Sumer was a civilization before 4,000 BCE, which is when the Persian Gulf was filled in. Before then the Tigris and the Euphrates became a single river and flowed through a valley to enter the sea at Hormuz. The rising waters of 4,000 BCE forced the Sumerians to move north into Mesopotamia. That might have something to do with the Sumerian flood story that made it into Gilgamesh.
The Sumerians believed the world was flat, like a plate. Heaven was like a clear glass bowl that covered the plate; the sun, moon and stars existed in the glass of the bowl. At night, beyond the stars, you could see the blackness of the waters of the primordial abyss. The underworld was a similar plate under the earth, where the dead went. Heaven, earth and underworld floated like a bubble in the abyssal waters.
In Genesis it says the vaults of heaven opened to flood the earth. Now, that makes sense if you're Sumerian. Of course it is absurd if you believe the Earth is a sphere orbiting the Sun. A lot of experts see similarities between the two flood stories.
People today date Noah's flood to around 2,000 BCE. Archeology has documented a 100 year drought that ended the Sumerian empire at that time. We have a Sumerian kings book that says of that time, "Who is the king? Who is not the king?", describing the chaos of the period.
Genesis is legendary. It didn't actually happen. The meaning of the creation story was to establish the 7 day week and Sabbath observance, which is confirmed in Exodus' version of the 10 Commandments. Exodus is also legendary; it didn't happen. The Torah, also called Pentateuch, was written during the Persian period in a Hebrew block alphabet created for that purpose. Deuteronomy was probably written before then, because its version of the 10 Commandments says Sabbath observance is because God brought Israel out of Egypt. It is likely that Deuteronomy was composed in the reign of King Josiah, when Judah was a vassal of Egypt. The legend of Exodus may have been an expression of the desire for independence from Egypt.
Circling back to the Flood legend, an ark is a box where you keep things safe. You will find an ark in every synagogue, where they keep the Torah. So Noah's legendary boat is called an ark. Think about that.
No where in the Bible does it say its contents should be understood as literal word-for-word fact. That's an article of faith many churches impose on it. Many Christians like myself think the intent and lessons that the books of the Bible teach are more important than weather or not it is literal history. Its unfortunate there is so much hostility to that point of view in Christian culture....I think it is natural for the weak of faith to get angry when questioned
Which other two books didn’t make your final cut? Two fantastic collections that aren’t here: Tilisim-e-Hoshruba, The Adventures of Amir Hamza. Also, the Epic of Sundiata (foundational West African narrative).
Good on you, CE! I dare say most of us (including myself) have never engaged with or very little reading of Eastern writing, or only passing awareness of these authors. Some of the lighter fare I’ve read: Khaled Hosseini (Afghanistan/US): The Kite Runner; Orhan Pamuk - A Strangeness in my Mind, The Museum of Innocence and My Name Is Red (Turkey); and Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie [Rushdie's second novel, Midnight's Children (1981). Meanwhile your suggestions superb…
Thank you for this list! I have read 4 of these! I will definately look into some of these others. And to add to the lists of other possibilities, I would add: The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.
Besides the "Arabian Nights," or "Thousand And One Nights," there is also the old Sanskrit "Katha Sharit Sagara," or sometimes known in English as "Ocean of the Stream of Story/Stories."
Translated completely into English in the late 19th Century by C. H. Tawney, like the Arabian Nights it also is a long story of stories within stories all within an outermost frame story.
It was composed in the Kashmir region of South Asia around either 10 or 1100 by one Somadeva.
Thank you for this wonderful list. It’s easy to get stuck in a bubble of western centric literature, even when you’re from the east. While I have read 4 of the 12 listed, there is plenty more for me to get through. These are a great addition to my plans to read books from every country
I don't know if this is true, but I heard that Epic of Gilgamesh confirmed the Noah's ark and story.
The two are similar and arose about the same time.
Sumer was a civilization before 4,000 BCE, which is when the Persian Gulf was filled in. Before then the Tigris and the Euphrates became a single river and flowed through a valley to enter the sea at Hormuz. The rising waters of 4,000 BCE forced the Sumerians to move north into Mesopotamia. That might have something to do with the Sumerian flood story that made it into Gilgamesh.
The Sumerians believed the world was flat, like a plate. Heaven was like a clear glass bowl that covered the plate; the sun, moon and stars existed in the glass of the bowl. At night, beyond the stars, you could see the blackness of the waters of the primordial abyss. The underworld was a similar plate under the earth, where the dead went. Heaven, earth and underworld floated like a bubble in the abyssal waters.
In Genesis it says the vaults of heaven opened to flood the earth. Now, that makes sense if you're Sumerian. Of course it is absurd if you believe the Earth is a sphere orbiting the Sun. A lot of experts see similarities between the two flood stories.
People today date Noah's flood to around 2,000 BCE. Archeology has documented a 100 year drought that ended the Sumerian empire at that time. We have a Sumerian kings book that says of that time, "Who is the king? Who is not the king?", describing the chaos of the period.
Genesis is legendary. It didn't actually happen. The meaning of the creation story was to establish the 7 day week and Sabbath observance, which is confirmed in Exodus' version of the 10 Commandments. Exodus is also legendary; it didn't happen. The Torah, also called Pentateuch, was written during the Persian period in a Hebrew block alphabet created for that purpose. Deuteronomy was probably written before then, because its version of the 10 Commandments says Sabbath observance is because God brought Israel out of Egypt. It is likely that Deuteronomy was composed in the reign of King Josiah, when Judah was a vassal of Egypt. The legend of Exodus may have been an expression of the desire for independence from Egypt.
Circling back to the Flood legend, an ark is a box where you keep things safe. You will find an ark in every synagogue, where they keep the Torah. So Noah's legendary boat is called an ark. Think about that.
No where in the Bible does it say its contents should be understood as literal word-for-word fact. That's an article of faith many churches impose on it. Many Christians like myself think the intent and lessons that the books of the Bible teach are more important than weather or not it is literal history. Its unfortunate there is so much hostility to that point of view in Christian culture....I think it is natural for the weak of faith to get angry when questioned
No The Water Margin? Very sad.
Some of the most incredible storytelling
Agreed. It was on my 15 list. But couldn’t get it down to 12.
Which other two books didn’t make your final cut? Two fantastic collections that aren’t here: Tilisim-e-Hoshruba, The Adventures of Amir Hamza. Also, the Epic of Sundiata (foundational West African narrative).
Good on you, CE! I dare say most of us (including myself) have never engaged with or very little reading of Eastern writing, or only passing awareness of these authors. Some of the lighter fare I’ve read: Khaled Hosseini (Afghanistan/US): The Kite Runner; Orhan Pamuk - A Strangeness in my Mind, The Museum of Innocence and My Name Is Red (Turkey); and Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie [Rushdie's second novel, Midnight's Children (1981). Meanwhile your suggestions superb…
Dream of the Red Chamber is one of the most riveting novels I've ever read. Also loved the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Great list overall!
The Tale of Genji is a treasure~ Thanks for sharing your other recommendations, too~
Well... four out of ten is a good start for me. I'm on my way!
🔥
I actually appreciate this list.
I always hear about western literature but nothing on the eastern side of things.
That or people never shutting up about The Art of War.
It’s a breath of fresh air.
Art of War is strictly speaking not literature, I suppose, but however you categorize it, I'm also glad it's NOT on the list.
Thank you so much for this I have been wanting to widen my world view & these wonderful books will surely help me 🙏
Yes that was intetesting must read some of those
I should seriously consider reading Gilgamesh and Masnavi one of these days. Thank you.
Thanks very much for this list.
Thank you for this list! I have read 4 of these! I will definately look into some of these others. And to add to the lists of other possibilities, I would add: The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.
From old South Asia there are also the Sanskrit "Panchatatra" and "Hitopadesha."
Reading beyond the Arabian Nights:
Besides the "Arabian Nights," or "Thousand And One Nights," there is also the old Sanskrit "Katha Sharit Sagara," or sometimes known in English as "Ocean of the Stream of Story/Stories."
Translated completely into English in the late 19th Century by C. H. Tawney, like the Arabian Nights it also is a long story of stories within stories all within an outermost frame story.
It was composed in the Kashmir region of South Asia around either 10 or 1100 by one Somadeva.
Thank you for this wonderful list. It’s easy to get stuck in a bubble of western centric literature, even when you’re from the east. While I have read 4 of the 12 listed, there is plenty more for me to get through. These are a great addition to my plans to read books from every country
Added the Rumi book to my list now.