Write an Article review on Early farming in mesopotamia
Make sure you include;
1, irrigation methods
shadoof
advantages and disadvantages
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Early Farming in Mesopotamia: An Ancient Marvel of Irrigation Methods
Introduction
The advent of agriculture played a crucial role in the development and progress of ancient civilizations. One such civilization that thrived due to its remarkable farming techniques was Mesopotamia. Situated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, this fertile land witnessed the rise of early farming practices that revolutionized agricultural productivity. In particular, the irrigation methods employed by the Mesopotamians, such as the shadoof, played a pivotal role in transforming this arid region into a thriving agricultural hub. This article reviews the irrigation methods, focusing specifically on the shadoof, and explores their advantages and disadvantages.
Irrigation Methods: The Shadoof
The shadoof, also known as the sweep or well pole, was a simple yet ingenious irrigation tool used by the Mesopotamians. It consisted of a long pole with a bucket or container attached to one end and a counterweight on the other. The shadoof relied on the principle of leverage to effortlessly lift water from a lower source, such as a river or canal, and deposit it into an elevated irrigation canal.
Advantages of the Shadoof
Increased Water Accessibility: The shadoof allowed farmers to access water sources that were situated at lower elevations. By harnessing the power of leverage, this irrigation method enabled them to transfer water to higher ground, where it was needed for crop irrigation. This increased water accessibility ensured a regular water supply for cultivation throughout the growing season.
Suitability for Small-Scale Farming: Mesopotamian farmers typically owned small patches of land. The shadoof’s simplicity made it an ideal irrigation method for these small-scale farmers. It required minimal infrastructure and could be operated by a single person, making it cost-effective and efficient for individual farmers.
Versatility: The shadoof was adaptable to various geographical conditions, such as uneven terrain and varying water levels. Its design allowed for adjustments in bucket size or counterweight to accommodate different soil types and water sources. This versatility ensured that farmers could adapt their irrigation techniques to specific farming needs.
Disadvantages of the Shadoof
Labor-Intensive: The shadoof required physical effort to operate effectively. Farmers had to manually lift and release the bucket filled with water repeatedly. This labor-intensive process demanded considerable human strength and endurance, especially during prolonged periods of irrigation or when dealing with large tracts of land. Consequently, it limited the amount of land that could be effectively irrigated using this method.
Limited Water Displacement: Although the shadoof increased water accessibility, its efficiency was constrained by its limited ability to displace large volumes of water. The size of the bucket restricted the amount of water that could be lifted in a single operation. Consequently, farmers had to perform numerous repetitions to irrigate larger areas adequately.
Dependency on Water Sources: The shadoof relied heavily on the proximity of water sources, such as rivers or canals. Areas lacking such natural water bodies faced significant challenges in implementing this irrigation technique effectively. This dependency constrained agricultural development in regions with limited access to water bodies.
Conclusion
The irrigation methods employed by the Mesopotamians, particularly the shadoof, played a pivotal role in transforming their arid landscape into a flourishing agricultural center. Despite its limitations, the shadoof provided advantages such as increased water accessibility, suitability for small-scale farming, and versatility in adapting to varying conditions. However, its labor-intensive nature, limited water displacement capacity, and dependence on water sources posed challenges for farmers. Nevertheless, the ingenuity of early farming techniques in Mesopotamia laid the foundation for future advancements in agriculture and paved the way for the remarkable civilizations that thrived in this ancient land.
