1. Costumes of Pre-History through Phoenician times
As seen through a Social and Economic lens
Compiled 2012 by Nathan Wichman for Costume Construction

2. Brief history of major events
~8000 BCE-- Agricultural Revolution
~3100 BCE--Beginning of the City-State
~ BCE-- Sumerian Empire
BCE-- Hammurabi
~1200 BCE-- Sea Peoples, switch to iron
BCE--Phoenicians

3. Nomads (Pre 8000 BCE) Probably only wore animal skins
Only clothing was a simple skirt for everyone, except where environments were too extreme

4. Agricultural Revolution
Began around 8000 BCE
Started settling areas permanently and domesticating animals and plants
Flax and Cotton probably discovered shortly after settling
Wool probably found quickly in areas with wooly animals

5. City-States
As people concentrated into larger towns clothing probably became more important
As the towns got larger and the hierarchy got more defined clothing and accessories became symbols of status
Development of writing, change from pre-history to history.

6. Standard of Ur, Dated 2600 BCE.
This side depicts a scene of prosperity, the king and his friends are banqueting with entertainment of singing and lyre
A procession of men is bringing animals and other goods somewhere
everyone is wearing a skirt except for some in the bottom panel possibly

7. Jewelry Jewelry probably were religious items in pre-City-State times
Consisted of clay and glass beads plus pretty stones before the Phoenicians brought more exotic gems from overseas

8. Sumerian Empire First empire of the Western World
During this time the Priestess of An and Nana, Gods of Heaven and the Moon respectively, were sometimes the only legitimating link between one dynasty and the next. (Ancient World, P.9)
During the duration of the empire several nomadic groups from farther north moved into the area, creating rapidly changing cultures

9. Hamurabi ( BCE)
First person to instate a cohesive code of laws in multiple cities
Gave women a firm legal standing within the laws

10. Phoenician influence
Came from the eastern coast of the Mediterranean, north of Israel, with few natural resources
First western people to conquer the seas
started trading as far west as spain by 950 BCE
Trade goods included: Purple Dye, imported cloth, ivory, ebony, gold, silver, ornaments, furniture, jewelry, wine, olive oil, and later glass and silk

11. Dated around 880 BCE, depicts two gods anointing the tree of life

12. Cover of sun god tablet, dated 850 and 610 BCE, from indentations we can see a use of robes and large conical headgear

13. Assyrian dated 640 BCE, there is a line on the arm that could easily be construed as the ending of a sleeve on each man

14. Assyrian, dated 640 BCE, In this scene we see several classes of people, some probably slaves going before the king or general, note the simple robes worn by lower class and usual robes worn by warriors

15. References
The Ancient World, A Social and Cultural History By D. Brendan Nagle, Print book
con355/choi/bab.htm
Encyclopedia Britannica online :