1. The Origin Myth The Creation of Human Civilization

2. AINU PEOPLE OF JAPAN THE LAKOTA TRIBE DAMBALLAH THE SERPENT

3. Origin Beliefs All people incorporate the word FAITH in describing where they came from All people incorporate the word FAITH in describing where they came from An ORIGIN BELIEF is any story or explanation that describes the beginnings of humanity, earth, life, and the universe An ORIGIN BELIEF is any story or explanation that describes the beginnings of humanity, earth, life, and the universe What about the men and women of the 21st Century, whose cultural meanings are derived from rigorous scientific proof and rationality? What about the men and women of the 21st Century, whose cultural meanings are derived from rigorous scientific proof and rationality? Can humans have faith without reason? Can humans have faith without reason? What are we to believe about our origins and our universe? What are we to believe about our origins and our universe?

4. Do you know how THAT happened? People will always try to explain the world in rational terms that make sense to them People will always try to explain the world in rational terms that make sense to them When we come up with a belief, we don’t think about what people years from now will think of our belief…we are only interested in the now When we come up with a belief, we don’t think about what people years from now will think of our belief…we are only interested in the now

5. Oral History The most common form is through storytelling and the recitation of EPIC POETRY The combination of this oral tradition with morals and rituals passed down by word of mouth is known as the FOLKLORE of a society

6. Oral Myth Zeus was named king of the gods following his overthrow of the god Cronus (Saturn in Roman mythology) Zeus was named king of the gods following his overthrow of the god Cronus (Saturn in Roman mythology) Stories of Zeus were once not considered made-up stories, but were actually thought of as HISTORY Stories of Zeus were once not considered made-up stories, but were actually thought of as HISTORY

7. History OR Myth? An example of a cemented oral history tells how Moses parted the Red Sea An example of a cemented oral history tells how Moses parted the Red Sea The sea collapsed on the Egyptian army, allowing the Israelites to continue their escape The sea collapsed on the Egyptian army, allowing the Israelites to continue their escape

8. How Myth Becomes History 1) Change 2) Explanation 3) Popularity

9. Defining a Professional Historian HISTORIAN = someone who has a license to practice in the form of a graduate degree HISTORIAN = someone who has a license to practice in the form of a graduate degree ANTHROPOLOGIST = concentrates on studying humans during all time periods with cross-cultural comparisons ANTHROPOLOGIST = concentrates on studying humans during all time periods with cross-cultural comparisons ARCHAEOLOGIST = studies culture through the recovery of architecture, artifacts, and human remains ARCHAEOLOGIST = studies culture through the recovery of architecture, artifacts, and human remains

10. “Cradle of Civilization” Bible chronology puts Adam’s creation at approximately 4,000 B.C. Bible chronology puts Adam’s creation at approximately 4,000 B.C. African historians claim human remains aged between 23 and 5 million years old African historians claim human remains aged between 23 and 5 million years old Others possibilities include the Indus River in South Asia, and the Yangtze River in China Others possibilities include the Indus River in South Asia, and the Yangtze River in China

11. Mesopotamia

12. Life in Mesopotamia Ancient Mesopotamians were a highly inventive people…they invented the seeder plow, irrigation and sanitation techniques, the "Pythagorean theorem," the concept of zero, glass, and the arch, column, and dome, the wheel and the sail Ancient Mesopotamians were a highly inventive people…they invented the seeder plow, irrigation and sanitation techniques, the "Pythagorean theorem," the concept of zero, glass, and the arch, column, and dome, the wheel and the sail

13. Hammurabi’s Code At the top of the stela, Hammurabi stands before Shamash, the Mesopotamian god of justice At the top of the stela, Hammurabi stands before Shamash, the Mesopotamian god of justice Below this scene is the law collection itself, a compilation of legal verdicts describing specific offenses and the penalties Below this scene is the law collection itself, a compilation of legal verdicts describing specific offenses and the penalties

14. The Wheel of Time “The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend, legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten…” “The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend, legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten…”