1. The Ancient Near East: The First Civilizations
Chapter 1
The Ancient Near East:
The First Civilizations

2. The First Humans Hominids
Australopithecines (3-4 million years ago; simple stone tools; limited to Africa)
Homo Erectus (1.5 million years ago; larger, more varied tools; moves into Europe and Asia)
Homo Sapiens (“wise human being”)
Neanderthals, (c. 100,000 – 30,000 years ago)
Neander Valley in Germany, other parts of Europe and Middle East
More advanced stone tools; burial of the dead
Homo Sapiens Sapiens, (c. 200,000 B.C. – Present)
“Wise, wise human being”
Replaced Neanderthals
Spread throughout the world

3. The Spread of Homo Sapiens Sapiens
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4. The Hunter Gatherers of the Old Stone Age
Paleolithic Age, (c. 2.5 million years ago – 10,000 years ago)
Hunting and Gathering
Nomadic Bands (20 – 30 people)
Division of Labor between men and women
Discovery of Fire (c. 500,000 B.C.)
Source of light and heat; cooking of food
Cultural Activities notably cave paintings

5. Neolithic Revolution(c. 10,000 – 4000 B.C.)
Agricultural Revolution
Move from hunting and gathering toward systematic growing of food
Consequences of Neolithic Revolution
Permanent Settlements (Çatal Hüyük)
Trade
Specialized division of Labor
Improved Tools
Domestication of Animals
Development of Writing
Use of Metals
Copper + Tin = Bronze
Bronze Age (c B.C. – c B.C.)

6. The Emergence of Civilization
Six Characteristics of Civilization
Urban Focus – Cities become very important
Distinct Religious Structure (gods; priests)
Political and Military Structures (bureaucracy; armies)
Social Structure based on Economic Power
Writing – Record Keeping
Artistic and Intellectual Activity

7. Civilization in Mesopotamia
The City State of Ancient Mesopotamia
Begins at Sumer (c B.C.)
City States (Eridu, Ur, Uruk, Umma, Lagash)
Temples to the gods / Ziggurats
Theocracy (gods rule the cities through priests)
Kingship (divine in Origin)
Economy Primarily Agricultural
Some Trade
Three Major Social Groups
Nobles, Commoners and Slaves

8. The Ancient Near East

9. Empires in Ancient Mesopotamia
Early Dynastic Age (c – 2340 B.C.)
Instability; warfare between city states
Akkadian Empire (c – c B.C.)
Sargon
Third Dynasty of Ur (c – 2000 B.C.)
Amorites
Hammurabi (1792 – 1750 B.C.)

10. Code of Hammurabi 282 Laws Strict Justice / Severe Penalties
Principle of Retaliation
Responsibility of Public Officials
Consumer Protections
Agriculture and Trade
Family / Marriage / Domestic Affairs

11. Culture of Mesopotamia
The Importance of Religion
City State linked to god or goddess.
Epic of Gilgamesh
Polytheistic (belief in many gods)
Human Beings subservient to gods
Divination
Cultivation of New Arts and Sciences
Writing, (c B.C.)
cuneiform = “wedge-shaped”
Record Keeping; Past Events; Literature
Mathematics
Number System based on 60
Geometry
Astronomy

12. Egyptian Civilization: The Gift of the Nile
Nile River
Annual, Predictable Flooding
Food Surplus
Transportation
Security
Changelessness

13. Mud and thatch wall of Egyptian farmhouse in the Nile River Valley.

14. Ancient Egypt

15. The Old and Middle Kingdoms
Upper and Lower Egypt United (c B.C.)
Old Kingdom (c – 2125)
Prosperity and Stability
Pharaohs (Divine Kings)
Absolute Rulers
Ma’at
Bureaucracy – Vizier
Nomes (Provinces)
First Intermediate Period (c – 2055 B.C.)
Middle Kingdom (c – 1650 B .C.)
Changing Role of Pharaoh

16. Society and Economy in Ancient Egypt
Organized Hierarchically
Pharaoh at the Top
Upper Class (Nobles and Priests)
Merchants and Artisans
Trade
Lower Class; Serfs
Majority of Population
Bound to Land
Tax Payers
Military Service; Labor Force

17. Culture of Egypt Spiritual Life and Egyptian Society Religion Pyramids
Sun Cult (Atum; Re)
Osiris, Isis, and Seth
Book of the Dead
Pyramids
City of the Dead
Physical Body / Spiritual Body (Ka)
Mummification
Great Pyramid at Giza (c B.C.)
Art and Writing
Functional / Integral in Ritual
Art Formulaic
Writing (Hieroglyphs)

18. The Pyramids at Giza

19. Chaos and a New Order: The New Kingdom
Second Intermediate Period (c – c B.C.)
Hyksos Invasion
Bronze Age
New Methods of Warfare
New Kingdom (c – 1085 B.C.)
Militarism and Imperialism
Amenhotep IV (c – 1347 B.C.)
Worship of Aten (god of the sun disk)
Tutankhamen (1347 – 1338 B.C.)
Restoration of old gods
Rameses II (c – 1213 B.C.)
Decline (after 1085 B.C.)

20. Pharaoh Rameses II's stone head – Luxor

21. Daily Life in Ancient Egypt: Family and Marriage
Husband – Master of the House
Wife – Head of the Household; Education of Children
Women
Labor
Hatshepsut
Arranged Marriages
Reproduction
Love
Divorce Allowed
Adultery Strictly Prohibited

22. The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut

23. Discussion Questions
What were some of the key characteristics that separated homo sapiens sapiens from other early hominids?
What were the reasons behind the Neolithic Revolution?
Why is Mesopotamia called the Cradle of Civilization?
What does the Code of Hammurabi tell us about Mesopotamian society?
What role did the Nile River play in the development of Egyptian civilization?
Why was Egyptian civilization so interested in death and dying?
What function did women play in Mesopotamian society?

24. Web Links Becoming Human
Exploring Ancient World Cultures: The Ancient Near East
The British Museum: Ancient Egypt
Daily Life in Ancient Egypt
Death and Burial in Egypt