Readings for Thursday, Sept. 11.
Iliad

Bk. I

What is the nature of the dispute between Agememnon and Achilles? Why is Achilles upset? Why is Agememnon considered the greater king?
How would you describe the values of these men? What is important to them? How would you describe their political and social systems? What do we learn about their religious beliefs and practices?

Bk. XXI

Describe the weaponry and style of battle of the ancient Greeks. What do you think of Achilles' behavior? What did the Greeks think of it?

Bk. XXIII

What do we learn about Greek religious beliefs in the early periods? How did Greek attitudes towards their gods compare to attitudes in the Middle East?
How would you describe the level of "civilization" among the Greeks depicted here? Wealth? Technology? Social and economic organization?

If Achilles is the "ideal man" of the early Greeks, what were the qualities that the Greeks valued?

Readings for 9/9
Please be prepared to discuss the following questions in class on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

What kinds of concerns are reflected in the excerpts from the Codes of the Nesilim and the Assyrians? What similarities or differences do you see to the Code of Hammurabi?

What is the relationship of God to the Hebrews in the excerpts from Exodus? To other people? What kinds of concerns are reflected in the excerpts you read? What similarities to or differences from the other legal codes do you see? How would you compare the Hebrews to their rough contemporaries in the Middle East?