The Ancient and Classical Periods

Ancient Period, c – 1500 BCE Ancient Period, c – 1500 BCE Alternate name is Bronze Age Alternate name is Bronze Age Bronze Age replaces stone, wood, bone tools Bronze Age replaces stone, wood, bone tools An age of many inventions, innovations An age of many inventions, innovations Begins from the rise of the first cities Begins from the rise of the first cities Begins with the rise of writing, formal institutions Begins with the rise of writing, formal institutions States were small, the focus was on the local States were small, the focus was on the local Minimal interactions – trade, war, migrations Minimal interactions – trade, war, migrations Classical Period, c BCE – 500 CE Classical Period, c BCE – 500 CE Begins with the use of iron: called the Iron Age Begins with the use of iron: called the Iron Age Age saw the rise of the world’s core cultures Age saw the rise of the world’s core cultures Interactions, exchanges increased significantly Interactions, exchanges increased significantly Rise of cosmopolitan cultures across large regions Rise of cosmopolitan cultures across large regions Dominated by large, multi-national empires Dominated by large, multi-national empires Society was increasingly hierarchical, patriarchal Society was increasingly hierarchical, patriarchal Elites were usually warrior aristocracies Elites were usually warrior aristocracies Civilization spread, diffused to a wider region Civilization spread, diffused to a wider region

Stage 1 Stage 1 Nomads overrun sedentary area Nomads overrun sedentary area Nomads intermarry with locals Nomads intermarry with locals Stage 2 Stage 2 Nomadic group becomes sedentary Nomadic group becomes sedentary Nomadic culture blends with sedentary culture Nomadic culture blends with sedentary culture New culture rises to greater heights New culture rises to greater heights Stage 3 Stage 3 Culture begins to age, weakens Culture begins to age, weakens Government less effective, corruption, high taxes Government less effective, corruption, high taxes Stage 4 Stage 4 Culture overrun by new nomadic group Culture overrun by new nomadic group The Continuity of Civilizations The Continuity of Civilizations Despite new invasions, common Cuneiform civilization preserved Despite new invasions, common Cuneiform civilization preserved Despite changes in Dynasties, Egyptian culture continued Despite changes in Dynasties, Egyptian culture continued

Sumerian City-states Sumerian City-states Ruled city and immediate surrounding countryside Ruled city and immediate surrounding countryside Small, independent but not totally autonomous Small, independent but not totally autonomous Local differences but much similarity Local differences but much similarity Run originally by priests, then warrior-kings Run originally by priests, then warrior-kings Aristocratic nobles assisted kings Aristocratic nobles assisted kings Akkadian Empire Akkadian Empire Conquest state – state rose through conquest Conquest state – state rose through conquest Tribute state Tribute state Akkad demanded tribute Akkad demanded tribute Akkad permitted local autonomy if no revolts Akkad permitted local autonomy if no revolts Cuneiform culture of Sumer but Semitic Cuneiform culture of Sumer but Semitic

Ever larger conquest empires arose Ever larger conquest empires arose Egypt Egypt Three periods called Kingdoms Three periods called Kingdoms First two periods, Old and Middle are ancient First two periods, Old and Middle are ancient New Kingdom is an empire ruling into SW Asia New Kingdom is an empire ruling into SW Asia Pharaoh became increasingly “human” Pharaoh became increasingly “human” Priests had enormous power in government Priests had enormous power in government Babylonian and Assyrian Empires Babylonian and Assyrian Empires Conquest, tribute empires Conquest, tribute empires Old Babylonian Empire: Hammurabi’s Code Old Babylonian Empire: Hammurabi’s Code Assyrian Empire used terror, regular army Assyrian Empire used terror, regular army

Hittites Hittites Indo-European Chariot people Indo-European Chariot people Settled in Anatolia around 1800 BCE Settled in Anatolia around 1800 BCE Adopted Sumerian cuneiform culture Adopted Sumerian cuneiform culture Borrowed Mesopotamian gods Borrowed Mesopotamian gods Codified their laws and history Codified their laws and history The Hittite Empire The Hittite Empire Arose around 1400 BCE Arose around 1400 BCE Conquered Anatolia, Upper Mesopotamia, Syria Conquered Anatolia, Upper Mesopotamia, Syria Disintegrated around 1180 BCE Disintegrated around 1180 BCE Numerous Neo-Hittite States Numerous Neo-Hittite States Some Key Differences Some Key Differences Introduced horses, chariots into region Introduced horses, chariots into region Introduced ability to work, use iron tools, weapons Introduced ability to work, use iron tools, weapons Their arrival begins Iron or Classical Age Their arrival begins Iron or Classical Age Queens and women had many rights in Hittite society Queens and women had many rights in Hittite society Signed first historical peace treaty with Egypt after stalemated war Signed first historical peace treaty with Egypt after stalemated war

Ruling Classes Aristocracy Royalty Nobility Priestly and Military Groups came out of aristocracy Some talented commoners Other Classes “Free” classes Merchants Artisans Intellectuals Peasants Slaves

Patriarchal Males dominate society Greatest influence of male is in public arena Patrilocal After marriage, wife lives with husband’s family Wife “abandons” old family for husband’s family Polygamous Men could have more than one wife Polygamy was an elite condition Poor usually had one wife Male Roles Governmental and military Most religious roles Intellectual roles Farmers and craftsmen Female Roles: Public vs. Private Women had no public role but predominates in raising family Women tended however to dominate in cloth, textile making

Religious Religious Polytheism Polytheism Previous animism replaced by written teachings about religion Previous animism replaced by written teachings about religion Development of priests, formal structures, architecture Development of priests, formal structures, architecture Anthropomorphism of nature Anthropomorphism of nature Priests hold great power, own land, temples Priests hold great power, own land, temples Divine Right vs. Theocracy Divine Right vs. Theocracy Intellectual Intellectual Cuneiform and Hieroglyphics Cuneiform and Hieroglyphics Early writing was extremely complex Early writing was extremely complex Scribes or an elite class Scribes or an elite class They alone can write They alone can write Important to rulers, priests, merchants Important to rulers, priests, merchants Literatures: Gilgamesh, Book of the Dead Literatures: Gilgamesh, Book of the Dead Arts and Architecture Arts and Architecture Public Architecture, public art Public Architecture, public art Both symbolized power, influence of rulers Both symbolized power, influence of rulers Also symbolized influence of a god or a state Also symbolized influence of a god or a state Art Conventions very rigid Art Conventions very rigid

Man is a tool maker and user The ability to make and use tools Man innovates to meet needs, deficiencies Sumer is major source of first inventions 60 of the world’s first inventions From writing to wheels to numbers to sails Metallurgy Sumer arose during Ancient or Bronze Age Classical Age begins with the Iron Age Mathematics and Sciences

Man alters his environment Man alters his environment More pronounced in Mesopotamia More pronounced in Mesopotamia Environment is unpredictable, harsher Environment is unpredictable, harsher Irrigation, dikes, dams, sluices Irrigation, dikes, dams, sluices Agriculture alters environment Agriculture alters environment All societies were overwhelmingly agrarian All societies were overwhelmingly agrarian Heavy agriculture increases human population Heavy agriculture increases human population Some crops really deplete soil Some crops really deplete soil Cities are artificial and alter environment Cities are artificial and alter environment Extreme concentration of humans in small space Extreme concentration of humans in small space Wastes, diseases concentrated Wastes, diseases concentrated

Movement Movement Human migration: pastoralists, mass migration Human migration: pastoralists, mass migration Semites: Arabs, Jews, Hyksos, Phoenicians Semites: Arabs, Jews, Hyksos, Phoenicians Hamites: Kush, Axumites Hamites: Kush, Axumites Nilo-Saharans Nilo-Saharans Indo-Europeans: Hittites, Cimmerians Indo-Europeans: Hittites, Cimmerians Indo-Iranians: Hurrians, Medes/Persians Indo-Iranians: Hurrians, Medes/Persians Culture, social blending Culture, social blending Disruptions Disruptions War War Interaction increases as resources scarce Interaction increases as resources scarce As technology improves, so does war As technology improves, so does war Diplomacy arises as conflicts increase Diplomacy arises as conflicts increase Exchanges such as Trade, Diseases Exchanges such as Trade, Diseases Goods and skills exchanged Goods and skills exchanged Ideas, diseases exchanged Ideas, diseases exchanged Diplomacy Diplomacy 1 st Treaty in history between Egypt, Hittites 1 st Treaty in history between Egypt, Hittites

Hebrews Hebrews Origins Origins Semitic pastoralists on fringes of Fertile Crescent Semitic pastoralists on fringes of Fertile Crescent Abraham is the patriarch or founding father Abraham is the patriarch or founding father Ethical Monotheism Ethical Monotheism A Person’s actions dictate a person’s eternal reward A Person’s actions dictate a person’s eternal reward God made a contract (covenant) with the Jews God made a contract (covenant) with the Jews If the Jews would follow the code of conduct, they were saved If the Jews would follow the code of conduct, they were saved There is only one God – have no false gods before Me There is only one God – have no false gods before Me Phoenicians Phoenicians Semitic coastal dwellers along Lebanese mountains Semitic coastal dwellers along Lebanese mountains Land could not support people through agriculture Land could not support people through agriculture Phoenicians become merchants, artisans: Cloth, Dye, Metallurgy Phoenicians become merchants, artisans: Cloth, Dye, Metallurgy Created an Alphabet: Aleph and Beth to improve communication Created an Alphabet: Aleph and Beth to improve communication Established trading colonies across Mediterranean Established trading colonies across Mediterranean

Kush-Meroe Origins Afro-Asiatic peoples on Upper Nile Conquered by Egypt Late migration of Nilo-Saharans into area Later migration overwhelmed people A Kingdom After Old Kingdom, became independent Had an Egyptian culture with local variations Developed an iron based, gold rich trading, military state Conquered Egypt but driven out by Assyrians Continued to exist, trade with Persians, Greeks, Romans Eventually converted to Christianity c. 300 CE Axum The Mystery of their Origins Some think the culture migrated across the Red Sea from Yemen Yemeni civilizations were Semitic trading states active in East Africa Some think the culture arose independently from indigenous peoples c. 300 CE Arose as a trading state independent of Southern Arabia Dominated trade in area and eventually became Christian

Church at Lalibela, Axum Obelisk, Axum Pyramids of Kush-Meroe

Egyptian tomb Painting showing Groups living in Region. Pharaoh Piye of Kush After he conquered Egypt, 26 th Dynasty