1. Read through the Negative Confessions and note what situations are confessed. Is the
religious concern cultic (having to do with sacrifices to the god or gods) or something else?
Illustrate with examples.
2. The last pharaoh of the Old Kingdom was Pepi II. What weaknesses does Pepi II’s reign
reveal about a system of government which centers on an absolute monarch (or dictator)?
3. Compare Ishtar, the Mesopotamian goddess of love and war, to either Isis or Sekhmet and
their relations with people. Why do the Egyptian gods appear (at least in the long run) much
friendlier to people than the Mesopotamian gods and goddesses? Do research on this and
read the article and think about it before responding!
4. Compare the develop of cuneiform to Egyptian hieroglyphics. In the comparison make sure
you consider the materials used for making texts, and how the writing changes over time.
(Hint: also consider how pictures developed into Bildzeichen, which you learned about in
the Ted talk earlier this semester.)