The Ancient World

First Humans 100,0000 years ago. 100,0000 years ago. From Africa to Asia, to Europe From Africa to Asia, to Europe Hunters Hunters Worshipped forces of nature Worshipped forces of nature

Paleolithic 40,000-8,000 B.C. 40,000-8,000 B.C. Cave artists Cave artists Lascaux, France—bulls, humans Lascaux, France—bulls, humans Caves used for ritual ceremonies Caves used for ritual ceremonies

Neolithic B.C B.C. Megalithic structures—Stonehenge Megalithic structures—Stonehenge Post-and-lintel structures aligned with astronomical prositions Post-and-lintel structures aligned with astronomical prositions

Bronze Age B.C B.C. Began to cultivate the land Began to cultivate the land Civilization in Mesopotamia Civilization in Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia Present-day Iraq Present-day Iraq The arts, writ6ing and law flourished The arts, writ6ing and law flourished Empires dominated the Near East and northern Africa Empires dominated the Near East and northern Africa

The Sumerians 3500 B.C B.C. First people to use writing First people to use writing Constructed monumental buildings Constructed monumental buildings Music Music Religion: violence Religion: violence Ziggurats: pyramids with steps to the hereafter Ziggurats: pyramids with steps to the hereafter

Empires of the Near East Gilgamesh: hero-king of the Old Babylonians Gilgamesh: hero-king of the Old Babylonians Great Flood also recounted in the Hebrew Bible Great Flood also recounted in the Hebrew Bible Hammurabi’s legal code Hammurabi’s legal code Assyrians conquered lower Egypt Assyrians conquered lower Egypt Nebuchadnezzar II – Ishtar Gate Nebuchadnezzar II – Ishtar Gate Persians: Darius’ palace at Persepolis Persians: Darius’ palace at Persepolis Persepolis fell to Alexander the Great Persepolis fell to Alexander the Great

Egypt: Religion and Society Polytheism Polytheism Pyramids of Giza Pyramids of Giza Belief in the immortality of the spirit Belief in the immortality of the spirit Treasures buried to ensure happiness after death Treasures buried to ensure happiness after death

The Arts of Egypt Akhenaten: cult of the god Aten Akhenaten: cult of the god Aten Established court at Amarna with his queen Nefertiti Established court at Amarna with his queen Nefertiti Intimacy in the pictorial depiction of humans Intimacy in the pictorial depiction of humans Tutankhamen: restores cult of Amon-Re Tutankhamen: restores cult of Amon-Re Ramesses II: monumental, richly-decorated tombs Ramesses II: monumental, richly-decorated tombs Nefertari: his wife helped expand empire Nefertari: his wife helped expand empire

Decline of Egypt Kush empire Kush empire Assyrians Assyrians Persians Persians Alexander the Great: Hellenistic culture Alexander the Great: Hellenistic culture

The Indus Valley B.C B.C. Unfortified cities Unfortified cities System of writing, terracotta sculpture System of writing, terracotta sculpture Aryans conquered 1500 B.C. Aryans conquered 1500 B.C. Vedas: religious texts Vedas: religious texts Hinduism Hinduism

China The Bronze Age The Bronze Age Shang dynasty ( B.C.) Shang dynasty ( B.C.) Carved jade, cast bronze Carved jade, cast bronze Zhou ( B.C.) Zhou ( B.C.)

Minoan Civilization Crete ( B.C.) Crete ( B.C.) Palace-cities Palace-cities Artisans: jewelry, figurines Artisans: jewelry, figurines Women unusually free and equal Women unusually free and equal

Mycenaean Civilization Greek mainland ( B.C.) Greek mainland ( B.C.) Mycenaens: warriors and pirates Mycenaens: warriors and pirates Treasure found in Mycenae includes the “Mask of Agamemnon” Treasure found in Mycenae includes the “Mask of Agamemnon” After Trojan War, Mycenae fell After Trojan War, Mycenae fell