Posted: May 12th, 2015

HUM 111 – Discusion Question Week 1 – 3

Study Books Used in Class:
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Required Resources
Sayre, H. M. (2012). The Humanities: Culture, continuity and change, Volume 1. (2
nd
ed.). (2011 Custom
Edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
MyArtsLab access code.
Supplemental Resources
Barnstone, T., Ed. (2003). Literatures of Asia. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Bottero, J. (1992). Mesopotamia: Writing, reasoning, and the gods. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Cohen, J. (2008). A history of western literature: From medieval epic to modern poetry. Piscataway, NJ:
Aldine Transaction.
McKenzie, L. (2000). Non-western art: A brief guide. (2
nd
ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Plazy, G. (2001). The history of art in pictures: Western art from prehistory to the present.
New York, NY: Sterling Publishing.
Description:
Insert short paragraph answer in paragraph form to the discussion question’s below the question.

Discussion 1: The Law Code of Hammurabi

Describe what the Law Code of Hammurabi reveals about Babylonian culture; consider relations between men and women, slaves and freemen.

Explain whether or not you believe that the punishments listed in the Law Code of Hammurabi “fit” the crimes.

Identify and describe specific similarities and differences you notice between the Law Code of Hammurabi and laws today.

Discussion 2: Egyptology and Archaeology

Imagine you are an Egyptologist encountering an astounding archeological find, such as the tomb of Tutankhamen found by Howard Carter in 1922. Would you proceed with the excavation – knowing you were disturbing a sacred cultural site – in order to further knowledge of Egyptian history? Or, would you leave the tomb untouched? Explain your answer.

Consider the lives and legacies of the pharaohs Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, and Tutankhamen. If you had to choose, which of these pharaohs would you prefer to be and why?

Discussion 1: Tombs and Monuments

Compare an aspect of the tomb of Emperor Shihuangdi with the burial tombs of other cultures, such as Egypt or Mesopotamia.

Describe something that surprised or intrigued you about the Terracotta Army site.

Explain whether you think the emperor’s elaborate tomb was motivated by power or religious beliefs.

Discussion 2: Representing Hindu and Buddhist Belief

Identify a short passage from the Bhagavad Gita excerpt that represents Hindu thought and explain what this passage means to you.

Analyze why early followers of Buddhism did not believe images of Buddha should be displayed, yet later Buddhists in China and Japan constructed huge sculptures of the Buddha and bodhisattvas.

Discussion 3: Cultural Representations in Africa and the Americas

Explain whether you see a common thread that unites early African cultures or whether you see these cultures as very different; refer to specific examples to support your explanation.

Speculate on the similarities in the monuments to the Sun god in cultures of Mesoamerica, South America, and Egypt.

Discussion 1: Homeric Epics in Greek Culture

If you were a Greek living during this time period, describe how the ideals of the Homeric epics – as reflected in literature, sculpture, and even pottery – might have shaped your self-identity.

If you had the opportunity to be one of the characters in either the Iliad or Odyssey, identify who you would be and explain your choice.

Discussion 2: Greek Legacy

Compare a specific example of life in Ancient Greece or the Hellenic world to that found in contemporary life in the U.S.

Describe one way that you see a particular tenet of Greek philosophy reflected in the modern Western worldview.