Early Societies in SW Asia and the Indo-European migration Ch. 2

The Quest for Order

Mesopotamia: “The Land between the Rivers” Semitic Migrants Sumerian City States Sumerian Kings Most gov’t were Assemblies Crisis led to the king (monarch) Absolute authority Formal Gov’t develop Due to internal/external Pressure Gov’t: organized city Projects Ziggurat: holy stepped Pyramid temple Irrigation systems to Support agriculture and Urban society Used military forces for protection Sumerians were Dominant people of Mesopotamia Created irrigation Networks Attracted Semitic Speaking people (same Language tongue) Built 1st cities (centers Of political and military Authority) Included Marketplace And cultural centers

The Course of Empire Sargon of Akkad and Empire: A new form of Political Organization Hammurabi & the Babylonian Empire Hammurabi’s Laws Created Mesopotamian empire Sargon gained power Through a coup Conquered city by city Sargon had a personal Presence Many he conquered did Not like this (raids, Destruction, financial Support) Empire weakened due to Chronic rebellion in city- states High standards of Behavior Stern punishment For violators Lex talionis= “law Of retaliation” Punishments Resembling violations Code took into Account social standing 1595 Babylon falls to The Hittites Leader of Babylonian Empire Relied on central Bureaucratic rule & Taxation Deputies in controlled Territories Efficient predictable Gov’t

Discussion questions 1-4 What was the difference in rule between Sargon and Hammurabi? Why do you think that Hammurabi had more success in his administration of his empire than Sargon? The Code of Hammurabi provided the first set of laws that addressed moral behavior. Why do you think social inequality existed between punishments? What can you infer about social inequality and power?

The Later Mesopotamian Empires Nebuchadnezzar & the New Babylonian Empire Assyrian Empire 600-550bce Chaldean empire (aka Babylon) Brought wealth to cities Defensive walls, palaces, temples 6th c. lost control and absorbed Into foreign empires Extended power to SW Asia Used iron weapons in army Used administrative techniques Followed laws like those of Hammurabi Preserved Mesopotamian Literature (ex. Epic of Gilgamesh) Empire ends due to internal/external forces

Discussion Question 5 What does the Epic of Gilgamesh suggest about the society of Mesopotamia?

The Formation of a Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions

Economic Specialization and Trade Bronze and Iron Metallurgy The Wheel Shipbuilding and Trade Networks Metallurgical Developments important Due to specialized labor Invention of bronze Impact: militarily (swords, Spears, axes, shields, etc..), Agriculturally (knives, bronze Tipped plows instead of bone Or wood) Iron is also used and Becomes the metal of choice Sumerians used water Craft to go into the Persian Gulf Traded with Harappan Society (India) Mesopotamians Traded with people in All areas Assyrians traveled by Donkey to Assur & Kanesh Families operated organized businesses Efficient means of Transportation using Wheeled vehicles & Sailing ships Facilitated long- Distance trade Wheeled carts & Wagons: carrying Heavy loads Wheel diffused to Other lands

Discussion question 6 Why is development of technology important to the economy?

The Emergence of a Stratified Patriarchal Society Social Classes and Temple Communities Slaves Patriarchal Society Women’s Roles Specialized labor And trade led to more Wealth Kings & nobles (off- Spring of gods) Special projects & Lavish capital cities Promoted high status Priests allied w/kings Priest intervene w/ Gods to ensure good Fortune for community Temples generate Income (banks=store Wealth, trading ventures, Help those in need) Free Commoner, Dependent clients, slaves POWS, Convicted Criminals, Heavily indebted Many were Domestic servants Granted Freedom w/a gift Men ruled publicly & privately Privately: family work Marriage arrangements, Family decisions, sell fam Into slavery Publicly: policies At times Advised Kings & gov’t Obtained Education And worked As scribes Virginity of Brides at marriage Forbade Casual socializing Of married men And women 1500bce Wore veils

The Development of Written Cultural Traditions Astronomy & Mathematics Cuneiform Education The Epic of Gilgamesh Symbols to Represent sound Syllables & ideas “wedge shaped” Important for Agriculture Rhythms of Seasons Divided year Into 12mths and 60=1hr &60 s.=1 min Vocational Formal schools (ex. Scribes/Gov’t officials, Priests, Lawyers, etc.) Writing to Communicate Complex ideas About the world, God, humans & Relationships Themes of: Friendship, human/god Relationships, life & Death meaning Principle vessel for Moral issues

Discussion question 7 In what ways did culture help to promote advancement in the Mesopotamian civilization?

The Broader Influence of Mesopotamian Society

Hebrews, Israelites, and Jews The Early Hebrews & Migrations and Settlements In Palestine Moses and Monotheism Assyrian & Babylonian Conquests Early Jewish Community Moses embraced Monotheism One god aka Yahweh Creator and Sustainer of the world Other gods imposters Worship him alone High moral & ethical Standards (ie. 10 Commandments) Torah= holy book (teaching)-Yahweh’s role In guiding Human affairs Obey=reward, disobey =punishment After king Solomon Israelites split In two. Kingdom Of Israel=north Kingdom of Judah=South KoI gets Defeated Becomes known As 10 lost tribes Lose identitiy KoJ gets taken Over but keeps identity Created a Distinctive Religious Community Based on their Religion Maintained Identitiy different From Mesopotamians Influence Christianity & Islam Pastoral nomads Hebrew patriarch Abraham Hebrew law used lex talionis Migrated to Egypt in 18th c.bce 1300bce=left Egypt w/Moses To Palestine These Hebrews formed 12 tribes Aka as Israelites Came under unified rule with King David & King Solomon

Discussion question 8-9 In your opinion, why do you think that monotheism did not gain a strong following w/in Mesopotamian civilization? How is the 10 commandments evident in today’s society in terms of law?

The Phoenicians Phoenician Trade Networks The Early Phoenicians Alphabetic Writing Ancestors of Phoenicians Settled 3000 BCE Not a unified monarchy but set up city states ruled By local kings Commercialism more Important than military or State building Often ruled by Egypt or Mesopotamians Influenced societies In Mediterranean basin Through their trade and Communication Industry, trade, & Maritime trade Excellent sailors, ship Est. maritime colonies Went beyond Mediterranean Imported: food raw materials Exported: metal goods, Textiles, pottery, glass, art Adapted Mesopotamian Culture to their own Phoenicians developed Alphabet we use today Letters to build words No vowels More literacy develops Phoenician alphabet Spreads throughout the Mediterranean basin Later spreads to Asia, S. Asia, SE Asia

The Indo-European Migrations

Indo-European Origins Languages The Indo-European Homeland Horses Lang. of Europe, SW Asia And India were similar This created the term Indo-European lang. Explanation of similarity: Descendants of ancestors Spoke a common tongue And migrated from their Homeland Migration led to evolution Of different languages but Basic grammatical structure Of original lang. Origin of Indo-Europeans: Modern day Ukraine and S. Russia region N. of Black Sea & Caspian Sea Indo- Euros domesticate Horses in 4000 Used 1st as food source Later domesticated them For riding Attached to carts, wagons And chariots Faster & more efficient Transportation Military advantage

Indo-European Expansion and it Effects The Nature of Indo-European Migrations The Hittites War Chariots Expanded beyond the Homeland Population explosion Led to migration Migration continued Till about 1000ce Indo-European migrants They their language and Rule on the places they Inhabited Traded with Babylonians And Assyrians Adapted cuneiform to Their lang. Accepted Mesopotamian Deities Conquered Babylon; Controlled area: Anatolia, N. Mesopotamia, Syria, Phoenicia Two technological Inventions: light Horse drawn chariot And iron metallurgy Used lighter spoked Wheels Charioteers were The elite force of the Army in the ancient world

Indo-European Expansion and it Effects Iron Metallurgy Indo-European Migrations To the East and West Indo-European Migrations To the South Cheap effective Weapons in large Quantities Iron production Diffused into Eurasia Hittites improved On existing methods Indo-Europeans also migrated East into central Asia Some Indo-Europeans Went west to the following Areas: Greece, C. Italy, S. Russia to C. Europe, British Isles, Baltic region, Iberian Penisula

Discussion Question 10 Argue how Indo European could have possibly been the most successful group during this time in SW Asia.