Traditions and Encounters, 2/e

Jerry H. Bentley, University of Hawai'i
Herbert F. Ziegler, University of Hawai'i

EARLY SOCIETIES IN SOUTHWEST ASIA AND THE INDO-EUROPEAN

Study Questions


1		What does the Epic of Gilgamesh tell us about the culture in which it emerged?



2		What was the significance of the need for irrigation to the political development of Mesopotamia?



3		What were the underlying principles of Hammurabi's code of laws and what does the law code tell us about the kind of society that existed in Mesopotamia at the time?



4		Why were the Assyrians such formidable conquerors?



5		What were the technological innovations of the early Mesopotamians and how did they contribute to the development of the culture and to its overall economic prosperity?



6		What were the social strata in ancient Mesopotamia and, in general, what roles did women play?



7		What is the significance of the development of cuneiform writing to the Mesopotamian culture and the surrounding areas?



8		Compare and contrast the history of the early Jewish community and the Phoenician culture. How did the Mesopotamians influence each?



9		What were the origins and early development of the Indo-Europeans?



10		Discuss where and how the Indo-European cultures spread through Eurasia.

2003 McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Any use is subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Notice.
McGraw-Hill Higher Education is one of the many fine businesses of The McGraw-Hill Companies.