Gilgamesh

http://bit.ly/pAktYQ

The Epic of Gilgamesh



I started reading Gilgamesh a couple days ago in an effort to kill two goals with one read.  The text is one of the oldest writings known to exist (written - or rather pressed into clay slabs - around 2500 to 2000 BC) and was composed by the Sumerians.  It falls in both the MENA section of my Where the History Comes From project AND my list of books in the 30/30 list.  I have only read the first two tablets so far and am bringing the rest - in a paper format, far lighter than the originals - on the train to Great Missenden this weekend for our Roald Dahl museum trip.  I thought I'd share some historical context I came across in my other readings, as well as things I like about the text so far.  I will update after the weekend too. 

Learning for Learning's Sake

Today I started reading up on some history.  As mentioned many times lately, my region of focus for July and August is the Middle East and North Africa.  I've, of course, had world history classes that taught me about the Fertile Crescent, the Nile River, Isis and Osiris, and the pyramids.  But even reading about things I supposedly know about, I have had a few ahhhhHA moments.  These may have been things I knew before and forgot or things that I really either never put together or just never came across.  Either way they make my brain make that awesome clicking sound I love so much.  So I wanted to share some things I learned today:

http://www.kidspast.com/images/fertile-crescent.jpg

MENA

Section 1 for Where the History Comes From:  Middle East and North Africa.

I chose this region to be first because, well, it was first.  At least my limited knowledge of the world and all that seems to suggest that perhaps the first people were found in Ethiopia (maybe not technically North Africa but still...) and that the Fertile Crescent and Egypt are the cradle of civilization.  So that is where I would like to begin.  Conveniently, not only is the history deep and fascinating, but once I reach current events there is a lot to learn about as well.  Should be a fun two months :)

In addition to the general history books I just received, I am going to ask around (aka ask you!) and do some research myself on books/documentaries/radio shows/museum exhibits/cultural events that I can leverage to get a rich learning experience.  The first one I received is Warriors of God: Richard the Lionheart and Saladin in the Third Crusade.

If you know of any good sources or events please comment!!!

PS Here are the countries I am including in this list:

Algeria
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Cyprus
Djibouti
Egypt
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Libya
Malta
Mauritania
Morocco
Oman
Palestinian Territories
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Somalia
Sudan
Syria
Tunisia
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
Yemen

Books!

My books came today!!!  So I can get started on the Where the History Comes From (part of my 30/30).

I received:

A People's History of the World by Howard Zinn

World History for Dummies by Peter Haugen

A Little History of the World by E. H. Gombrich

and

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson (this one is actually about the history of science, not political)

I will have to strategize the process as I want to focus on one region at a time but yet also want to have some kind of chronological thread to tie things together.  Basically I will have to just roll with it and figure out what makes sense.  But they are here so I can get started!!!!

I Knew You Were Bluffing!! I Knew He Was....Bluffing...

This is a real book?  (From the sound of it you should have strong opinions about it either way).  I have a suggestion: how about you read the book or perhaps ask questions about it from those who have.  You might learn something interesting if you stop pretending to know and actually acquire the knowledge.*

PS - Isn't this an Onion news piece?  (If something is not onion-y is it UNiony?)

PPS - Doesn't Ira have something to say about this phenomenon??

*(should any fans of Laurel & Hardy be reading this, drunken confusion does not count as intellectual bluffing)