The Podcast History of Our World: sumer

Showing posts with label sumer. Show all posts

October 4, 2012

8 - The Third Dynasty of Ur OR The Richest Man in Babylon

"When the exalted Anu, king of the Anunnaki, and Enlil, lord of heaven and earth, he who determines the destiny of the land, committed the rule of all mankind to Marduk, the chief son of Ea; when they made him great among the gods; when they pronounced the lofty name of Babylon; when they made it famous among the quarters of the world and in its midst established an everlasting kingdom whose foundations were firm as heaven and earth - at that time, Anu and Enlil called me, Hammurabi, the exalted prince, the worshiper of the gods, to cause justice to prevail in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil, to prevent the strong from oppressing the weak, to go forth like the Sun over the black head race, to enlighten the land and to further the welfare of the people."

-Prologue to the Code of Hammurabi

(Aside from his famous laws, Hammurabi was a disco dancing machine.)

Episode 8 is looking great as we explore the early days of Babylon. Look at Hammurabi and Einstein go! Hah! I could watch them all day. Maybe I will...can't look away...

Also, stuff!
- Transcripts have been updated, and I've added a new page for a bibliography.
- Check out the new logo! Because my brother, Matt, thought he could do a better job than my slapdash photoshop work and you know what?? He's right. Damn fine work I say!

And to everyone who has rated the show and/or downloaded it...you have bumped me up into the top 10 history podcasts on iTunes. and that is AWESOME. Please continue to support the show and in return I'll make more episodes and dancing gifs. It's a deal!

MP3 Direct Link

Music Credits
ensemble de Organographia - "Hurrian Hymns 7 & 10"

Supplemental learning!
Map of the 3rd Dynasty of Ur. It's en francais but you still get the picture.
Another neat map showing the territorial influence of Ur III, but you might need to tilt your head for this one!
Map of the empires of Mesopotamia around 1400 BC...a bit later than what's covered in this episode, but it's a good visual aid to what's going on.
Foundation Figure of Ur-Nammu
Fragments of the law code of Ur-Nammu
Map of Babylonian Empire (Hammurabi)
Hammurabi, standing, receiving a gift from Shamash
Hammurabi, sans schnoz
Hammurabi, as he appears on the U.S. House of Representatives
Code of Hammurabi: side view
Code of Hammurabi: full stele
The full code of Hammurabi in Akkadian and English by Robert Francis Harper

September 28, 2012

7 - Rise of the Akkadians OR Death and Taxes

"I, Eannatum the powerful, called by Ningirsu to the enemy country with anger, that which was in all times I proclaim: The Prince of Umma, each time when his troops eat from the Guedinna, the well beloved lands of Ningirsu, may he(Ningirsu) lay him low."
- The Stele of Vultures

(Even with a busted eye, Sargon still looks like he could destroy you)

Who's ready for some Sumerian political power struggles? YOU ARE! Hot off the audio presses comes another exciting episode about Sumer. I don't have much more to say about it so I won't.

MP3 Direct Link

Music Credits
ensemble de Organographia - "Hurrian Hymns 7 & 10"

This page lists the cuneiform names of the Lagash kings. Neat!
Statue of Eannatum
Stele of Vultures
Stele of Vultures 2
Mace Head of Mesilim
Cone of Entemena
Silver-copper vase of Entemena
The Manishtushu Obelisk
Akkadian Empire
This map of the Akkadian Empire is probably closer to what was actually controlled.
Family tree of Sargon
Victory Stele of Naram-Sin
The poems of Enheduanna, as well as numerous other Sumerian stories are all here, free of charge!
This author does a really nice and thorough job on the Akkadian emperors. Well worth the read!

September 22, 2012

6 - The Epic of Gilgamesh OR Enkisee, Enkidu!

"If I should fall, I will have made a name for myself! 'Gilgamesh!', they will say, 'it was he who fought Humbaba and cut down the cedar tree to win glory!' My name will be secured for every child born in my house..."

- Tablet II, column vi

(fans of the Civilization series know that Gilgamesh has the best beard hands down)

Wow...what an experience this episode has been. I've been working on this one around the time Episode 5 was finishing up and after a few revisions and new ideas it's finally finished. The epic of Gilgamesh a la Podcast History of Our World is ready for your listening pleasure. It's got it all - monsters, blasphemy, sound effects, and in a very special first for the show - a guest star! I am beyond fortunate to have voice work of the wildly talented, sensationally sultry, the incomparable Alexandra! Without her stepping in I don't know what I would've done! Probably read the female characters in a bad falsetto voice. While wearing a wig for extra effect.

Yeah...huh? What? Nevermind that, the important thing is that you DON'T have to hear me talk like Marge Simpson AND get someone who knows what they're doing. Everybody wins!

MP3 Direct Link

Music and Sound Effect Credits

http://www.sounddogs.com/

http://www.freesfx.co.uk/

http://www.freesound.org/

http://www.soundjay.com/

http://www.jamendo.com/en/

Experimental Sample - "The Middle East"

Mauro Borgarello - "Mar Rosso"

Thierry de Massia - "DleYaman"

Cast List / Sumerian Mythology

Anu

September 16, 2012

5 - The Cradle of Civilization

"The Flood wiped out all things: and after the Flood had wiped out all things, when kingship descended from heaven, kingship belonged to Kish"

- Sumerian King List

Iraq and roll fellow historians! We've finally entered the realm of written history, something we owe to the ancient Sumerians - those industrious and brilliant people who turned the marshlands of southern Iraq into one of the greatest civilizations ever on Earth.

While we study the Sumerians, the Podcast History of Our World is grateful to Gayle and Phil Neumann of the group, ensemble De Organographia, for graciously allowing me to use part of their recordings for the intro and outro music. The song "Hurrian Hymns 7 & 10" is played on lyre and drum, and represents some of the earliest known music to come out of Mesopotamia. This is as real as it gets folks, and if you like the song, why not check out their other albums too? The group has covered numerous other historical music including Ancient Greece, Egypt and 16th century Italian music.

You can purchase their fantastic albums from North Pacific Music or just do a search on Amazon.
And if you're fortunate enough to live in Oregon check out their live events! Shoot me a line and tell me how the concert was!

(and I'll be posting a list of all sorts of episode goodies later today so check back in!)

MP3 Direct Link

September 6, 2012

4 - Neolithic Man

Happy he who far from business, like the primitive race of mortals, cultivates with his own oxen the fields of his fathers, free from all anxieties of gain
-Horace

It's the fourth episode already? Well it's about time! I'm tired of all this monkey business! Heh, monkey business.

MP3 Direct Link

Music Credits
Kevin Macleod - Tafi Maradi
Various SFX - Soundjay.com
Mahalia Jackson - Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho

~~~ SO MANY LINKS ~~~

The spread of Homo Sapiens

The Many Venus Figurines

Venus of Dolni Vestonice