Religion in the Ancient Near East

1. Religion played a central in role in Ancient Near Eastern society. As your textbook points out, all aspects of human activity in the Ancient Near East were infused with religious significance. With this in mind, reread the passages on page 14 in which a Mesopotamian writer describes his efforts to appease the gods and on page 20 in which the responsibilities of the pharaohs are outlined. Then examine Map 1.1 (Mesopotamian and Egyptian Civilizations) on page 11. When you're done, create a fictional dialogue between a Mesopotamian or an Egyptian and that person's gods. Be sure to consider the following questions as you construct your dialogue. What was the relationship between humans and the gods in these two societies? How did this relationship shape interactions between subjects and rulers? How did the physical environment affect the religious attitudes and beliefs of Ancient Near Eastern people?