The Written The Written WordWord

Power and LiteracyPower and Literacy

3100 BC

Issues and QuestionsIssues and Questions

►Can you think of examples where the Can you think of examples where the written word defines, restricts, or written word defines, restricts, or otherwise influences our daily lives?otherwise influences our daily lives?

►How does literacy shape our modern How does literacy shape our modern society?society?

►Why do suppose artifacts containing Why do suppose artifacts containing script are among the most common of script are among the most common of forged archaeological discoveries?forged archaeological discoveries?

►As political power was consolidated in As political power was consolidated in Mesopotamian society, a hierarchical Mesopotamian society, a hierarchical class structure emerged, reinforcing class structure emerged, reinforcing already stratified agricultural society.already stratified agricultural society.

►The written word added a fundamental The written word added a fundamental structural element to the society—structural element to the society—literacy.literacy.

Ancient Chinese oracle writings on skull.

Originally believed to be esoteric, hieroglyphics are actually syllabic and can be read as script according to formal rules of grammer.

► AccountingAccounting Record keepingRecord keeping InventoryInventory

► King listsKing lists AchievementsAchievements propagandapropaganda

► LiteratureLiterature► EpicsEpics

poetrypoetry

► Religious edictsReligious edicts► LawLaw

Ordered societyOrdered society

What else can we add?

Code of HammurabiCode of Hammurabi

► 1818thth century BC Babylonian origin. century BC Babylonian origin.► Codification of law: establishes rule of law Codification of law: establishes rule of law

and consistent jurisprudence.and consistent jurisprudence.

► Earlier codes lacked specific legitimateness Earlier codes lacked specific legitimateness (did not include language specifying (did not include language specifying mandates by Gods).mandates by Gods).

► The obelisk was not found in Sumeria, but in The obelisk was not found in Sumeria, but in an Elamite temple (spoils of war).an Elamite temple (spoils of war).

Codified law did more than establish uniform systems of legality—it also centralized authority in the State and legitimized the State.

Cuneiform persisted until the time of the Romans.

►The code is long on punishment, The code is long on punishment, covers everything from property covers everything from property contracts to divorce.contracts to divorce.

►Written law established a uniformity of Written law established a uniformity of behavior and social expectations.behavior and social expectations.

►Specifies rights and “the natural Specifies rights and “the natural order.”order.”

Progression of scriptProgression of script

►Profound development in the history of Profound development in the history of humanity--pictographic recording humanity--pictographic recording develops into complex script with develops into complex script with abstract meaning.abstract meaning.

►Script is nothing less than the Script is nothing less than the invention of History.invention of History.

►Script is a form of symbolic Script is a form of symbolic expression.expression.

Mountain monument of Darius I. Achievements detailed in three scripts. Proclamation was among many that constitute some the oldest propaganda on record.

Carved into solid rock. Successive Persian Kings added their own list of achievements in multiple scripts and languages.

Western Iran.

Iranian tourists visiting the site.

PSEUDOARCHAEOLOGY PSEUDOARCHAEOLOGY AND INVENTED HISTORY.AND INVENTED HISTORY.

The written word The written word

►According to archaeologist Brian Fagan, the According to archaeologist Brian Fagan, the written record has; “the power of truth.” written record has; “the power of truth.”

►What does he mean by this? Are modern What does he mean by this? Are modern societies influenced by written discourse?societies influenced by written discourse?

► In what ways are tweets, instagram, and In what ways are tweets, instagram, and facebook entries the same as documents?facebook entries the same as documents?

Kensington stone.

Techniques used by epigraphers to authenticate script include stylistic considerations in addition to known sequential script development, patina, provenience, notational systems, literacy, content, context, and medium.Kensington Stone fails to meet the test on several criteria.

Barry Fell, a Harvard biologist, insisted that he discovered ancient rune inscriptions in new England proving the Celts were in America 1000 years ahead of Columbus.

He was the only one who could decipher the runes.

He claimed stacked stone towers in New England states were ancient watch towers of Celts and may be older, back to the Phoenicians of 800 BC.

Archaeologists found 18th century trash under the stone towers suggesting the stone works were grain bins as written about in the 1800s.

Barry Fell stated these towers were Celtic, built 2500 years ago,

Historic records suggest this was a windmill built by a colonial Governor.

What is wrong with the translation?What is wrong with the “artifact.

It is not in Phoenician alphabet.The Phoenicians did not call themselves that.It is a portable object without provenience.

Actual Viking site at L’Anse aux Meadows, Nova Scotia.

Small objects tell a genuine story of Norse settlers in America 500 years before Columbus reached the Bahamas.

FootnoteFootnote

► Columbus spent several years seafaring with Columbus spent several years seafaring with Scandinavian fishermen and traders long Scandinavian fishermen and traders long before his plan to sail to Asia by going west.before his plan to sail to Asia by going west.

►Once saw the body of an Greenland Eskimo Once saw the body of an Greenland Eskimo who had drown near Iceland.who had drown near Iceland.

► ???? Did he hear folktales of a far off ???? Did he hear folktales of a far off land to the west? Did the mistake an land to the west? Did the mistake an Eskimo for Chinese?????Eskimo for Chinese?????