the pictures were fixed when i looked at my computer.Running head: Traveler’s Log.
Traveler’s LogAdam E. BernerCanterbury School Of Florida
Day 1. My name is Ashketin. I have volunteered to be one of five gaurds of a group of explorers who are being funded by the pha raoh to find other civilizations and recruit them as allies in a nar invasion into our enemy the Kush. I decided to become a gaurd for these travellers after during an attemted burglary of our fields and livestock, my families farm field caught ablaze and burned everything to ash. Soon afterwards my friend Ratput asked me if I would want to work for my country and pharoah by being a gaurd for a group of explorers. He said if I did so my wife and three sons would recieve goods from our government and my children would be given schooling, which is the best thing for them at their age right now. After readily agreeing to his proposition I set out with this group I was to protect and we set off by boat down the nile river into the north to investigate rumors of another counry like our own whom is supposed to live to our north.("Map of Ancient Egypt :: Ancient Egyptian Map", n.d.)
Day 2. I am writing this passage at the end of the second day of our trip up the Nile river. As we sail with the river’s flow we have fish for a surplus of food for our journey. I can not keep the thoughts out from my mind that this may be the last time that I will travel across the Nile, and to fish from it, which has een one of my favorite things to do my entire life. I also wonder if I will taste one of my favorite things in life, my wife’s fresh baked bread, straight out of the oven. My heart is not just filled with sadness as I also feel incredible joy to finally fufill my childhood dream of crossing through dangerous terrains and unknown lands to discover new life and treasures. Also, every step I take on this journey serves me, my family, my pharoah, my country, and my gods. I also plan to expand our knowledge of the outsid world, which we know so little about. Because, if we learn more about our surroundings, we will find allies, be prepared for our enemies, and gain power. Knowledge is power, and the key to winning a battle is to fight smarter not harder.
Day 4. Today we have reached the end of the Nile river. As I leave the river that has caused the birth of the greatest race of people to ever exist I wonder if I will ever see it again. (Brier and Hobbs, 1999). As we left our boat behind with the sailor the Pharoah entrusted to guide us here, he warned us to be careful and to sleep with one eye open. This made some of the other gsurds nervous. Even though I was not terrified of his message I do realize the importance of his warning, there could be bandits, savages, and wild animals that could attack us while we sleep during the night. To prevent us from being taken by suprise during the night, we designed a watch system in which two members of our group stay up for an hour per night, and nce that hour is over we switch off with two other members and we are allowed to sleep for the rest of the night. I was part of the first night gaurd system tonight. Nothing happened to us during the day as we crossed the dessert by a cart being driven by two camels. We have enough supplies to last us for months on end for everyone in the group. As I think back to my home Egypt I hope to myself that by spreading our culture throught the earth we can form one united Egypt. What I value the most about my culture is my countries architectural monuments. I value these the most because they are eternal, long after we have become dust; these magnificent masterpieces are breathtaking and beautiful. Not only that, but these monuments will make our descendants even 2000 years from now gasp in amazement and awe as they gaze upon these works of art, and they shall know, that we built them! (Rosalie, 2000.) But I am getting ahead of myself, before I can spread my own culture, I must secure allies for my country for the upcoming war.
Day 8. Today we have reached a river and after crossing it through a bridge we have sighted the city, which was rumored to be here. (Arnold, 2005). We plan to enter tomorrow, and we will try to communicate by using drawn pictures that resemble objects to convey our message. (Spodek, 2006). We will keep half of our group outside in case we are attacked and killed, at least some of us will survive and will be able to return to Egypt. I will be part of the group that will be entering the city first. But for now I must rest myself so I will be ready for tomorrow.(Hand Robert, n.d.)
Day 9. Today has gone extremely well. As we approached the city walls soldiers whom were guarding the city stopped us. We immediately threw down our weapons and showed that we meant no harm, and that we came to talk not to fight. After a painstakingly long time we had to wait for them to understand our message, they finally comprehended what we were trying to say and brought us inside the city walls, albeit under heavy guard, and we were taken into a room in a palace where we would stay until their king was ready to speak with us. For now we stay here and try to form a plan on what to say, (or rather write), to their ruler. If we are killed here, the group whom we left behind will return to Egypt if we do not come back in one week that will mean that we are dead and that they should run away as fast they can.
Day 10. Today has been a fruitful day. Our discussion with their king had gone very well, after explaining to him that we came from a country from the South, and that we wanted to secure a treaty between Egypt and their country of Babylonia, and that we would split the spoils after are victory over the barbaric Kush. Eager to secure protection under a powerful nation, and that this would be a great chance to increase their wealth. After finishing our discussion with the king, we told him of our comrades waiting outside the city and he sent some of his men and two of our men to retrieve them. We were then given food and water and we were allowed to eat to our hearts contents. After we thanked the king for his great generosity, he then assigned one of his men, Hashkut, to go and take the remainder of us around the city and to tell us about their lifestyles, and for him to learn about ours. Hashkut took one of the travelers and I to the center of the city that contained a pyramid like structure like the great tombs of our kings. But instead of this being a pyramid or a tomb, this was called a ziggurat, they are used for prayer, and instead of having a pointed peak, the top of a ziggurat is accessible and flat. (Spodek, 2006.) The Babylonians’ like us have many gods, however they seem to be terrified of angering their gods, and are afraid that if they anger them that they will be struck down by them. The priests claim that because of them, they are able to retain the gods’ favor, and promote prosperity in their land. I noticed some of the other guards smirking at the alien practices preformed on the ziggurats, but I wonder if the Babylonians would laugh at our religious practices if they saw us praying. After Hashkut finished praying he took us back to the palace where we were each given a room to sleep in.
Day 11. Hashkut guided us around the city again today. He showed us how the common people spent their lives. Much like Egypt theirs is a social structure. In ascending order it goes as this, slaves, workers, farmers, artisans and crafts men, government workers, priests, and then the families of nobility. Farmers have rich soil due to the two rivers that run through the land and the irrigation systems that they have. (Arnold, 2005). Which is slightly different from our own social hierarchy because the Babylonians for some reason value farmers more than workers. However, they are scared that they might lose their food and land, and will lay down their lives to protect them. There are also many metals buried in the land, and fish from the rivers. He also tells us how the priests’ role is to maintain heavenly order, and that the king’s duty is that he leads the people into battle, and that he protects the common people by ruling over them wisely. I have noticed that the Mesopotamians here and we Egyptians look very similar except that they are only slightly shorter than us. They wear a similar clothing style to us based on our dessert climate. One thing I have also noticed is that the women here do not have nearly as large as a role as they do in Egypt.
Day 12. Today we asked the Pharaoh and Hashkut about other civilizations that exist near them. They tell us that there are many other separate countries surrounding them, but they constantly fight over resources, land, and religion. This creates an ever-present fear of invasion from their neighbors. The countries are completely non unified and will probably never work together. However they told us of another country to the West, which is inhabited by a group of people whom call themselves the, “Harappans”. The Babylonians claim to trade with them often and suggest that we should try to make them allies with Egypt as well as Babylon. We decide to embark the next day with Hashkut and another group of Mesopotamian explorers and soldiers. But before we leave the King arranges a banquet fool of Babylonian food for us. The halls are filled with fish, beer, wine, foods made from wheat, sheep, geese, and goat meat. I do not think that I have ever eaten as much as I did that night.
Day 13. Today we headed out for the Indus River Valley; we continue to cross the dessert on our journey. On the way we try to teach each other’s group their home countries language by drawing objects and saying their names. At first it is rather frustrating and to be honest, comedic in a way, but eventually we start to understand and we begin to learn each other’s language. One of the reasons that we are doing this for is because when we return to Egypt, we need to have a better understanding of each other to formulate battle plans and to form other negotiations with each other. Thankfully the Harappans’ and Mesopotamians’ speak a similar language and writing style, so this should be easier than before.
Day 23. We have finally made it to the Harappan land, and we can secure another ally to my home of Egypt. As we entered the Harappan cities we were greeted similarly as how we were greeted in Mesopotamia, although the Harappans are not as antagonized because we can communicate much easier. After talking to their ruler he agreed to form a treaty and to trade with Egypt. The king decides to give us a tour of his city tomorrow himself, which is a great honor for him to bestow. But before we sleep he gives us meals of Harappan food, which consisted of, wheat, barleys, cereal crops, and livestock. (Spodek, 2006).
("Indus River Valley Civilizations" n.d.)
Day 24. We started our tour of the city early in the morning. The King showed us the many symbols and practices they used to repel bad fortune and other superstitious fears. He also showed us the Harappan religious practices and prayers, in which the Harappan priests and people prayed to their gods for prosperity and to prevent the gods from destroying their cities. I noticed that they prayed to a goddess of fertility in particular. Their society and social hierarchy and roles were very similar to that of the Babylonians, including the fact that they value their farmers more than workers. Like the Babylonians, the people of the Indus River Valley are separated, and even though they fear the possibilities of invasion, they do not fight against each other very often.
Day 25. On our second part of the tour today I was astounded by the Harappans brilliance. They had developed a system of what they called, “Plumbing”, in which a water system carries away peoples’ waste to a designated area, and the waste is then transported to be used as fertilizer. (Spodek, 2006). Also while on the tour of the city today, I again noticed that the women of the Indus River played a very minor role in the majority of daily life. The Harappans dress very close to how the Babylonians did, however while the Babylonians were slightly shorter than we Egyptians, the Harappans are taller and much leaner than us. Tomorrow we will set of for my home country Egypt. This time the Harappan king will come with us with a group of scholars and guards as well. I am very excited to see my home again.
Day 30. Nothing much has happened to us in our return back to Egypt through the dessert. We continue to spend our time by learning each others languages. One of the other Egyptian guards told me that he was scared that the Babylonians and the Harappans, might try to attack Egypt, but I highly doubt that this would happen. First of all the Mesopotamians and Harappans are too solitary and do not have enough unity to do any real damage to Egypt. To actually be a threat against Egypt, they would need to put an end to centuries of war between each other. And secondly they would then need to transport a large amount of soldiers through the dessert, which would take too long, and would be too costly. However as they are right now, they are perfect allies, they are strong enough to aid us but not strong enough to defeat us. We have also started planning for the upcoming war against the Kush. We have planed to have the Harappan army sail through the Arabian Sea, and to have them mmeet up with the Babylonians, whom will sail down the Red Sea, and meet up at Axum. Then Egypt will attack Nubia from the North, forcing the Kush to send all there men to the North to fight us. And when the South is unprotected, the Harappans and Babylonians will attack the South, and Nubia can not defend itself from the North and South at the same time, and shall fall. Then we shall take the Kushs’ land, and send Egyptian troops to aid the Babylonians and Harappans, so that they can rule over their enemies and unite Mesopotamia and the Indus River Valley people, and at the same time will be watched over by the Egyptian soldiers that we sent over to aid them in their battles.
Day 78. (Last Entry) As I near my home kingdom with tears in my eyes, and joy in my heart I recall my journey to find two allies for my country, the Babylonians and the Harappans, whom members of both are travelling to disccuss plans with our pharoah at this time. I cannot wait to tell my children tales of what I saw, or to see my wife’s beautiful face ince again for real this time, instead of in a dream. I am glad I was placed on this trip, the gods had rolled the dice of fate in my favor this time, and I could not be happiear. And now I cannot wait to return home to my family, and then start a new job as negotiator between the three allies that shall meet today.
References
Brier, Bob Hobbs, Hoyt. (1999). Daily Life of the Ancient Egyptians. Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated.page-15.
Rosalie, David A. (2000). Experience of Ancient Egypt. Routledge. Page-21.
Spodek, Howard. (2006). The World’s History. Laurence King Publishing Ltd. pages 48-84.
Arnold, Bill T. (2005). Who Were the Babylonians? Brill, N.H.E.J., N.V. Koninklijke, Boekhandel en Drukker.
Traveler’s LogAdam E. BernerCanterbury School Of Florida
Day 1. My name is Ashketin. I have volunteered to be one of five gaurds of a group of explorers who are being funded by the pha
raoh to find other civilizations and recruit them as allies in a nar invasion into our enemy the Kush. I decided to become a gaurd for these travellers after during an attemted burglary of our fields and livestock, my families farm field caught ablaze and burned everything to ash. Soon afterwards my friend Ratput asked me if I would want to work for my country and pharoah by being a gaurd for a group of explorers. He said if I did so my wife and three sons would recieve goods from our government and my children would be given schooling, which is the best thing for them at their age right now. After readily agreeing to his proposition I set out with this group I was to protect and we set off by boat down the nile river into the north to investigate rumors of another counry like our own whom is supposed to live to our north.("Map of Ancient Egypt :: Ancient Egyptian Map", n.d.)
Day 2. I am writing this passage at the end of the second day of our trip up the Nile river. As we sail with the river’s flow we have fish for a surplus of food for our journey. I can not keep the thoughts out from my mind that this may be the last time that I will travel across the Nile, and to fish from it, which has een one of my favorite things to do my entire life. I also wonder if I will taste one of my favorite things in life, my wife’s fresh baked bread, straight out of the oven. My heart is not just filled with sadness as I also feel incredible joy to finally fufill my childhood dream of crossing through dangerous terrains and unknown lands to discover new life and treasures. Also, every step I take on this journey serves me, my family, my pharoah, my country, and my gods. I also plan to expand our knowledge of the outsid world, which we know so little about. Because, if we learn more about our surroundings, we will find allies, be prepared for our enemies, and gain power. Knowledge is power, and the key to winning a battle is to fight smarter not harder.
Day 4. Today we have reached the end of the Nile river. As I leave the river that has caused the birth of the greatest race of people to ever exist I wonder if I will ever see it again. (Brier and Hobbs, 1999). As we left our boat behind with the sailor the Pharoah entrusted to guide us here, he warned us to be careful and to sleep with one eye open. This made some of the other gsurds nervous. Even though I was not terrified of his message I do realize the importance of his warning, there could be bandits, savages, and wild animals that could attack us while we sleep during the night. To prevent us from being taken by suprise during the night, we designed a watch system in which two members of our group stay up for an hour per night, and nce that hour is over we switch off with two other members and we are allowed to sleep for the rest of the night. I was part of the first night gaurd system tonight. Nothing happened to us during the day as we crossed the dessert by a cart being driven by two camels. We have enough supplies to last us for months on end for everyone in the group. As I think back to my home Egypt I hope to myself that by spreading our culture throught the earth we can form one united Egypt. What I value the most about my culture is my countries architectural monuments. I value these the most because they are eternal, long after we have become dust; these magnificent masterpieces are breathtaking and beautiful. Not only that, but these monuments will make our descendants even 2000 years from now gasp in amazement and awe as they gaze upon these works of art, and they shall know, that we built them! (Rosalie, 2000.) But I am getting ahead of myself, before I can spread my own culture, I must secure allies for my country for the upcoming war.
Day 8. Today we have reached a river and after crossing it through a bridge we have sighted the city, which was rumored to be here. (Arnold, 2005). We plan to enter tomorrow, and we will try to communicate by using drawn pictures that resemble objects to convey our message. (Spodek, 2006). We will keep half of our group outside in case we are attacked and killed, at least some of us will survive and will be able to return to Egypt. I will be part of the group that will be entering the city first. But for now I must rest myself so I will be ready for tomorrow.
Day 9. Today has gone extremely well. As we approached the city walls soldiers whom were guarding the city stopped us. We immediately threw down our weapons and showed that we meant no harm, and that we came to talk not to fight. After a painstakingly long time we had to wait for them to understand our message, they finally comprehended what we were trying to say and brought us inside the city walls, albeit under heavy guard, and we were taken into a room in a palace where we would stay until their king was ready to speak with us. For now we stay here and try to form a plan on what to say, (or rather write), to their ruler. If we are killed here, the group whom we left behind will return to Egypt if we do not come back in one week that will mean that we are dead and that they should run away as fast they can.
Day 10. Today has been a fruitful day. Our discussion with their king had gone very well, after explaining to him that we came from a country from the South, and that we wanted to secure a treaty between Egypt and their country of Babylonia, and that we would split the spoils after are victory over the barbaric Kush. Eager to secure protection under a powerful nation, and that this would be a great chance to increase their wealth. After finishing our discussion with the king, we told him of our comrades waiting outside the city and he sent some of his men and two of our men to retrieve them. We were then given food and water and we were allowed to eat to our hearts contents. After we thanked the king for his great generosity, he then assigned one of his men, Hashkut, to go and take the remainder of us around the city and to tell us about their lifestyles, and for him to learn about ours. Hashkut took one of the travelers and I to the center of the city that contained a pyramid like structure like the great tombs of our kings. But instead of this being a pyramid or a tomb, this was called a ziggurat, they are used for prayer, and instead of having a pointed peak, the top of a ziggurat is accessible and flat. (Spodek, 2006.) The Babylonians’ like us have many gods, however they seem to be terrified of angering their gods, and are afraid that if they anger them that they will be struck down by them. The priests claim that because of them, they are able to retain the gods’ favor, and promote prosperity in their land. I noticed some of the other guards smirking at the alien practices preformed on the ziggurats, but I wonder if the Babylonians would laugh at our religious practices if they saw us praying. After Hashkut finished praying he took us back to the palace where we were each given a room to sleep in.
Day 11. Hashkut guided us around the city again today. He showed us how the common people spent their lives. Much like Egypt theirs is a social structure. In ascending order it goes as this, slaves, workers, farmers, artisans and crafts men, government workers, priests, and then the families of nobility. Farmers have rich soil due to the two rivers that run through the land and the irrigation systems that they have. (Arnold, 2005). Which is slightly different from our own social hierarchy because the Babylonians for some reason value farmers more than workers. However, they are scared that they might lose their food and land, and will lay down their lives to protect them. There are also many metals buried in the land, and fish from the rivers. He also tells us how the priests’ role is to maintain heavenly order, and that the king’s duty is that he leads the people into battle, and that he protects the common people by ruling over them wisely. I have noticed that the Mesopotamians here and we Egyptians look very similar except that they are only slightly shorter than us. They wear a similar clothing style to us based on our dessert climate. One thing I have also noticed is that the women here do not have nearly as large as a role as they do in Egypt.
Day 12. Today we asked the Pharaoh and Hashkut about other civilizations that exist near them. They tell us that there are many other separate countries surrounding them, but they constantly fight over resources, land, and religion. This creates an ever-present fear of invasion from their neighbors. The countries are completely non unified and will probably never work together. However they told us of another country to the West, which is inhabited by a group of people whom call themselves the, “Harappans”. The Babylonians claim to trade with them often and suggest that we should try to make them allies with Egypt as well as Babylon. We decide to embark the next day with Hashkut and another group of Mesopotamian explorers and soldiers. But before we leave the King arranges a banquet fool of Babylonian food for us. The halls are filled with fish, beer, wine, foods made from wheat, sheep, geese, and goat meat. I do not think that I have ever eaten as much as I did that night.
Day 13. Today we headed out for the Indus River Valley; we continue to cross the dessert on our journey. On the way we try to teach each other’s group their home countries language by drawing objects and saying their names. At first it is rather frustrating and to be honest, comedic in a way, but eventually we start to understand and we begin to learn each other’s language. One of the reasons that we are doing this for is because when we return to Egypt, we need to have a better understanding of each other to formulate battle plans and to form other negotiations with each other. Thankfully the Harappans’ and Mesopotamians’ speak a similar language and writing style, so this should be easier than before.
Day 23. We have finally made it to the Harappan land, and we can secure another ally to my home of Egypt. As we entered the Harappan cities we were greeted similarly as how we were greeted in Mesopotamia, although the Harappans are not as antagonized because we can communicate much easier. After talking to their ruler he agreed to form a treaty and to trade with Egypt. The king decides to give us a tour of his city tomorrow himself, which is a great honor for him to bestow. But before we sleep he gives us meals of Harappan food, which consisted of, wheat, barleys, cereal crops, and livestock. (Spodek, 2006).
("Indus River Valley Civilizations" n.d.)
Day 24. We started our tour of the city early in the morning. The King showed us the many symbols and practices they used to repel bad fortune and other superstitious fears. He also showed us the Harappan religious practices and prayers, in which the Harappan priests and people prayed to their gods for prosperity and to prevent the gods from destroying their cities. I noticed that they prayed to a goddess of fertility in particular. Their society and social hierarchy and roles were very similar to that of the Babylonians, including the fact that they value their farmers more than workers. Like the Babylonians, the people of the Indus River Valley are separated, and even though they fear the possibilities of invasion, they do not fight against each other very often.
Day 25. On our second part of the tour today I was astounded by the Harappans brilliance. They had developed a system of what they called, “Plumbing”, in which a water system carries away peoples’ waste to a designated area, and the waste is then transported to be used as fertilizer. (Spodek, 2006). Also while on the tour of the city today, I again noticed that the women of the Indus River played a very minor role in the majority of daily life. The Harappans dress very close to how the Babylonians did, however while the Babylonians were slightly shorter than we Egyptians, the Harappans are taller and much leaner than us. Tomorrow we will set of for my home country Egypt. This time the Harappan king will come with us with a group of scholars and guards as well. I am very excited to see my home again.
Day 30. Nothing much has happened to us in our return back to Egypt through the dessert. We continue to spend our time by learning each others languages. One of the other Egyptian guards told me that he was scared that the Babylonians and the Harappans, might try to attack Egypt, but I highly doubt that this would happen. First of all the Mesopotamians and Harappans are too solitary and do not have enough unity to do any real damage to Egypt. To actually be a threat against Egypt, they would need to put an end to centuries of war between each other. And secondly they would then need to transport a large amount of soldiers through the dessert, which would take too long, and would be too costly. However as they are right now, they are perfect allies, they are strong enough to aid us but not strong enough to defeat us. We have also started planning for the upcoming war against the Kush. We have planed to have the Harappan army sail through the Arabian Sea, and to have them mmeet up with the Babylonians, whom will sail down the Red Sea, and meet up at Axum. Then Egypt will attack Nubia from the North, forcing the Kush to send all there men to the North to fight us. And when the South is unprotected, the Harappans and Babylonians will attack the South, and Nubia can not defend itself from the North and South at the same time, and shall fall. Then we shall take the Kushs’ land, and send Egyptian troops to aid the Babylonians and Harappans, so that they can rule over their enemies and unite Mesopotamia and the Indus River Valley people, and at the same time will be watched over by the Egyptian soldiers that we sent over to aid them in their battles.
Day 78. (Last Entry)
As I near my home kingdom with tears in my eyes, and joy in my heart I recall my journey to find two allies for my country, the Babylonians and the Harappans, whom members of both are travelling to disccuss plans with our pharoah at this time. I cannot wait to tell my children tales of what I saw, or to see my wife’s beautiful face ince again for real this time, instead of in a dream. I am glad I was placed on this trip, the gods had rolled the dice of fate in my favor this time, and I could not be happiear. And now I cannot wait to return home to my family, and then start a new job as negotiator between the three allies that shall meet today.
References
Brier, Bob Hobbs, Hoyt. (1999). Daily Life of the Ancient Egyptians. Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated.page-15.
Rosalie, David A. (2000). Experience of Ancient Egypt. Routledge. Page-21.
Spodek, Howard. (2006). The World’s History. Laurence King Publishing Ltd. pages 48-84.
Arnold, Bill T. (2005). Who Were the Babylonians? Brill, N.H.E.J., N.V. Koninklijke, Boekhandel en Drukker.
http://karenswhimsy.com/map-of-ancient-egypt.shtm. Map of Ancient Egypt.
Hand Robert. History of Astrology: Another View. http://www.robhand.com/journal/anotherview.shtml.
http://mstreitwieser.com/civilization/indus.php. Map of Indus River Valley.