Nomads & Crisis, BCE I.Climate Change Crisis, 2000 BCE II.Nomad Invasions III.Formation of Territorial States IDs: Vedic Age, BCE, Shang Dynasty, territorial state, oracle bones, Hammurabi, Hammurabi, r BCE
Argument Climate change around 2000 BCE caused crisis which caused the breakdown of riverine civilizations and triggered nomadic invasions. After the crisis, nomads emerged as the rulers of territorial states, which were more militaristic than the cultures they succeeded.
BCE: 3 Types of Cultures Village Agriculture Pastoral Nomads Riverine Cultures/ Civilizations
I BCE: Climate change disaster Drought Food shortage Drier climate
A. Indus River Culture destroyed
B. Disintegration of order in Egypt & Mesopotamia
C. Migration for next 1000 years
II. Nomads invade riverine cultures, BCE A. Nomad Technologies Horse Chariot Iron (1000 BCE)
B. South Asia: Vedic Nomads Invade, ca BCE Indo-Europeans Aryans Vedic Age, BCE
1. Vedic People Horses Chariots Iron tools & weapons Pastoral agricultural economy
2. Conquest North/South Division of South Asia Aryan Dravidian
II. Formation of Territorial States (1600) A. Characteristics Ruled by charioteer (nomad) elites More warlike Expansive Definite borders
B. A State has: Large territory Definite borders Dynastic kingship Army (charioteer elites) Government bureaucracy
Shang State (Dynasty): ca BCE
Ruling dynasty Army with horses & chariots Tombs Palaces
Royal Projects Bronze Metallurgy
Religious Authority Shang state was a patrimonial theocracy. Divination Oracle bones Control of diviners & scribes Ancestor worship Di (High God, founding ancestor of Shang family)
D. Building the State Problems: 1.Control of Conquered People
2. Control of Army & Regions Hittites Anatolia Hattusilis I Babylon
E. State Projects 1.Centralized rule in king’s hands 2. Collect taxes or tribute Hammurabi, r BCE
Exaction of Tribute Service from elites (bureaucracy or army Agricultural produce & labor from commoners
Argument Climate change around 2000 BCE caused crisis which caused the breakdown of riverine civilizations and triggered nomadic invasions. After the crisis, nomads emerged as the rulers of territorial states, which were more militaristic than the cultures they succeeded.