History Discussion Responses

Learning Goal: I’m working on a history discussion question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.

I would like you to respond to two discussion posts by giving your opinion on it and also using 1 quote for each of the discussion posts from specific articles you also must cite the quote and explain the background of it. PLEASE BE SURE TO USE PROPER CHICAGO/TURABIAN STYLE WHEN CITING YOUR QUOTES.

DISCUSSION 1:

In their respective times, the role of spirituality of these two kings . For instance, Assyrian King Esarhaddon’s role of spirituality had been demonstrated as he wrote a Stele dedicated to Assur, the great lord protector of the gods, to aid him in his conquest and glorify his victories (1) as did other Assyrian kings before him . Including king Tiglath Pilesar I, who was the first Assyrian King who made the extensive conquest (2). The inscription had quoted “I am powerful. I am all-powerful. I am a hero, I am gigantic, I am without an equal among my kings, the chosen one of Assur.” (3). This inscription was quoted by King Esarhaddon as he believed to have been chosen by the god Assur and that no other kings could rival him in the height of his power.

However, Persian King Cyrus the Great also had an inscription that played his role in spirituality. He believed that Marduk the Babylonian god had chosen him to become the leader of the world (4), and always treated endeavor to treat according to justice, to conquer. Many Babylonians had happily greeted him as a master and he had an inscription to honor his will. The inscription quoted “I am Cyrus, king of the world, great king, king of Babylon, king of Sumer, and Akkad; whom they want as king to please their hearts.” (5) “I strove for peace in Babylon and in all his (other) sacred cities. . . . I abolished the yoke which was against their social standing,” (6). King Cyrus had that inscription as a message to all of ancient middle east, whom he had welcomed to his newly-found Persian Empire, in the name of the god Maduk, whom he had believed had chosen him to conquer a majority of kingdoms in the middle east.

1. Two Perspectives on Imperial Rule 72

2. Two Perspectives on Imperial Rule, 72

3.Two Perspectives on Imperial Rule, 72

4.Two Perspectives on Imperial Rule, 73

5.Two Perspectives on Imperial Rule, 73

6. Two Perspectives on Imperial Rule, 73

Joshua Cole and Carol Symes, Western Civilizations: Their History & Their Culture (New York: W.W. Norton, 2020), 72-73

DISCUSSION2:

The two perspectives on imperial power have similarities and differences. Both of the inscriptions are composed of propaganda. King Esarhaddon believes that the god, Assur, has sent him to make things right. He boasts about his victory of repairing Babylon but does not say anything about the city’s fall. In the inscription, King Esarhaddon mostly talks about his victories and praises Assur since he is the god of war. He uses that to preach and justify what he is doing which is the purpose of this inscription. The quote, “…the chosen one of Assur..made powerful my kingship over the four regions of the world and made my name great”( Joshua Cole and Caroline Symes, Western Civilizations: Their History & Their Culture (New York: W.W. Norton, 2020), 72.) supports that idea. He is the chosen one since Assur helped him accomplish what he has done. The role of spirituality in this is that his victories progressed his belief from those accomplishments which he thanks Assur for. In Cyrus’s inscription, he talks about how great of a god Marduk is and depicts Nabonidus to be lesser than he is since he does not support Marduk, “He delivered into his hands Nabonidus, the king who did not worship him”( Joshua Cole and Caroline Symes, Western Civilizations: Their History & Their Culture (New York: W.W. Norton, 2020), 73.). Cyrus goes on to say how the powerful Marduk is on his side and not Nabonidus. He says this which makes him seem worthy to overthrow Nabonidus. Cyrus stressed how he is the designated savior which is the purpose of this inscription. He really supported this idea by starting off his inscription saying, “He [the god Marduk] scanned and looked(through) all the countries searching for a righteous ruler who would lead him…he pronounced the name of Cyrus…”( Joshua Cole and Caroline Symes, Western Civilizations: Their History & Their Culture (New York: W.W. Norton, 2020), 73.). The role of spirituality in this is that Cyrus found his purpose in life by advocating and doing things for Marduk. He has done this by releasing people from heavy labor and obtaining Babylon without a battle.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU USE THE SOURCES THAT EACH DISCUSSION USES TO FIND YOUR QUOTES OR MAKE SURE YOUR QUOTES ARE PRIMARY SOURCES AND THAT ALL GRAMMAR IS PERFECT AND IN CHICAGO/TURABIAN STYLE. PLEASE MAKE EACH RESPONSE AT LEAST 150 WORDS