MyHumanitiesStudio Exercises


1			Mesopotamia (pp. 8-13) Literature > Plot > Conflict http://www.mhhe.com/HumanitiesStudio/5/3/1.html One of the earliest literary masterpieces was The Epic of Gilgamesh, the story of a legendary Sumerian king (pp. 10-11). What conflicts drive the narrative of Gilgamesh? Are Gilgamesh's conflicts internal or external? Read Hammurabi's Law Code in the light of these conflicts. Based on the Code, what sorts of conflict were common in Mesopotamian society? Using The Epic of Gilgamesh and Hammurabi's Code as starting points, consider what ancient Mesopotamians believed were the foundations of an orderly society, and what forces they feared might disrupt good order.




2			Prehistory (pp. 2-5) Art > Shape > Defining Shape > Types http://www.mhhe.com/HumanitiesStudio/1/1/2/1/1.html A common trope in prehistoric art is the Earth Mother figure. Although this representation of the female form appears in many cultures, its attributes vary from one culture to the next. Investigate the use of shape in the Venus of Willendorf (Fig. 1.3) and the Cycladic female figure (Fig. 1.5). What types of shapes are used in these two objects? How do these different types of shapes affect the meanings of the two objects? How do the objects respectively compare to the modern piece Black Venus by Niki de Saint Phalle?