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History  of  Migrations  –  Ancient  Age    

Fabio  Baggio    

 Prehistory  

Migration  experience  has  been  shaping  the  history  of  mankind  since  its  inception.  The  first  activities  of  subsistence,  which   one   has   evidence   of,   namely   the   collection   of   fruits   and   hunting,   forced   the   first  human  groups  to  move  constantly  according  to  the  seasons  and  the  movements  of  prey.  The  climate  upheavals   and   cataclysms   that   marked   the   different   ages   caused   even   more   massive   human  displacements,  in  the  struggle  to  survive.  

Around   10,000   BC,   thanks   to   the   discovery   of   agriculture,   some   human   groups   decided   to   settle   in  territories   that   they   considered   suitable   to   a   sedentary   lifestyle.   In   subsequent   centuries,   however,  human  migration  continued,  even  in  massive  form,  in  search  of  better  living  conditions.  

The  results  of  archaeological  researches  show  that  continents  have  been  populated  through  migration  of   human   groups.   Between   200,000   and   150,000   BC   the   homo   sapiens,   a   hominid   with   somatic  configuration  different  than  the  other  homo  and  able  to  work  the  stone,  made  its  appearance  in  East  Africa.  Some  groups  of  homo  sapiens  migrated  northeast  to  settle   in  90,000  BC  in  the  Middle  East.   In  the   next   few  millennia,   they   moved   on   to   India   and   then   to   farther   east,   toward   Indochina.   About  40,000  years  ago  human  migrations  caused  the  population  of  Western  Europe,  on  the  one  hand,  and  Australia,  on  the  other  hand.  35,000  years  ago  climatic  conditions  triggered  the  displacement  of  entire  populations  from  the  Middle  East  to  Russia  and  from  there,  in  the  following  millennia,  to  China,  Korea  and   Siberia.   From   the   latter   some  human   groups   reached  Alaska   15,000   years   ago.   Their  migration  then  continued  south,  along  the  Pacific  coast,  populating  South  America  about  5000  years  ago.  At  the  same   time,   some   human   groups   moved   by   sea   from   Indochina   to   east   and   south,   resulting   in  populating  the  islands  of  the  Pacific.  

The  following  figure  graphically  shows  the  continents’  population  process  from  150.000  BC  to  the  present.  

 

     

   

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Thousands  of  years  from  present  

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Despite  the  enormous  progress  that  accompanied  the  development  of  the  humankind  through  all   these   millennia,   one   still   have   to   wait   until   7000   BC   to   assist   at   the   first   real   human  settlements  with  a  certain  degree  of  stability  and  structured  "community"  interrelations.  

 Ancient  History  The  first  Civilizations    

By  convention,  the  advent  of  writing,  although  rudimentary,  marks  the  end  of  prehistory  and  the  beginning  of   early  history.  Written   evidences   locate   the   rise   of   the   first   “civilization”   in  4000  BC.  The   first   archaeological   evidence   refers   to   the  Hindus  who   lived   in   the   territories  that  today  are  called  India  and  Pakistan.  The  Hindus  practiced  trade  and  exchange  and  some  groups  were  used  to  temporarily  move  the  boundaries  to  buy  from  or  sell  to  other  people.  The  first  actual  writing  is  generally  attributed  to  the  Sumerians,  who  lived  in  3200  BC  in  the  fertile  land   of  Mesopotamia.   Although   characterized   by   a  more   ancient   settlement,   the  Nile   valley  witnessed   the   rise   of   the   Egyptian   civilization   only   in   3100   BC.   The   Egyptians,   however,  quickly  reached  a  well-­‐defined  structure  of  society  (pyramidal,  with  different  social  classes)  and   a   political-­‐economic   power   so   great   as   to   subjugate   the   surrounding   population,   who  were  often  obliged  to  work  as  servants  or  slaves  of  the  Egyptians.  In  2000  BC  the  Assyrians  settled  in  Mesopotamia.  They  codified  the  rules  that  regulated  the  coexistence  into  laws  and  sanctioned   punishments,   including   exile,   for   eventual   violation.   Around   1800   BC   the  Mediterranean  basin  saw  the  rise  of  a  new  civilization:  the  Phoenician.  As  expert  navigators,  sailing   from  the   land  today  we  call  Lebanon,   the  Phoenicians  explored   islands  and  coasts  of  the   Mare   Nostrum   establishing   several   colonies.   In   1700   BC   the   Hittites   established  themselves   in   Anatolia,   the   first   civilization   with   Indo-­‐European   origin,   resulting   from  migration  and  ethnic  fusions.  On  the  opposite  side  of  Asia,  in  1600  BC,  the  Chinese  civilization  began  with  the  first  Shang  dynasty.  Nonetheless,  it  should  be  clarified  that  in  China  there  are  much   earlier   evidences   of   human   settlements,   but   scholars   agree   in   dating   the   first   clear  documentation  of  culture  only  in  the  XVI  century  BC.  

The  Greek  Civilization  

Around  600  BC  the  Hellenic  peninsula  became  the  cradle  of  Greek  civilization,  based  on  the  intellectual,   social   and   economic   development   of   human   groups   that   were   politically  structured   in   independent   cities   (polis).  The  possession  of   land  or  houses  within  the   city   area   became   the   basis   of   the  concept   of   citizenship   and   the   right   to  participate  in  the  governance  of  the  polis.  Economic   development   and   population  growth   brought   the   Greeks   to   establish  colonies   in   Asia   Minor   first   and   then  across   the   Mediterranean,   transferring  culture  and  art  to  autochthonous  people.  In  these  centuries  the  Greeks  shaped  the  concept   of   cosmopolitanism   as   a   step  forward   with   respect   to   the   concept   of  citizenship  bound  to  the  polis.  The  Macedonian  Empire  

Around  300  BC,  the  Macedonia  of  Alexander  the  Great  first  annexed  the  cities  of  the  Hellenic  Peninsula  and  then  took  his  campaign  of  expansion  into  Persia  and  India,  aiming  at  creating  the  great  Macedonian  Empire  of   the  Hellenistic  age,  a  partial  and  peculiar  realization  of   the  cosmopolitan  dream.  

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The  roman  Civilization  

In  the  same  century  the  history  of  the  Romans  began.  They  passed  from  monarchy  to  republic,  drawing  on  the  experience  of  citizenship  of  the  Greek  cities.   The   astonishing   economic,   political   and  military   growth   of   the   people   of   the   Eternal   City  triggered  expansionist  cravings,  which  converted  the  republic   into   an   empire,   expanding   the   concept   of  citizenship   to   the   majority   of   the   annexed  populations  (provinces).  Within  the  Roman  Empire  a  detailed   legislative   code   was   formulated   as   a  guarantee  of   law  and  equal   justice  for  all.  Such  code  is  still  the  basis  of  modern  constitutions  and  national  laws.  The  Fall  and  Reconstruction  of  the  Chinese  Empire  

In  the  Far  East,  in  500  BC,  the  Chinese  empire  split  into  many  small  kingdoms,  which  referred  to   large   independent  cities.  For  several  centuries   (Warring  States  Period)  cities  vied   for   the  rule  of   the  territories.  The  constant  wars  caused  repeated  migrations  and  deportations.  The  unification   of   the   kingdoms   was   achieved   only   in   the   second   century   AD,   when   the   Qin  dynasty  defeated  all  antagonists.  To  defend  China  from  the  dangers  of  invasion  from  the  north  the   Chinese   emperors   started   the   construction   of   the   Great   Wall.   To   the   Qin   dynasty  succeeded  in  the  third  century  AD  the  Han  dynasty  that  began  the  expansion  of  the  Chinese  empire   towards  Manchuria,   Korea,   Mongolia,   Vietnam   and   Central   Asia.   The   annexation   of  vast  new  territories  led  to  the  extension  of  the  concept  of  citizenship/belonging  to  the  empire.  The  Chinese  society  then  was  structured  in  well-­‐marked  social  classes,  among  which  excelled  the  Mandarins,  a  class  of  civil  and  military  servants  of   the  empire.  The  class  composition  of  the  Chinese  society  and  the  bond  to  the  land  (feudal  system)  greatly  limited  migration  within  the  empire.  

The  Maya  Empire  

Meanwhile,   in   300   AD,   the   Mayan   civilization   in   the   Americas  quickly   reached   its   classical   period.   Throughout   Mesoamerica,  the  Maya  founded  cities  that  were  populated  by  a  very  structured  society.   The   economic   and  military   growth   caused   expansionist  ambitions   that   led   to   the   conquest   of   surrounding   territories  whose  populations  were  often  deported  and  enslaved.    The  Gupta  Empire  

The  IV  and  V  centuries  AD  saw  in  India  the  rise  of  the  Gupta  Empire,  which  was  characterized  by   a   rich   artistic   and   cultural   flowering.   Gupta   people   were   experts   in   mathematics,  astronomy  and  medicine.  Their  flourishing  commercial  activities  brought  many  Gupta  people  to  undertake  frequent  travel  and  contacts  with  the  surrounding  populations.