Major Transitions in Europe and the Near East 7000 – 200 BC Paul R. Duffy University of Michigan pduffy@umich.edu World History Initiative

Neolithic Copper Age Bronze Age Iron Age Time 200 BC Romans turn inland toward Celts 700 BC Iron making 1500 BC Bronze making common 3000 BC Proto-Indo-European leaves steppe ‘homeland’ 3600 BC States in Mesopotamia 3800 BC Farmers on British Isles and all throughout Europe 4500 BC Farmers reach Northern Europe, copper metallurgy in Balkans, chiefdoms in Mesopotamia 7000 BC Farming package leaves Fertile Crescent Significant moments in Europe and the Near East

Forest-steppe boundary Carpathian Basin Alps Caspian Sea Caucasus Black Sea Balkans Mediterranean

Movement of technology and ideas 1. Cultural diffusion and exchange 2 Movement of technology and ideas 1. Cultural diffusion and exchange 2. Migration or demic diffusion

Spondylus (burial from Jeuness 1997:116 LBK Aiterhofen, tomb 41).

Distribution of Spondylus in the Neolithic

Amber Necklace from Wessex culture burial (Early Bronze Age) Photo from Wiltshire Heritage Museum website, http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/galleries/?Action=4&obID=133&prevID=&q=6. Amber Necklace from Wessex culture burial (Early Bronze Age)

Amber in Early Bronze Age Italy Amber source Finished amber

Likely routes to Early Bronze Age Italy

Amber and bronze demand in central Europe High demand for imports

Western Eurasian economies 3500-3000 BC MIXED FARMING FORAGERS MIXED FARMING HERDERS SMALL SCALE IRRIGATION FARMING Site: Sziget-Szentmarton, Hungary (from Biro et al 2005). LARGE SCALE IRRIGATION FARMING

Major Indo-European branches at 400 BC BALTIC CELTIC GERMANIC IRANIAN SLAVIC CELTIC CELTIC ITALIC GREEK ANATOLIAN IRANIAN

Copper production takes off (c. 4500 BC) Native copper Metallurgical slag Hungarian bronzes and accessories (from Biro et al 2005: 46). Copper axes Copper head ornament

Bronze production takes off (c. 2500-1500 BC) Advances in metal working Increase in military symbolism Increase in difference between burial inclusions Early Bronze Age burial at Leubingen, Germany 1900 BC Bronze and moulds from Hungary, c. 1400 BC

Iron Production Iron lance head, Hungary Iron razor, Early Iron Age Germany Bronze figurines, Late Iron Age Hungary

The Heuneburg area, Early Iron Age Germany, c. 600 BC Hohemichele burial mound Early Iron Age wagon burial