Themes for Essay #1

Prepare your essay from the following list of themes. Alternatives are permitted only if cleared with the instructor ahead of their preparation and submission.

Do remember to place the following sentences as a separate paragraph at the top of the first page of your essay:

"I hereby attest that this essay is entirely my own original work, excepting only that the work of others is properly noted and cited where incorporated into my own work. Thus, it is fair and honest for me to ask this work to be evaluated and marked by the instructor for a grade in this Humanities I course."

1. Discuss how various religious ceremonies and festivals of the Babylonians express a way of life that is similar to or different from that expressed in the religious and secular ceremonies and festivals of modern American life.



2. Discuss the various ways in which the Sumerians, the Akkadians, the Babylonians and the Assyrians seem to share or differ in their common religious beliefs as reflected in their architectural conventions and literature.



3. Discuss the various ways in which the creation of alphabets/systems of writing and the subsequent creation of literature had an impact on ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian cultures.



4. Ancient Egyptians seemed to be preoccupied with the afterlife, so much so that it might be said to permeate their lives as individuals and in all their societal relationships. Using specific examples from their arts, particularly their literature and architecture, discuss the effect of this belief upon Egyptian civilization.



5. The discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb and the display of its treasures in the modern Western world fueled a fashion for Egyptian art that continues in some quarters even today. Discuss the influence of ancient Egyptian art on twentieth century art in the United States and Europe, including its roles in popular culture, like music and film.



6. Outline in detail at least three (3) similarities and differences between ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian cultures as revealed through their arts. What factors can be cited to account for any similarities or differences that do exist?



7. Discuss what the Babylonian "Hanging Gardens" reveal about their ancient knowledge and practice of art, religion and science.



8. Discuss what Egyptian pyramids reveal about their ancient knowledge and practice of art, religion and science.

The University, and I, take the standards and expectations relating to academic honesty quite seriously. You are expected to prepare an original essay comprising your own words and ideas generated from our readings and discussions and your further research, using others' work (whether the textbook or notes from other hardcopy or digital sources) only where appropriate and with full disclosure/citation. Lack of proper disclosure and citation of other's work constitutes plagiarism, which is academic dishonesty. A first offense renders the student subject to dismissal from this class with an F; a second offense any time during your academic career here at CBU may result in dismissal from the University. If you have questions about what constitutes plagiarism in particular, or academic dishonesty in general, you are welcome to raise questions with me or any of your instructors, and encouraged to refer to the 2002-03 Student Handbook (see pages 76-77) for University policy details.