Question

read the following excerpt from the epic of gilgamesh. what does the phrase \this was the king who knew the countries of the world\ suggest about the kind of government gilgamesh ruled over?

i will proclaim to the world the deeds of gilgamesh. this was the man to whom all things were known; this was the king who knew the countries of the world. he was wise, he saw mysteries and knew secret things... when the gods created gilgamesh they gave him a perfect body. shamash the glorious sun endowed him with beauty... surpassing all others, terrifying like a great wild bull. two thirds they made him god and one third man.

— the epic of gilgamesh

a. the government was a patriarchy.

b. the government was a theocracy.

c. the government was a democracy.

d. the government was a monarchy.

Explanation:

1. First, eliminate incorrect options:

• Option A: The phrase does not reference male-dominated rule, so patriarchy is not supported.
• Option B: While the text mentions gods creating Gilgamesh, the specific phrase focuses on his role as a king, not rule by religious authority, so theocracy is not the best fit.
• Option C: Democracy involves rule by the people, which directly contradicts the description of a single all-knowing king.

1. The phrase explicitly calls Gilgamesh a king, and the text frames him as a single, supreme ruler with unique traits, which aligns with a monarchy (rule by a single sovereign, usually a king/queen).

Answer:

D. The government was a monarchy.