CCOT
Raquel Kausler
APP- WLL Block 4
January 16th, 2014
CCOT Essay – Concepts of Deity
Concepts of Deity During the era of 3000 BCE – 1000 CE, the concept of deity in the Middle East started as agriculturally based and influenced by nature in Mesopotamia and Egypt, but changed to an idea of a battle between good and evil, and then to a strictly monotheistic religion with a loving and forgiving god; however, throughout this period, the deities influenced the economy because of their influence on agriculture and commerce. During the era of Mesopotamia and Egypt, their concepts of deity were a polytheistic pantheon with agriculturally based gods, such as goddesses of fertility, and were influenced by nature. In the Mesopotamian region, constant invasions caused different cultures being brought into the land, therefore a constantly changing pantheon of deities. The deities were also influenced by the sporadic flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, causing the gods to have a violent nature. In the Egyptian region, the mountains and deserts provided them with protection from invasions and allowed them to have a constant pantheon of deities. Unlike the flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the flooding of the Nile River was predictable, causing the deities to be peacefully natured. Both of the regions had many gods that were agriculturally based, such as Ishtar and Osiris. During the time period of the Mesopotamians and Egyptians, the nomadic peoples of the Paleolithic Era were becoming more sedentary and transitioning into the Neolithic Era, becoming more dependent on agriculture. Because of this, they based many of the deities on the agriculture and allowed them to greatly influence it. During the Persian empire, their concept of deity had both monotheistic and dualistic aspects, showing a constant fight between good and evil. It involved one all powerful deity that was divine and good. This powerful deity was constantly battling an evil
APP- WLL Block 4
January 16th, 2014
CCOT Essay – Concepts of Deity
Concepts of Deity During the era of 3000 BCE – 1000 CE, the concept of deity in the Middle East started as agriculturally based and influenced by nature in Mesopotamia and Egypt, but changed to an idea of a battle between good and evil, and then to a strictly monotheistic religion with a loving and forgiving god; however, throughout this period, the deities influenced the economy because of their influence on agriculture and commerce. During the era of Mesopotamia and Egypt, their concepts of deity were a polytheistic pantheon with agriculturally based gods, such as goddesses of fertility, and were influenced by nature. In the Mesopotamian region, constant invasions caused different cultures being brought into the land, therefore a constantly changing pantheon of deities. The deities were also influenced by the sporadic flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, causing the gods to have a violent nature. In the Egyptian region, the mountains and deserts provided them with protection from invasions and allowed them to have a constant pantheon of deities. Unlike the flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the flooding of the Nile River was predictable, causing the deities to be peacefully natured. Both of the regions had many gods that were agriculturally based, such as Ishtar and Osiris. During the time period of the Mesopotamians and Egyptians, the nomadic peoples of the Paleolithic Era were becoming more sedentary and transitioning into the Neolithic Era, becoming more dependent on agriculture. Because of this, they based many of the deities on the agriculture and allowed them to greatly influence it. During the Persian empire, their concept of deity had both monotheistic and dualistic aspects, showing a constant fight between good and evil. It involved one all powerful deity that was divine and good. This powerful deity was constantly battling an evil