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Epic Of Gilgamesh Research Paper

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My purpose is to investigate the empires that rose up between 2300 B.C. and 200 A.D. and in doing this I will prove that empires were built and governed by self-righteous warmongers that expanded their nations into empires by fear, war, threats and violence. I will also show how these single leaders manipulated and enforced national religions to assist them in dominance and advance their missions. To become a leader of an empire, one needed to assert themselves above all others that aspired to be the sole and all powerful leader. My investigation begins in Mesopotamia were two large states had formed around 2300 B.C. The Sumerian cities in the area were very wealthy and this wealth “attracted non-Sumerian conquerors from the north.” (“Empires …show more content…

In relation to the kings of this time it can be seen how kings were viewed by people in this period by looking at writings of the time. By looking at “The Epic of Gilgamesh”, a story that dates back to 1300 B.C. and was written in the Akkadian language on twelve tablets, it is made clear that kings were looked at as gods. The story states that, “[This is the story of] how Gilgamesh went through every hardship. Supreme over other kings, lordly in appearance, he is the hero.” (The Epic of Gilgamesh, Sources, 4). In this excerpt it is made clear that this Gilgamesh is a king, reigns over all other kings and his appearance is that of a god. In this story Gilgamesh is part human, part divine and king. In the process of the story Gilgamesh marries Princess Ishtar who seem to be part goddess. It is also seen that Gilgamesh and Ishtar have direct contact with the gods and more specific Ishtar who after being insulted by Gilgamesh “in a fury she went up to the heavens, going to Anu, her father, and crying, going to Anrum, her mother, and weeping: ‘Father, Gilgamesh has insulted me over and over, Gilgamesh has recounted despicable deeds about me, …show more content…

I move to Greece and the struggle within Greece for Dominance. “The decades after the end of the Peloponnesian War were turbulent ones. The chief states – Sparta, Athens, and Thebes – each tried to create a political system in which it would dominate.” (The Struggle for Dominance, History, 76). This is the same as what was seen back in Mesopotamia centuries before and this is what we also saw in the other empires that were in between. Greece also fought with Persia in the Persian wars to keep them out of Greece and conquer land that Greece wanted. Athens was able to expand on the culture and bring forth goods to the world including art, philosophy, architecture, medicine and other innovations. In addition to these innovation Greece did not lack for gods, there was a god for everything and it will be seen that new gods will be forms as time goes on. When looking at “The Odyssey: Odysseus and the Sirens” Odysseus speaks of the goddess Circe that warned him to dangers while on his journey. This story was written by Homer and was possibly written in 800 B.C. and states, “It’s wrong for only one or two to know the revelations that lovely Circe made to me alone. I’ll tell you all, so we can die with our eyes wide open now or escape out fate and certain death together.” (The Odyssey: Odysseus and the Sirens, Sources, 36). Later in the

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