
extracts and ritual hymns to gods
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
6/40
SUMERIAN WRITTEN LANGUAGE
B
y 3000B
.C. The cuneiform (Latin: cuneus = wedge)writing started to register
the trades, records of properties, codes of law, customs,
medicinal prescriptions, astronomic events, prayers
and poems.
Scratched on clay tablets,
- first as pictograms
- later as ideograms
- and finally as alphabet.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
7/40
From Sumerian to Hebraic and Greek alphabet
The cuneiform script a universal systemfor any language (Babylonian, Aramaic,
Hebrew) spoken in the region.
1300 BC. Phoenicians replace the old system of 600symbols by new system of 30 symbols (letters)
representing the consonants.
It served as a basis for
- old Hebraic alphabet and
- old Greek alphabet.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
8/40
Cuneiform system evolved
The "Epic of Gilgamesh"- the oldestcuneiform script written on clay tablets.
It tells the story of the king of an ancient
Sumerian city - Uruk (ca. 2500 BC).
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
9/40
Old Babylonia: Hammurabi clan
The antagonized Mesopotamian clans and citiesunited by Hammurabi dynasty as the Old Babylonia.
The king Hammurabi (r. 1795 to 1750 BC)
proclaimed a code of civil and criminal lawcarved as cuneiform text upon a stone monument.
On behalf of gods and goddesses, the ruler
publicly proclaims the laws - valid for all citizens(tough: Eye for eye).
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
10/40
THE ANCIENT HEBREWS Hebrews = The wanderers, the nomads.
1800 BC. Abram (Abraham) of Semitic Mesopotamian clanof Terah in Ur, moves from Ur to Canaan.
In Hebron, Palestine, (presumably) tombs of Abraham &Sarah and Isaac & Rebecca.
Abraham's grandson Jacob took name Israel. Egyptian dynasty (Ramses II) turns the Israelites into slaves.
Moses leads them through the desert, the Red Sea andMount Sinai back to Canaan.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
11/40
ISRAELITES
At Mt. Sinai, God reveals to Moses the moral code = the
Ten Commandments. (Decalogue).
After Moses death, Joshua continued as the leader of the Exodus.
King David famous for his Psalms & capturing Jerusalem as a capital ca. 1000 BC.
His son Solomon: The 1st Temple, The Book of Proverbs, The Song of Songs
After Solomon's death the nation divided into two kingdoms :
Home of Israel (10 tribes) and Home ofJudah (2 tribes).
Taken by Assyrians (721 BC) and Neo-Babylonians (596 BC).Rebelled and punished: The Walls & The 1st Temple destroyed (586 BC),
people fled into exile or kept in the Neo-Babylonia captivity.)
Taken by Persians (537 BC); allowed to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
12/40
JUDAISM contd
During the Neo-Babylonian and Persian occupation
the Israelites spoke both Hebrew and Aramaic.
250 BC. - A.D.68 a Jewish sect The Esseneswrote (or copied?) the Biblical books ofThe Old
Testament, known as The Dead Sea Scrolls
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
13/40
THE JEWS
165 BC. Hellenization of Jews imposed by
Antiochus IV. Maccabean Revolt.
A.D. 0 Jesus Christborn.
A.D. 132 2nd revolt, Hadrian destroys Jerusalem
and renames it as Aelia Capitolina and the province
as Palestina. Jewish dispersion (Diaspora).
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
14/40
JEWISH CULTURE
Monotheism: one God, The Lord, caring and loving
Father who demands obedience and love. Rules of divine law (Decalogue); meritocratic
religious leaders (Patriarchs).
Tribal solidarity, respect for elders, family, tradition. Care for children but severe discipline.
Judeo-Christian mentality: fear of sins, guilt,responsibility, humility, hope/belief in eternity.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
15/40
ANCIENT EGYPT 3100 B.C.
Polytheism; the names of deities differed in
dynasties and cities.
Anthropomorphic view of deities.
Belief in afterlife: moral conduct in life andbodys preparation for eternity:
mummification, tombs, pyramids.
The heart - a habitat ofthe soul and organ ofmoral behavior.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
16/40
EGYPT continued
The brain - an organ of performance (walk, speech)and sleep.
Women highly respected in the Ancient Egypt.
Well developed hygiene, agriculture, irrigation,canals, architecture, geometry, math, astronomy.
Medicinal herbs.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
17/40
Eastern cultures: CHINA
5000 BC. Neolithic cultures in the Valley of the
Yellow River, e.g. Banpo village nearXian.
Chinese provinces not unified until the
Quin (Chin) Dynasty 221-206 BC.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
18/40
Major philosophies or religions in China
CONFUCIANISM (Kong-Fu-zi 551-479 BC):
Heavenly laws and ethics - eternal and not negotiable.Focus on: ethics, obedience, loyalty, respecting tradition,social hierarchy, care/devotion to family and state,selflessness.
DAOISM (6th - 5th century BC. sage Lao-zi):Individual person as a microcosm which reflects theuniversal macrocosm.
The unity with the universe attainable through meditation.
Belief in sanctity of all life, thus vegetarianism.
Rules of longevity: virtuous conduct, good humor, wisepeace, friendliness, healthy diet and physical exercises.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
19/40
BUDDHISM from Tibet, India to China
563-483 BC. TeacherSiddhartha Gautama (known as BUDDHA = The
Enlightened) who integrated selected teachings of Hinduism, Daoism and
Confucianism.
Through decent conduct: humility, gratitude, service, prayer and meditation,
honesty, pride and dignity humans can reach an ideal state of apprehension of
existence and reunify with The One in the eternal state of nirvana.
Calm and contemplative, ascetic behavior, withdrawn from sensory world =
the best way of existing and developing virtues necessary to attain nirvana.
Belief in reincarnation.
Hierarchy of citizens and souls. Low status of women.
Diseases result from imbalance: excessive emotions lead to mental disorder.
Psychotherapy aimed at humility, acceptance of necessities and peace of mind.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
20/40
Civilization in the Valleys of the Indus River
Hinduism. Sacred scripts The Vedas -written
in Sanskrit. Polytheism. A virtuous conduct - a chance to
reincarnate in a higher social cast or form ofexistence up to Nirvana.
The essence of things is attainable throughmeditation rather than sensation or thinking.
Purifying the souls: self-discipline, self-denial,
avoidance of material goods and peace.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
21/40
The Vedas sacred texts of Hinduism
The Vedas contain hymns, incantations, andrituals from ancient India.
The Upanishads, continuation of the Vedic
philosophy, written between 800 and 400 B.C.They elaborate on how the soul can be united
with the ultimate truth through contemplation
and meditation.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
22/40
The ancient PERSIA (NOW: IRAN) 900-331 BC.
540 BC. Persian king CYRUS conquers the Neo-Babylonian territories, including Israel & Judea.
Persian Empire a chronic threat for the Greeks.
490 BC. The battles at Marathon & Thermopylae.
480 BC. The Persians stopped by the Athenians atSALAMIS (navy battle).
331 BC. Persian king Darius lost to Alexander TheGreat.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
23/40
Persian religion: ZOROASTRIANISM
* Monotheism. Teacher and prophet ZARATHUSTRA.
Sacred book: AVESTAThe God Ahura-Mazda and the demon, Angro-Mainyus.
People have free will to follow God or demon.
Illness, as a work of demon, should be treated byexorcism, prayers, incantations and other magic rituals.
Crime, as an act against God; thus severe public
punishment: beating, mutilating, stoning or crucifying.
Zoroastrianism almost extinguished in 8th c.
In 10th c. cultivated by some Arians living in India.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
24/40
PRE-CLASSIC & CLASSIC
GREECE 3000-1450 BC. The Minoans, a tribe of Crete.
The Minoans - the 1st European advanced urbancivilization: architecture, hygiene, trade, navigation,trade, metallurgy (gold, silver), writing.
1450 BC. The civilization collapsed due to volcaniceruptions and invasion by the warlike Mycenaeans.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
25/40
The Mycenaeans and The Dorians
The Mycenaeans from the Peloponnesus: the king
Agamemnon involved in the Troyan war and won it in1200 BC, but personal tragedy
The Dorians from northern Greece: became a military
power in the region ca. 1100 BC. They used iron weapon;looted and destroyed many cities. 1000 - 500 BC.
Dark Age of Greece; stagnation, city-states warringagainst each other. Polytheist cults and mythology.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
26/40
MYTHOLOGY
Hierarchic polytheism. Zeus , Athena, Apollo,Aphrodite, Prometheus, Poseidon, Dionysus .
Behaviour of gods = a projection of human passions.
Human behaviour and fate in hands of gods. see TheIliad. Zeus punishing for curiosity (Pandora box).
Agamemnon instructed by gods to make sacrifice
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
27/40
Athens
* Athens existed since ca. 1600 BC or earlier.
Since 800 BC. Athens became a centre of arts
Athletic games in Olympia since 776 BC.
500 BC. Persian wars. Athenians beat Persian invaders at
Marathon and Thermopylae in 490 BC.
480 BC. Athens victory in the sea battle at Salamis.
The beginning of the Classic Greece.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
28/40
Classic Greece ca. 480 323 BC.From victory at Salamis to death of Alexander
449 - 429 BC. Pericles Golden Age ofAthens: Acropolis rebuilt, supervised by
Phidias.
Parthenonthe temple to Athena goddessof war and wisdom is built.
Music, theatre (Epidaurus, Athens)
Drama: Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides Public orations, debates, games gymnasiums.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
29/40
Classic Greece ca. 480 323 BC. From victory at Salamis to death of Alexander:
427 BC. PLATOborn.
397 BC. Platonian Academy starts.
385 BC. ARISTOTLEborn.
338 BC. Philip of Macedonia peacefully conquers Athens.Two years later assassinated.
336 BC. His son ALEXANDER THE GREAT starts conquest up to India.
334 BC. Aristotelian LYCEUM starts.
323 BC. Alexander dies. 322 BC. Aristotle dies.
The end of the Classic Greece Period and the beginning of the
Hellenistic Period ( 323 27 BC)
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
30/40
Pre-classic and Classic Greeks
PRE-SOCRATESIAN PHILOSOPHERS
- COSMOLOGISTS (PHYSISISTS):
Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes, Heraclitus,
Democritus, Empedocles.
- BIOLOGISTS: Alcmaeon, Hippocrates.
- MATHEMATICIANS: Pythagoras.
CLASSIC GREECE PHILOSOPHERS :
- SOPHISTS: Parmenides, Protagoras
- SOCRATES
- PLATO
- ARISTOTLE
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
31/40
THALES of Miletus 640-546 BC
THE WATERas a basic element (physis) out ofwhich all things in the cosmos were made.
Promoted: intellectual freedom of opinions anddiscussion.
His student, ANAXIMANDER(610-547 BC): proposed
the appeiron the indefinite as a basic physis.
ANAXIMENES (588-524 BC): The air as a basicelement of the universe. A more condensed air = the earth,
a less condensed air = the soul.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
32/40
Atomism, materialism: DEMOCRITUS of Abdera (460-370 BC)
The world is composed of material Atoms and thevoid.
The soul is material: a set of smooth atoms like
atoms of fire. The soul disappears at the moment of
death. There is no afterlife.
Perception: external layers of atomsEidola (copies of
the objects surface) emanate through the void to
reach our senses where the image is replicated.
Hedonism: Lets enjoy the life now; no afterlife.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
33/40
HERACLITUS & ZENO of Elea
HERACLITUS of Ephesus (6th c. BC):
philosophy of change and movement as anessence of existence.
Fire as a basic element of the universe. It
symbolizes eternal movement and change.All things participate in an endless process of change.
ZENO of Elea (495-435 BC) : philosophy ofstagnation:change or movement is not possible.
see his Paradoxes
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
34/40
EMPEDOCLES 490-430 BC PHISICIST & BIOLOGIST
4 basic elements: FIRE, AIR,WATER and EARTH.They act upon each other according to principles ofattraction and repulsion. The first promotes life,creation and integration, the other one destruction,disintegration and death.
TRANSMIGRATION OF THE SOUL; thus
vegetarianism.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
35/40
BIOLOGISTS: ALCMAEON & HIPPOCRATES
Up to 500 BC. the medicine practiced by priests in
the Aesculapian temples (devoted to Asclepius or
Aesculapius god of medicine).
Ca. 500 BC. Alcmaeon of Croton started to teach
medicine based on observations of living animals
and anatomical data from dissected animals.
Health as a harmony/balance.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
36/40
HIPPOCRATES of Cos 460-377 BC.
All diseases result from natural causes and as suchmust be treated by natural means.
Natural auto-healing powers of the organism;
the physician is to help the nature to heal. The body and the mind need to restore the basic
harmony by: proper rest, exercise, diet, music,
contact with friends and sometimes
bloodletting.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
37/40
Hippocrates, continued
Observations on effects of injury to the brain.
The Art of Healing : description ofmelancholia,post-partum depression, hypomania, phobias,paranoia and hysteria.
The Nature of Man: Empedoclesian elementsapplied as basic fluids (humors):
the black bile (melancholic),
the yellow bile (choleric),
the blood (sanguine),
the phlegm (phlegmatic).
An imbalance of those 4 fluids/humors leads to illnesses.
A holistic treatment has to restore the balance between them.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
38/40
Hippocrates
TREATISE ON EPILEPSYDe Morbu Sacro (On the Sacred Disease): theold view of epilepsy as an act of spirit - rejected.
Epilepsy - a natural illness to be treated by useof natural means such as: RELAX, DIET,PEACE.
HIPPOCRATIC OATH: focus on ethics,
respect, devotion, confidentiality.Primum non nocere(above all do not harm)
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
39/40
MATHEMATICIANS:PYTHAGORAS from Samos (584-495 BC)
Sensory impressions = imperfect ways of knowing.
The essence of reality in mathematical models.
The models of reality created by rational thinking. Mathematics - a magic key to the cosmos.
The body - a prison for the noble soul .
Purification by diet, self-discipline and intellectualexercises.
Liberation of the soul from the body issues.
-
8/8/2019 5. Pre Classic Cultures
40/40
PYTHAGORAS
Ways of searching for truth: intellectual
reasoning and spiritual contemplation.
The soul animating element of the universe -
is eternal and re-incarnates.
Its functions:
- feelings, intuitions,
- rational thinking and spiritual meditation.
Human and animal soul has feelings and
intuitions, but the rational thinking and spiritual
meditation are available only to human soul.