The document summarizes prehistoric Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. It discusses the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the earliest works of literature from Mesopotamia. It then covers the major political periods of ancient Egypt, including the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, and New Kingdom, as well as Egyptian religion, architecture including the Great Pyramids, and important figures like the Pharaoh Akhenaten and his wife Nefertiti.

1. PREHISTORY,
MESOPOTAMIA,
AND EGYPT
HUM/100 – Intro to the Humanities I
The Ancient World to Medieval Time
Prof. Francisco Pesante-Gonzalez

2. Gilgamesh Epic
• Epic: “…a long narrative poem in
elevated language. It follows
characters of a high position
through a series of adventures,
often including a visit to the world
of the dead. The central figure is a
legendary or historical figure of
heroic proportion...”
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MESOPOTAMIA - LITERATURE

3. Gilgamesh Epic
• Characters: Gilgamesh, Ishtar,
Enkidu, Utnapishtim & Enlil
• Elements of the Plot: Arrogance,
Friendship, Pursuit of Inmortality
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MESOPOTAMIA - LITERATURE

4. ANCIENT EGYPT
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5. Political Order
• Old Kingdom(2660 - 2181 b.C.)
• Middle Kingdom (2080 – 1640 b.C.)
• New Kingdom (1570 – 1200 b.C)
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ANCIENT EGYPT

6. Political Order
• First Dinasty (3,100 – 2,700 b.C.
• Narmer Palette (31st Century b.C.)
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ANCIENT EGYPT

7. Religion
• Theocracy
• Pharaohs (about 31 Dinasties)
• Polytheism (over 2,000 deities)
• Life After Death
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ANCIENT EGYPT

8. Religion
• Life After Death (Book of Death)
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ANCIENT EGYPT

9. Ancient Kingdom
• Sphynx and the Khufu and Khafe Pyramids
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ANCIENT EGYPT - ARCHITECTURE

10. Ancient Kingdom
• Khufu and Khafe Pyramids (c. 2,650 – 2600 b.C.)
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ANCIENT EGYPT - ARCHITECTURE

11. Ancient Kingdom
• Menkaure Pharaoh
• 2532-2503 b.C.
• Fourth Dinasty
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ANCIENT EGYPT

12. New Kingdom
• 18th to 20 Dinasty
• Akenaten
(Amenhotep IV)
Religious reforms
• 1,353-1,336 b.C.
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ANCIENT EGYPT

13. New Kingdom
• 18th to 20 Dinasty
• Nefertiti
• ca. 1370 – ca. 1330 b.C.
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ANCIENT EGYPT -

14. New Kingdom
• Nebamun
• 1,350 b.C.
• Scribe and grain
accountant
• Tomb Wall Painting
near Thebes
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ANCIENT EGYPT -

15. REFERENCES
• Sayre, H. (2014). Discovering the Humanities (3rd
ed). Pearson Education.
• World History: Patterns of Interaction (2007).
McDougal Littell.
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