1. Early Mesopotamian and Nile River Cultures

2. Anthropology - The scientific study of the origin, the behavior, and the physical, social, and cultural development of humans. Archaeology - The systematic study of past human life and culture by the recovery and examination of remaining material evidence, such as graves, buildings, tools, and pottery History - The branch of knowledge that records and analyzes past events “much of our understanding of early humans still relies on considerable conjecture …”

3. Paleolithic Age (Old Stone) 1. Characteristics a. hunting and gathering b. lived in small bands c. nomadic d. began to refine use of tools e. used fire and often lived in caves 2. Two important technological innovations: use of tools and fire

4. Paleolithic Peoples: Example, San People of Southern Africa – Rock Art depicting Hunting and Spiritual Life

5. Neolithic Age (New Stone) 10,000 – 4,000 BCE – stone tools for new uses: agriculture 10,000 – 4,000 BCE – stone tools for new uses: agriculture “… The biggest change was the shift from hunting animals and gathering plants for sustenance to producing food by systematic agriculture.” “… The biggest change was the shift from hunting animals and gathering plants for sustenance to producing food by systematic agriculture.” –9000 BCE - Farming began in west Asia –7000 BCE – Towns emerged –6000 BCE – Farming in Egypt –3000 BCE – cities and states in west Asia & Egypt Characteristics: Characteristics: a. growing of crops b. utilizing beasts of burden c. domestication of animals

6. Permanent Settlements Agricultural Development Led to Permanent Settlements: a. houses built for shelter and structures for storing food b. began to trade c. began to specialize in certain crafts d. divisions of labor developed e. Technical developments between 4,000 – 3,000 BCE– better tools – Asians discovered how to combine better tools – Asians discovered how to combine copper and tin to create bronze – harder substance copper and tin to create bronze – harder substance than copper alone than copper alone

7. Women’s Work This rock painting from a cave in modern-day Algeria, dating from around the fourth millennium BCE, shows women harvesting grain. © Erich Lessing/Art Resource, NY

8. Similarities? Documents to support your case? Similarities? Documents to support your case? Early Complex Societies: Mesopotamia and Egypt

9. Similarities Similarities 1. each developed in a river valley 2. urban focus 3. new political and military structures 4. new social structure based on economic power 5. distinct religious structure 6. development of writing 7. new and significant artistic and intellectual activity

10. Mesopotamia (The Fertile Crescent) Location: Tigris & Euphrates Rivers LinkLink to PBS, “Braving Iraq” – story of Iraq’s Wetlands – (50 minutes)

11. What does the film have to do with this class? Why did we watch it?

12. City States of Mesopotamia Settlement of various city-states in Mesopotamia (“between the rivers”) Settlement of various city-states in Mesopotamia (“between the rivers”) –Independent at times, sometimes united under same ruler Sumerian cities (Eridu, Ur, Uruk, Lagesh) Sumerian cities (Eridu, Ur, Uruk, Lagesh) Buildings of mud-brick, arch & dome structures and Ziggurats Buildings of mud-brick, arch & dome structures and Ziggurats Produced woolen textiles, pottery, and Produced woolen textiles, pottery, and metalwork metalwork

13. Ziggurat and Royal Tombs at Ur … LinkLink to video, “Royal Tombs of Ur” (7 minutes) VideoVideo on Bull-headed Lyre at Penn Museum WebsiteWebsite for Exhibit, “Iraq’s Ancient Past”

14. Religion Religious development reflected economic and social development Religious development reflected economic and social development – polytheistic – many gods, related to agriculture, nature, and kings agriculture, nature, and kings – gods ruled the cities – theocracy – priesthood, division of labor – kingship was divine – examples: Gilgamesh, Hammurabi Gilgamesh, Hammurabi

15. Hammurabi United Sumeria (1792-1750 BCE) United Sumeria (1792-1750 BCE) Well-disciplined army Well-disciplined army Assimilated conquered cultures Assimilated conquered cultures Built temples and defensive walls Built temples and defensive walls Irrigation canals Irrigation canals Encouraged trade Encouraged trade Code of Hammurabi – What does the Code tell us about Mesopotamian society and culture?

16. Hammurabi’s Code Stele in Louvre Museum, Paris

17. Hammurabi Code Stele Solid basalt (rock) block inscribed with code of laws (in Akkadian language)

18. Hammurabi Receiving Code of Laws from Gods Carved top of stele Codes: Rules of conduct Punishment for breaking laws: physical punishment, fines Class does matter Sex does matter Rights for women Marriage laws Property rights: land, crops, animals, slaves, tools Commercial laws: standards, rent, taxes

19. Ishtar Gate (from Babylon) now in Pergamon Museum, Berlin

20. Ishtar Gate Lion

21. Ishtar Gate Dragon

22. Earliest Preserved Writing System Earliest Writing – Cuneiform – wedge- shaped writing (from Ur) Earliest Writing – Cuneiform – wedge- shaped writing (from Ur) Written in fired clay Written in fired clay Accounting Accounting Of what? Of what?

23. Current Archaeology Assur – Assyrian/Babylonian city in northern Mesopotamia (current-day Iraq) Assur – Assyrian/Babylonian city in northern Mesopotamia (current-day Iraq) Cuneiform was developed there Cuneiform was developed there Temples found – but many more thought buried Temples found – but many more thought buried Only recently safe to resume archaeological work Only recently safe to resume archaeological work But threatened by construction of a dam across the Tigris River But threatened by construction of a dam across the Tigris River

24. Assur Site Video on Preservation Problems in IraqPreservation Problems in Iraq (4 min.) Links to videos on current state of ancient sites of Ur Part One Part Two

25. Nile River Societies 5500 BCE – 395 CE

26. Nile River Flows Upper Nile Lower Nile

27. Nile River Delta

28. Egyptian Nile River Societies Importance of the Nile River – Importance of the Nile River – –“The Gift of the Nile” –Predictable flooding, silting, fertilizing of fields –Transportation and trade

29. Nile Floods Flood levels in SudanFlood levels in Sudan, 2001 Flooding in EgyptFlooding in Egypt, 1965 Current uses of Nile waters

30. Egyptian Kingdoms and Empire Egypt protected from invasion by seas and Sahara desert Saharan Desert

31. Egyptian Kingdoms and Empire Link to Timeline Link to Timeline Old Kingdom - divine kingship (pharaohs) –ruled by ma’at – idea of truth & justice –Only time when pharaohs were buried in pyramids Middle Kingdom – Golden Age –Stable in leadership –Pharaohs, “shepherds,” but still divine

32. Spiritual Life No word for “Religion” – part of everyday life, beliefs, and actions No word for “Religion” – part of everyday life, beliefs, and actions Two groups of gods – sun and land – Two groups of gods – sun and land – –Similarities and differences from Paleolithic beliefs? Pyramids – burial places for pharaohs – the largest are from Old Kingdom period Pyramids – burial places for pharaohs – the largest are from Old Kingdom period

33. The Giza Pyramids were built as tombs for the fourth dynasty kings Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure who ruled Egypt through 2589- 2504 BCE. The largest is the Great Pyramid of Khufu, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

34. Egyptian Kingdoms & Empire (continued) New Kingdom (1550-1085 BCE) New Kingdom (1550-1085 BCE) –Pharaohs buried in Valley of the Kings –Kicked Hyksos conquerors out –Egypt expanded through military conquest –Most powerful state in Middle East Amenhotep, a.k.a. Akhenaten Amenhotep, a.k.a. Akhenaten –tried to make Egypt monotheistic Ramses II restored Kingdom of Egypt Ramses II restored Kingdom of Egypt

35. Nubian Kingdoms on the Middle and Upper Nile Changing Relationships with Egyptian Kingdoms and Empire  Two areas were often linked through trade, religion, and culture  Dependent on Egypt at times  Independent at times  Ruled Egypt for a time Source of luxury materials for Egypt: gold, ivory, slaves, gems, elephants, lions, granite Received manufactured goods back from Egypt like linen cloth, glass, oils, wine & govt., religion

36. Nubian Kingdoms on the Middle and Upper Nile Egypt Nubia

37. Nubian Kingdoms and Cities 2500 BCE to Roman Period Kerma – large agricultural settlement on Middle Nile – invaded by Egypt and disappeared Napata – ruled Egypt during 25 th dynasty Kush – had own pharaonic rulers Meroe – ruling city of Kush, further south, away from Egyptian domination

38. Nubian Kingdoms and Cities Kerma Large agricultural settlement in Middle Nile area Conquered by Egyptian Thutmoses I Kerma then disappeared by about 1580 BCE The Western Deffufa (temple) of Kerma made of mud bricks

39. Nubian/Kushite Sphinx of Taharqo Ruler, 690-664 BCE

40. History of “Palestinian Territory” Also known as the Ancient Near East Constant conflict from within and with neighboring peoples Hebrew People and Canaan – historical figures 1. Abraham 2. Exodus from Egypt (1700 BCE) 3. King Saul and King David (1020-922 BCE) (1020-922 BCE) 4. Divided Kingdom – Israel and Judah (922 – 587 BCE) (922 – 587 BCE)

41. Problems in Ancient Palestine: Location, Location, Location?

42. Map of Ancient Palestine Phoenicians Philistines Israelites, Hebrew Peoples

43. Conquest of Hebrew People by Outside Invaders 1. Israel and the Assyrians (722 BCE) (722 BCE) 2. Judah and Babylon (Mesopotamians) (587 BCE) (587 BCE) 3. Exile of Hebrews in Babylon/Egypt Return from Exile of the Hebrews 1. Cyrus the Persian 2. Darius the Persian

44. Flood Story Comparison – Religious and Cultural Traditions Discussion of Epic of Gilgamesh: Discussion of Epic of Gilgamesh: Questions: Questions: 1. What can EofG tell us about Mesopotamian society, in particular? 2. What does the epic tell us about life, in general, in cultures of that time? 3. Similarities between EofG and other stories? Why so similar, in your view?