Socio-Historical Criticism
Understanding the historical context within the text can provide clues to the sociological world of Vashti. Starting with the fortress, Shushan, in verse five, a geographic location for the text can be extrapolated. Located in modern day Iran, on the banks of the Tigris River, Shushan, also known as Susa, lies close to the convergence of the Euphrates River and the Tigris. The city also claims a prime location on the Mesopotamian plain at the foot of the Zagros mountains. Centrally located between Mesopotamia and modern day Afghanistan and Pakistan, several important trade routes wound through Shushan.
Pinpointing a timeframe from the text alone is ineffective. Shushan’s archaeological evidence points to a timeframe of existence extending back to at least 3900 BCE. However, the timeframe in the text maps to the time of Xerxes I of Persia, based on similar motifs in Greek works of the same writing
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Royal Persian banquets fulfilled more than one purpose. Deriving their displays of opulence from the Assyrian empire, banquets at the Persian king’s palace showcased the spread of the empire. Displays of wealth, tributes from the kingdom’s provinces, and the realty of the king’s control boasted of the empire’s economic and political domination. Banquets were held both in large halls built for assemblies and colonnaded pavilions outside the palace. Even as large as Shushan’s palace was, King Ahasuerus’ seven-day banquet might have taken seven days to accommodate all the people living in the fortress city, similar to a public reception. The lush fabrics, metals, and stone of the garden pavilion and the flowing wine provided in opulent drinking vessels worked in tandem to convey Ahasuerus’ status as king to banquet attendees. Sociologically, the banquet became a mechanism of securing value and
Faulkner, Raymond Oliver. RAMSES II THE GREAT (REIGNED 1279-1213 B.C.). n.d. 12 October 2013 .
Summary of Video: A young man name Kalief Browder decided to take his life at age twenty-two after he served a long time in jail for something that he did not commit. He was accused of stealing a backpack and he was sentenced to one of the toughest jails in the country for three years. Half of the time that Browder served in jail, he was put in solitary confinement. After three long years in jail, Browder’s case was dismissed without ever getting a trial.
Monarchs often displayed their power by commissioning buildings and monuments. Louis and Suleiman were no exceptions. Louis had one of the greatest palaces in the world build in the middle of a swamp. This showed his absolute power because no builder ...
Within 21 years of Xerxes reign to the Persian empire, Xerxes impact and legacy to is questionable from the successes and failures of: the military and administration contributions. From the use of sources such as the Harem inscription “When my father Darius went away from the throne, but the grace of Ahuramazda, I became king on my father’s throne. When I become king, I did much that was excellent. What had been built by my father, I protected, and I added other buildings” is essential and useful in assessing Xerxes’ legacy.
The persian were so effective in ruling their empire was because the Persians use a policy of toleration. The attitude of conquered people lead to little revolts and people didn't want to fight back because of the way they were treated. The Persians organized their
Both Gudea and Shulgi come from a Sumerian culture that dominated southern Mesopotamia for hundreds of years prior to their reigns. The land of Sumer benefited greatly from both the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, whose
Toni Hurley, Philippa Medcalf, Christine Murray, Jan Rolph ~ HSC Course Third Edition Antiquity 2 Interpreting The Past, Published in 2008, pages 414-443.
Pritchard, J.B. The Ancient Near East: An Anthology of Texts and Pictures. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1958.
In the beginning of the classical period we began to see the first workings of a vast network of roads. One of the most important, was the Persian Royal Road. These trade routes spanned from Susa in Persia to Sardis in Anatolia, and were around 1600 miles long. Other than the Royal Road, they began to build large trading ships and developed sea-lanes through the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and the Red Sea, which brought people together from such places and Egypt, India, and Greece.1 This was mostly done by King Darius in the 5th century BCE. Darius was a king with many accomplishments, and was known for his administrative abilities. He applied many policies that promoted trade because he realized that trade helped to hold together an empire. Showing off more of his administrative and organizational skills he divided the Persian Empire into Satrapies, developed a banking and systemized taxing system, and built the magnificent capital, Persepolis. For the first time coins and weights of a standardized value circulated throughout the empire.2 Darius attributes his rise to the throne and success in reorganizing the Persian Empire to the faith Zoroastrianism.3
back to the time of the first people to live in the valley of Alpheas River.
to the spring of 323 BC”(Anderson). There use to be a powerful ruler called Alexander
According to the Sumerian King’s List , Ur dominated Southern Mesopotamia three times, which owes to the name ‘The Third Dynasty of Ur’. The Third dynasty stretched from c.2112 - c.2004. Shar-kali-sharri was the last ruler before the decline of the Akkadian period brought by the Gutian invaders. After about 40 years after the demise of the Akkadian Empire, Ur-Namma established this empire centered in Ur. This period was one of restoration as a reaction against the previous rule of the Akkadians. It is also sometimes known as the ‘Sumerian renaissance’ as the writing was still Sumerian and there were notable advances in culture. “This period stabilized the region of Mesopotamia and allowed for development of art, literature, science, agricultural
The Epic of Gilgameshis thought to have been orally recited in the late third millennium B.C.E in Sumer. Gilgameshis a semi historical, two- thirds god and one-third man, ruler of the city of Uruk in Sumer in the region of Mesopotamia approximately in 2800 B.C.E (19). The book of job takes place in Uz around the 530’s B.C.E (34).
Hrothgar’s hall is the centerpiece and heart of his realm (built when his “kingdom” had become wealthy and powerful) - “fortunes of war favored Hrothgar. Friends and kinsmen flocked to his ranks, young followers, a force that grew to be a mighty army. So his mind turned to hall building” (64-68) - the great mead-hall and a place of socialization, political interaction and celebration. It is describes as “a great mead hall meant to be a wonder of the world forever: it would be his throne-room”(70-71).. This makes it feel less like “just a structure” and more like a formal place where great things would happen; such as ceremonies and rituals of importance in the culture, handing out of riches and rewards to those who earned the recognition. The hall is the centerpiece of the community, thus it is described as “handsomely structured, a sturdy frame with the best of the blacksmith’s work inside and out” (772-774), a sheer keep of fortified gold( 715 -716), and “mead-benches were smashed- gold fittings and all” ((776-777). “it was a paved track, a path that kept them in marching order” (321-322) also suggests orderliness and structure in the
This excerpt can be regarded as relevant to the Silk Roads Survey due to the fact that it reflects in detail all aspects of past events, and emphasizes their historical importance. Firstly, the author refers to accounts from various sources (p.16) and describes in detail what happened during the seizure of Sogda. Secondly, when al-Tabari narrates about the events occurred in this region he uses direct quotations of the Arab conquerors and Sogdian defenders. For instance, when Sogdians asked Fergana kings for the support (p.17) al-Tabari demonstrates the full reflection of things happ...