Chapter 1 The Origins of Western Civilization in the Ancient Near East, 3000–1200 B.C.E.
Learning Objectives: Questions to Consider What were the social, economic, and cultural consequences of the adoption of agriculture? How did geography influence the development of civilization in Mesopotamia and Egypt? What part did religion play in the lives of the ancient Sumerians? How did the ancient Egyptians view the concept of life after death? In what ways were the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations different from the civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt?
Before History, 2,000,000-3000 B.C.E. The Old Stone Age Getting to Know the Old Stone Age Material Culture and Archaeology Anthropology Early Human Populations Homo habilis (2 million years ago) Homo erectus (1 million years ago) Homo sapiens (450,000 B.C.E.) Sub-species: Neanderthal (350,000 B.C.E.) Hunting and gathering Homo sapiens sapiens
Before History, 2,000,000-3000 B.C.E. The Origins of Religion The Belief in Supernatural Powers Influence Through Ritual Fertility Rituals and the Possibility of Matriarchal Societies Burial Rituals Cave Painting
Before History, 2,000,000-3000 B.C.E. The Neolithic Revolution The Neolithic Age in the Near East (8000 B.C.E.) The Rise of Pastoralism Animal domestication The Rise of Agriculture Independent Developments and Cultural Assimilation The Consequences of Settled Lifestyles Diversification and Differentiation
Before History, 2,000,000-3000 B.C.E. The Emergence of Near Eastern Civilization The Fertile Crescent: from the Nile through the Levant and Mesopotamia The Criteria of Civilization Cities and Centralization The Concentration of Wealth and Resources Technological Advances Writing and History The Bronze Age, 3000-1200 B.C.E.
Mesopotamian Civilization, 3000–1200 B.C.E. The Rise of Sumeria Sumerian Writing Cuneiform Myths and Legends The Role of Geography Anatolia and the Rivers Polytheists and Unpredictable Anthropomorphic Gods Divination and Pessimism
Mesopotamian Civilization, 3000–1200 B.C.E. Sumerian Government and Society City-states Ziggurats Hierarchical Structure Economic Activity Barter Gender in a Patriarchal Society Dowry Daily Life
Mesopotamian Civilization, 3000–1200 B.C.E. Semitic and Indo-European Peoples Sargon (2350 B.C.E.) and the Akkadians Administering an Empire: Conciliation and Domination Hammurabi (r. 1790-1750 B.C.E.) and the Babylonians Standardization in Weights (Talents) Mathematics, Astronomy, and Astrology The Indo-Europeans from the Steppes: Aryans, Hittites, and Kassites
Mesopotamian Civilization, 3000–1200 B.C.E. The Code of Hammurabi Classes: Nobles, Free Persons, and Slaves Gender Relations and Marriage Crime and Punishment Punishment by Death (Impalement) and Mutilation The Importance of Status and Retaliation
Egyptian Civilization, 3000–1200 B.C.E. The Gift of the Nile The Land of Egypt and Its Geography The Unification of Egypt, 3000 B.C.E. Pharaohs and Dynasties Hieroglyphics and Scribes Administration by Nomes Early Egyptian Religion The Goddess Ma’at
Egyptian Civilization, 3000–1200 B.C.E. Egyptian Government and Society Crime and Punishment Egyptian Society and Its Hierarchy Pharaoh, Wives, Concubines, and Children Nobles and Priests Specialized Workers Lower Status Laborers Slaves Daily Life in Egypt The Importance of Family
Egyptian Civilization, 3000–1200 B.C.E. The Old Kingdom, 2700-2200 B.C.E. The Nature of the Pyramids The Rise of the Nobles The Middle Kingdom, 2050-1786 B.C.E. Osiris and the Afterlife Mummification and the Book of the Dead The Hyksos Invasion, 1730 B.C.E.
Egyptian Civilization, 3000–1200 B.C.E. The New Kingdom, 1570-1070 B.C.E. Protecting Egypt Building an Army with Natives and Mercenaries The Rule of Hatshepsut, Female Pharaoh (r. 1498-1483 B.C.E.) Egyptian Empire The Religious Revolution of Akhenaton (r. 1350-1334 B.C.E.) and the Aton Successors: Tut-ankh-amon (r. 1334-1325 B.C.E.) and Ramses II (r. 1279-1212 B.C.E.)
Lost Civilizations of the Bronze Age Ebla and Canaan Thriving Trade and Cities, ca. 2500 B.C.E. The Minoans of Crete Palace Complexes , 2000 B.C.E. Trade, Religion, and Views of the World Cult Objects The Myth of the Minotaur The Fall, 1400 B.C.E.
Lost Civilizations of the Bronze Age The Mycenaeans of Greece, ca. 1600 B.C.E. Origins Minoan Influences Society Trade
Lost Civilizations of the Bronze Age The Sea Peoples and the End of the Bronze Age, 1200 B.C.E. The Invasion of the Sea Peoples Evidence from the Iliad Troy and the Trojan War The Defeat of the Sea Peoples Egyptian Victory under Ramses III (r. 1182-1151 B.C.E.) The End of the Bronze Age The Invasion of the Dorians, 1150 B.C.E. Mycenaean Flight and Resettlement in Ionia