Early Societies in Southeast Asia and the Indo-European Migrations Chapter 2 Early Societies in Southeast Asia and the Indo-European Migrations

Civilization Defined Urban Political/military system Social stratification Economic specialization Religion Communications “Higher Culture”

Mesopotamia Early Mesopotamia, 3000-2000 B.C. “Between the Rivers” Tigris and Euphrates Modern-day Iraq Cultural continuum of “fertile crescent” Sumerians the dominant people

The Wealth of the Rivers Nutrient-rich silt Key: irrigation Necessity of coordinated efforts Promoted development of local governments City-states Sumer begins small-scale irrigation 6000 BC By 5000 BC, complex irrigation networks Population reaches 100,000 by 3000 BC Attracts Semitic migrants, influences culture

Sumerian City-States Cities appear 4000 BC Dominate region from 3200-2350 BC Ur (home of Abraham, see Genesis 11:28), Nineveh (see Jonah) Ziggurat home of the god Divine mandate to Kings Regulation of Trade Defense from nomadic marauders

The Ziggurat of Ur

Political Decline of Sumer Semitic peoples from northern Mesopotamia overshadow Sumer Sargon of Akkad (2370-2315 BC) Destroyed Sumerian city-states one by one, created empire based in Akkad Empire unable to maintain chronic rebellions Hammurabi of Babylon (1792-1750 BC) Improved taxation, legislation Used local governors to maintain control of city-states Babylonian Empire later destroyed by Hittites from Anatolia, c. 1595 BC

Legal System The Code of Hammurabi Established high standards of behavior and stern punishment for violators lex talionis – “law of retaliation” Social status and punishment women as property, but some rights

Later Mesopotamian Empires Weakening of central rule an invitation to foreign invaders Assyrians use new iron weaponry Beginning 1300 BC, by 8th-7th centuries BC control Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, most of Egypt Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (r. 605-562) takes advantage of internal dissent to create Chaldean (New Babylonian) Empire Famously luxurious capital Nebuchadnezzar by William Blake

Mesopotamian Empires, 1800-600 BC

Technological Development in Mesopotamia Bronze (copper with tin), c. 4000 BC Military, agricultural applications Iron, c. 1000 BC Cheaper than bronze Wheel, boats, c. 3500 BC Shipbuilding increases trade networks

Social Classes Ruling classes based often on military prowess Originally elected, later hereditary Perceived as offspring of gods Religious classes Role: intervention with gods to ensure fertility, safety Considerable landholdings, other economic activities Free commoners Peasant cultivators Some urban professionals Slaves Prisoners of war, convicted criminals, debtors

Patriarchal Society Men as landowners, relationship to status Patriarchy: “rule of the father” Right to sell wives, children Double standard of sexual morality Women drowned for adultery Relaxed sexual mores for men Yet some possibilities of social mobility for women Court advisers, temple priestesses, economic activity Introduction of the veil at least c. 1500 BC

Development of Writing Sumerian writing systems form 3500 BC Pictographs Cuneiform: “wedge-shaped” Preservation of documents on clay Declines from 400 BC with spread of Greek alphabetic script

Uses for Writing Trade Astronomy Mathematics Calculation of time Agricultural applications Calculation of time 12-month year 24-hour day, 60-minute hour

Mesopotamian Literature Epic of Gilgamesh, compiled after 2000 BC Heroic saga Flood Story Search for meaning, esp. afterlife This-worldly emphasis

The Early Hebrews Patriarchs and Matriarchs from Babylon, c. 1850 BC Parallels between early biblical texts, Code of Hammurabi Early settlement of Canaan (Israel), c. 1300 BC Biblical text: slavery in Egypt, divine redemption On-going conflict with indigenous populations under King David (1000-970 BC) and Solomon (970-930 BC)

Moses and Monotheism Many Hebrews shared polytheistic beliefs of other Mesopotamian civilizations Moses introduces monotheism, belief in single God Denies existence of competing parallel deities Personal god: reward and punishment for conformity with revealed law The Torah (“doctrine or teaching”)

Foreign conquests of Israel Assyrian conquest, 722 BC Conquered the northern kingdom Deported many inhabitants to other regions Many exiles assimilated and lost their identity Babylonian conquest, 586 BC Destroyed Jerusalem Forced many into exile Israelites maintained their religious identity and many returned to Judea

Israel and Phoenicia , 1500-600 BC

The Phoenicians City-states along Mediterranean coast after 3000 BC Extensive maritime trade Dominated Mediterranean trade, 1200-800 BC Development of alphabet symbols Simpler alternative to cuneiform Spread of literacy

Indo-European Migrations Common roots of many languages of Europe, southwest Asia, India Implies influence of a single Indo-European people Probable original homeland: modern-day Ukraine and Russia, 4500-2500 BC Domestication of horses, use of Sumerian weaponry allowed them to spread widely

Indo-European migrations 3000-1000 BC

Implications of Indo-European Migration Hittites migrate to central Anatolia, c. 1900 BC, later dominate Babylonia Influence on trade Horses, chariots with spoked wheels Iron Migrations to western China, Greece, Italy also significant 24 24