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Ancient Sumerian, Egyptian, Hebrew Literature

The document summarizes the literature of three ancient civilizations: the Sumerians, Egyptians, and Hebrews. It notes that the Sumerians developed one of the earliest systems of writing called cuneiform and were the first to create cities. Their literary works included the Epic of Gilgamesh. The Egyptians' literature was influenced by their gods and the annual flooding of the Nile, and included calendars, hymns, and personal writings. Hebrew literature centered around the Old Testament and a monotheistic belief in one God that later influenced Christianity and Islam.

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Athea Khyl Gamus
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105 views2 pages

Ancient Sumerian, Egyptian, Hebrew Literature

The document summarizes the literature of three ancient civilizations: the Sumerians, Egyptians, and Hebrews. It notes that the Sumerians developed one of the earliest systems of writing called cuneiform and were the first to create cities. Their literary works included the Epic of Gilgamesh. The Egyptians' literature was influenced by their gods and the annual flooding of the Nile, and included calendars, hymns, and personal writings. Hebrew literature centered around the Old Testament and a monotheistic belief in one God that later influenced Christianity and Islam.

Uploaded by

Athea Khyl Gamus
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Sumerian, Egyptian, and Hebrew Literature

Sumerian Literature
 The Sumerians have many "firsts" to their credit. They probably invented the region's
earliest system of uniting, which developed from simple pictures to the cuneiform, or
wedge-shaped, signs familiar to archeologists.
 The professional writers called scribe, learned this system in Mesopotamia's first
schools, called edubbas
 These scribes were the guardians of Sumeria's rich literary tradition.
 The Sumerians developed a system of numeration based on sixty. The Sumerian system
led to our 60-second minute, 60- minute hour, and 360-degree circle.
This is called Sexagesimal, also known as base 60 or sexagenary (2000s b.c)
 Sumerian "first" was the creation of cities (7500 B.C.E)
 the Sumerians worshiped many gods
 The Hammurabi code of laws, a collection of 282 rules, established standards for
commercial interactions and set fines and punishments to meet the requirements
of justice.
 The Epic of Gilgamesh is an ancient Sumerian and Akkadian epic poem about the
eponymous hero, Gilgamesh.

Egyptian Literature
 Egypt is known as “the gift of the Nile” because it owes its fertile land to the annual
flooding of that river.
 Not only was the pyramid a symbol of the afterlife, it was also an image of Egyptian
society
 pharaohs - priests - nobles - middle class - peasants and slaves
 the priests who devised the system of writing called hieroglyphics.
 Worshipped gods associated with the forces of nature

 The Egyptian God, Ra – God of the Sun.


The Egyptian God, Osiris – God of Death.
The Egyptian God, Horus – God of Goodness & Light.
The Egyptian God, Seth – God of War.
The Egyptian God, Anubis – God of the Dead & Mummification.
The Egyptian God, Amun – God of The Air.
 The need to predict the Nile's floods resulted in the creation of a 12- month, 365-day
calendar.
 Literature changed over time from sacred hymns to personal reflections

Hebrew Literature
 Ancient Hebrew literature consists mainly of the Hebrew Bible (also known as the Old
Testament).
 The Law
(Torah (Pentateuch), Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)
 The Former Prophets
(Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings)
 The Latter Prophets
(Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve, or Minor, Prophets: Hosea, Joel,
Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah,
and Malachi).
 Hebrew monotheism, or belief in a single God, served as a basis for two other world
religions, Christianity and Islam
 Battled for control of the promised land
 Enjoyed its greatest power under the rule of King David and his son Solomon
 Deep concern for moral behavior and for spreading God’s message

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