Egypt, the Indus Valley, and the Zhou Dynasty Chapters 3-5

Unification of Egypt Legendary conqueror Menes, ca. 3100, unifies Egyptian kingdom Founder of Memphis, cultural and political center of ancient Egypt Instituted the rule of the pharaoh Claimed descent from the gods Absolute rulers, had slaves buried with them from 2600 B.C.E. Most powerful during Archaic Period (3100-2660 B.C.E.) and Old Kingdom (2660-2160 B.C.E.)

The Pyramids Symbols of the pharaoh’s authority and divine status A testimony of the pharaohs’ ability to marshal Egypt’s resources Largest Khufu (Cheops), 2.3 M limestone blocks, average weight 2.5 tons Role: burial chambers for pharaohs

Relations with Nubia Competition over Nile trade Military conflict between 3100 and 2600 B.C.E. Drove Nubians to the south Established kingdom of Kush, ca. 2500 B.C.E. Trade, cultural influences continue despite military conflict

The New Kingdom Few pyramids, but major monumental architectural projects Engaged in empire-building to protect against foreign invasion After New Kingdom, local resistance drives Egypt out of Nubia Kingdom of Kush revives ca. 1100 B.C.E. Invasions of Kushites, Assyrians destroy Egypt mid-sixth century B.C.E.

Egyptian Urban Culture Major cities along Nile River, especially at delta Memphis ca. 3100 B.C.E., Heliopolis ca. 2900 B.C.E. Nubian cities include Kerma, Napata, Meroë Located at cataracts of the Nile Well-defined social classes Pharaohs to slaves Archaeological discoveries in Nubia also support class-based society Patriarchal societies notable exceptions: female pharaoh Hatshepsut (r. 1473-1458 B.C.E.)

Economic Specialization Bronze metallurgy introduced late, with Hyksos invasion Development of iron early, ca. 900 B.C.E. Trade along Nile River More difficult in Nubia due to cataracts (white water rapids) Sea trade in Mediterranean

Hieroglyphs “Holy inscriptions” Writing appeared at least by 3200 B.C.E. Pictographic, supplemented with symbols representing sounds and ideas Survives on monuments, buildings, sheets of papyrus Hieroglyphs for formal writing, hieratic script for everyday affairs used from 2600 B.C.E. to 600 C.E. Greek alphabet adopted Meroitic writing: flexible system borrowed from hieroglyphs, represents sounds rather than ideas

Mummification and the Afterlife Inspiration of the cycles of the Nile Belief in revival of the dead First: ruling classes only, later expanded to include lower classes Cult of Osiris Lord of the underworld Power to determine who deserved immortality Held out hope of eternal reward for those who lived moral lives Show second clip from Ancient Egypt, Sphinx through mummification

Bantu Migrations, 3000-1000 B.C.E. Bantu: “people” Migration throughout sub-Saharan regions Population pressures 500+ variations of original Bantu language 90 million speakers By 1000 B.C.E., occupied most of Africa south of the equator

Bantu Migrations, 2000 B.C.E.-1000 C.E.

The End of the Indus Valley

A Mysterious End Reasons for disappearance unclear Excessive deforestation, loss of topsoil Earthquakes? Flooding? Disappearance by 1500 B.C.E. Indus traditions survived – agricultural practices, religious beliefs, and urban traditions

The Early Aryans Aryan – “noble people” From Indo-European ranges Pastoral economy: sheep, goats, horses, cattle Cattle not sacred until many centuries later Religious and literary works: the Vedas Early Aryans did not use writing Sanskrit: sacred tongue Prakrit: everyday language, evolved into Hindi, Urdu, Bengali Four Vedas (wisdom), most important Rig Veda 1028 hymns to Aryan gods

The Vedic Age (1500 BCE – 500 BCE) Conflicts between Aryans and indigenous dasas (“enemies,” “subjects”) Aryans fighting Dravidians (southern India) Also Aryans fighting each other Chiefdoms: rajas Migrations further south Development of iron metallurgy Increasing reliance on agriculture Tribal connections evolve into political structures

Varna: The Caste System “People are different, and different people will fit well into different aspects of society” Caste – hereditary classes of Hindu society “ritual purity or pollution and social status” Origins in Aryan domination of Dravidians Brahmin, priest Kshatriya, warrior Vaishya, merchant Shudra, serf “Untouchables”

Patriarchy in Ancient Indian Society Patriarchy - “Rule of the father” A social order that stood alongside the caste system, and varna hierarchy Enforced in the Lawbook of Manu Guided moral behavior/social relationships Women to be subject to fathers, husbands, sons Women’s most important duties to bear children and maintain wholesome homes

Back to China

Zhou Dynasty, 1122-256 B.C.E. Longest lasting Chinese dynasty No law codes: rule by decree (official orders) “Mandate of heaven” Gathering of villages opposed to Shang leadership Decentralization of authority Development of cheap iron weaponry ends Shang monopoly on bronze

Decline of the Zhou Dynasty Decentralized leadership style allows for building of regional powers Increasing local independence, refusal to pay Zhou taxes Iron metallurgy allows for widespread creation of weaponry Northern invaders weaken Zhou dynasty, beginning eighth century B.C.E. Internal dissention: the Period of the Warring States (403-221 B.C.E.)

China During the Period of the Warring States, 403-221 B.C.E.

Social Order Ruling classes great advantage Palaces, luxurious lifestyle Supported by agricultural surplus, tax revenues Defended by monopoly on bronze weaponry Hereditary privilege Support class of artisans, craftsmen Evidence of long-distance trade, merchant class Large class of semi-servile peasants Slave class

Family and Patriarchy Devotion to family, respect for ancestors Connection of spirit world to physical world Ritual sacrifices Father ritual head of family rites Earlier prominence of individual female leaders fades in later Shang, Zhou dynasties

Oracle Bones and Early Chinese Writing Used for communicating with spirit world, determining future Question written on animal bones, turtle shells Then heated over fire; cracks examined for omens Early archaeological evidence of Chinese writing Evolution of Chinese script Pictograph to ideograph

Oracle Bone from Shang Dynasty

Zhou Literature The reflections of Confucius Book of Changes Manual for divination Book of History Book of Etiquette (Book of Rites) Book of Songs Little survived Often written on perishable bamboo strips Many destroyed by emperor of Qin dynasty in 221 B.C.E.