>>Get your backpack ready! It's time to brainstorm
another trip. This week, in our whirlwind
tour of the history of science, let's travel
to ancient Mesopotamia, the land of Babylon
and Nineveh. I hope you'll make some meaningful
and unexpected discoveries this week as we
explore the strange new world of ancient Mesopotamian
astronomy.
Because time is too short to look at every
aspect of ancient Mesopotamian science, we'll
focus just on astronomy. Though we have a
limited time to visit, we'll not be like tourists
in Nineveh or Babylon who seek fast food at
McDonald's. Our aim will be to get to know
the ancient Mesopotamian astronomers in terms
of their own place and time, not just in terms
of modern astronomy.
What interests you the most about the history
of ancient Babylon, Persia or Assyria? What
comes to mind when you think of these places?
I think you know more than you know. Have
you studied Mesopotamian culture before? Do
you know much about ancient Mesopotamian art,
mythology, or religion? What are some archaeological
discoveries from ancient Mesopotamia? Have
you heard of the code of Hammurabi? Have you
seen a photo of a temple tower known as a
ziggurat? Can you read any cuneiform signs
or would you like to?
What do you know about the early history of
writing? Have you read the Epic of Gilgamesh?
Did you enjoy it? Have you seen the Star Trek:
Next Generation Episode Darmok, where Captain
Jean-Luc Picard retells the Epic of Gilgamesh?
Have you seen any interesting movies related
to ancient Mesopotamian science, history,
or mythology? When you go outside at night,
can you recognize any of the constellations?
Do you like sky lore -- the literature and
stories of the constellations? What are your
favorite constellations and sky lore stories?
As always, when we're planning a trip, we
want to better understand what people in this
place and time were up to. What are some of
the similarities between ancient Mesopotamian
life and our culture today? How might these
similarities help us to understand ancient
Mesopotamian science? And what are some differences
between ancient Mesopotamian life and our
culture today? How might these differences
pose an obstacle to our understanding of ancient
Mesopotamian science?
Mesopotamian culture was very religious. How
do you think this might have affected their
science?
What do you think might be the chief barrier
that obstructs modern appreciation of Ancient
Mesopotamian science? Please share your thoughts
on these things. What are your starting assumptions?
