Please join us Wednesday, October 20, from 12:30-2:00pm, in-person in Student Commons, Room 2600, or streaming online. The concept of freedom and consensual forms of government were crucial components of politics in the ancient Middle East.

When new kings came to power, they frequently presented themselves as liberating the people from slavery and oppression. And despite the tendency of ancient sources to focus almost exclusively on kingship, councils and assemblies also played significant roles in political thought and practice. This lecture will discuss key texts and images that illustrate the dynamic nature of politics in the long history of the ancient Middle East.