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Cradle of Civilization: Mesopotamian Archaeology

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Continuing Studies | On-Campus Courses | Online Courses | Palo Alto | SF | CA

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Cradle of Civilization: Mesopotamian Archaeology

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Human civilization emerged over the past seven millennia. For the next three quarters, a sequence of Stanford Continuing Studies courses will chart the rise of three epicenters of civilization, each of which contributed to the full flourishing of humanity. This fall, we will start with Mesopotamian history and archaeology, covering civilizations emerging in the Fertile Crescent and Egypt.Mesopotamia, located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, was among the earliest centers of civilization, emerging about 7,000 years ago. It was here that scribes began documenting agriculture and society in increasingly sophisticated cuneiform texts. Clay served as the primary material for both writing and architecture. Astronomy also advanced significantly in Mesopotamia, shaped by the agricultural calendar of planting and harvesting in sync with seasonal stars and constellations, traditions that often became embedded in religion and were reflected in Mesopotamian literature. We will examine this literary heritage—the Epic of Gilgamesh, the common notions of Dilmun and Eden, the “Tower of Babel,” Inanna texts, the Code of Hammurabi, and others—which reveals so much about this great civilization.The course moves from the 7th millennium BCE with Ubaid and Uruk cultures to subsequent Sumer, Akkadia (Agade) and Neo-Sumer, Old Babylon and Old Assyria, and Kassite and Middle Elamite civilizations. We will also cover Neo-Assyrian, Neo-Babylonian, Medo-Persian, and Achaemenid cultures to the 4th century BCE. PATRICK HUNT Former Director, Stanford Alpine Archaeology Project; Research Associate, Archeoethnobotany, Institute of EthnoMedicine

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