1. Major Transitions in Europe and the Near East 7000 – 200 BC
Paul R. Duffy
University of Michigan
World History Initiative

2. Neolithic
Copper Age
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Time
200 BC
Romans turn inland toward Celts
700 BC
Iron making
1500 BC
Bronze making common
3000 BC
Proto-Indo-European leaves steppe ‘homeland’
3600 BC
States in Mesopotamia
3800 BC
Farmers on British Isles and all throughout Europe
4500 BC
Farmers reach Northern Europe, copper metallurgy in Balkans, chiefdoms in Mesopotamia
7000 BC
Farming package leaves Fertile Crescent
Significant moments in Europe and the Near East

4. Forest-steppe boundary
Carpathian Basin
Alps
Caspian Sea
Caucasus
Black Sea
Balkans
Mediterranean

5. Movement of technology and ideas 1. Cultural diffusion and exchange 2
Movement of technology and ideas 1. Cultural diffusion and exchange 2. Migration or demic diffusion

6. Spondylus
(burial from Jeuness 1997:116 LBK Aiterhofen, tomb 41).

7. Distribution of Spondylus in the Neolithic

8. Amber Necklace from Wessex culture burial (Early Bronze Age)
Photo from Wiltshire Heritage Museum website,
Amber Necklace from Wessex culture burial (Early Bronze Age)

9. Amber in Early Bronze Age Italy
Amber source
Finished amber

10. Likely routes to Early Bronze Age Italy

11. Amber and bronze demand in central Europe
High demand for imports

12. Western Eurasian economies 3500-3000 BC
MIXED FARMING
FORAGERS
MIXED FARMING
HERDERS
SMALL SCALE IRRIGATION FARMING
Site: Sziget-Szentmarton, Hungary (from Biro et al 2005).
LARGE SCALE IRRIGATION FARMING

13. Major Indo-European branches at 400 BC
BALTIC
CELTIC
GERMANIC
IRANIAN
SLAVIC
CELTIC
CELTIC
ITALIC
GREEK
ANATOLIAN
IRANIAN

14. Copper production takes off (c. 4500 BC)
Native copper
Metallurgical slag
Hungarian bronzes and accessories (from Biro et al 2005: 46).
Copper axes
Copper head ornament

15. Bronze production takes off (c. 2500-1500 BC)
Advances in metal working
Increase in military symbolism
Increase in difference between burial inclusions
Early Bronze Age burial at Leubingen, Germany 1900 BC
Bronze and moulds from Hungary, c BC

16. Iron Production Iron lance head, Hungary
Iron razor, Early Iron Age Germany
Bronze figurines, Late Iron Age Hungary

17. The Heuneburg area, Early Iron Age Germany, c. 600 BC
Hohemichele burial mound
Early Iron Age wagon burial