1. HUMANITIES 201
The Ancient World to the
Medieval Era

2. IMPORTANT TERMS
Mythology/Myth
 Not an accusation
 Not a synonym for “fiction”
 Please be respectful of what we are studying as many of these
belief systems are alive and well today, carrying great
significance for members of our course.
A tale that usually involves
supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes and
explains the interaction between those beings
(or provides insight into their/our creation)

3. ANOTHER IMPORTANT TERM:
ARCHETYPES
symbolic patterns
used and repeated
throughout the world
cultural context human subconscious

4. LITERARY ARCHETYPES
 Quests
 Flood
 Descent to underworld
 Ascent to heaven
 Initiation
 Scapegoat
 Sacrifice
 Foundation
and many, many more…

5. MESOPOTAMIA
“THE CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION”
SUMERIANS, BABYLONIANS, ASSYRIANS AND AKKADIANS

6. EGYPT

7. ANCIENT
HEBREWS

8. INDIA

9. GREECE

10. ROME

11. (MOSTLY SKIPPING THE)
DARK AGES

12. CHINA

13. ENGLAND