How Ancient Mesopotamia Invented School (And Why We've Misread the Evidence)

What did it take to become a scribe in ancient Mesopotamia, and how do we actually know? This week, Dr. Joshua Bowen reveals how the physical shape of clay tablets unlocked the secrets of ancient education, and why the literary texts describing school life can't always be taken at face value. From vocabulary lists and memorization to indoctrination and local variation, the archaeology tells a very different story than the texts alone.

🔗 Resources & Links

Check out Digital Hammurabi's website for more

Learning to Pray in a Dead Language: Education and Invocation in Ancient Sumerian by Joshua Bowen

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🎙️ Credits

Guest: Dr. Joshua Bowen

Hosted and edited by Dr. Jordan Jones

Bible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa Office of Innovation production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.