Early Societies in Southwest Asia Chapter 2

The Quest for Order Population increase required political and social organization Mesopotamia: between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Very dry with unpredictable flooding -> irrigation

Sumer C. 4000 BCE: first cities (pol and mil authority, regional control, cult. and econ. centers) Some became city-states, ruled by assemblies, then absolute monarchs citizens participated in public works projects: walls, ziggurats, irrigation systems, military

The Course of Empire War between city-states -> regional empires Sargon of Akkad: conquered Sumerian city-states, forming empire Declined due to rebellion and invasion

The Course of Empire (cont.) Hammurabi: ruled Babylonian Empire with bureaucratic rule and taxes, laws (“an eye for an eye”) Declined due to Hittite invasion

The Later Mesopotamian Empires Assyrians: powerful military (infantry and cavalry with chariots, plus iron weapons) Used Babylonian gov. techniques and laws Decline due to rebellion and invasion

The Later Mesopotamian Empires (cont.) New Babylonian Empire: aka Chaldeans Nebuchadnezzar, lavish capital, hanging gardens Decline due to invasion

Economic Specialization and Trade Bronze metallurgy: copper and tin, weapons, tools Iron metallurgy: cheaper The wheel: carts, wagons to move grain, bricks, ore Shipbuilding: trade as far as India Trade Networks: trading colonies

Social Structure Social classes, due to wealth Ruling elites, plus priests and priestesses (temples owned land and workshops) Free commoners – peasants and city workers, owned land Dependent clients – laborers, no property Slaves – POWs, convicts, debtors; worked as laborers or servants

Gender Roles Patriarchal: adult males ruled households, in public Early, some women had power (in court, temples) Later, male control of women increased (virginity, veiling)

Written Cultural Traditions Earliest: c. 3500 BCE for econ purposes (pictographs) C. 2900 BCE – symbols = cuneiform Adopted by others Schools, astronomy, mathematics, literature

Hebrews Pastoral nomads – some settled in Mesopotamia (e.g., Abraham of Ur) and later Palestine Some migrated to Egypt, led back by Moses Formed 12 tribes of Israel, then unified as monarchy (David, Solomon) with capital at Jerusalem

Hebrews (cont.) Early, polytheistic (Mesopotamian gods) Later, monotheistic – Yahweh (10 Commandments, Torah) Palestine divided into Kingdom of Israel and Kingdom of Judah (conquered by various empires) Maintained strong sense of identity

The Phoenicians = Canaanites Early: indep. city-states More interested in commerce than expansion Overland and maritime trade Set up trade colonies; traded along Atlantic coast Created alphabet from cuneiform

Indo-European Migrations Language family found throughout Eurasia 4500-2500 BCE: W. Asia steppes – pastoral/agriculturalists Domesticated horses, with carts, chariots Allowed military and transportation advantage, and means of expansion Population increase -> gradual migrations

Indo-European Migrations West: Hittites – Anatolia, kingdom, trade with Mesop. 2 important innovations: war chariots and refined iron metallurgy East: central Asia (burials in China) West: Greece, central and western Europe Pastoral/agriculturalists, no cities or states Social structure: military ruling elite, priests, commoners South: Iran and India; same, but did form states