CHAPTER 1 STONE AGE SOCIETIES AND

THE EARLIEST CIVILIZATIONS OF THE NEAR EAST

The Development of Humankind Most of human existence is

prehistory. Apes to humans: hominids, Homo

habilis, Homo erectus, Homo sapiens.

Preliterate Cultures Practical intelligence makes up for

physical limitations Paleolithic Culture: making and using

tools The Neolithic Revolution and Advent

of Agriculture.

Preliterate Society and Religion Social Organization: elementary

and extended families. Customs, laws, and democracy

organize early societies. All of these advances occurred in

different places on earth at different times.

Mesopotamia: The First Civilization Historians argue about how to

define a civilization. A stable community, agriculture,

architecture and writing 6,000 B.C.E. The southern part of

Mesopotamia, in Sumer. Man vs. The Environment.

The Emergence of Civilization in Sumer c. 3200-2800 B.C.E.

Development of language, pottery wheel, wheeled vehicle.

The Old Sumerian Period 2800-2300 B.C.E.

Constant warfare erupts between cities.

Theocracy Political upheaval arises as the result

of despotic abuse of power. Slavery

The Akkadian Period C. 2300-2150 B.C.E.

Sargon I, ruler of Akkadian empire that stretched from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea.

The Neo-Sumerian Period c. 2150-2000 B.C.E. Characterized by the restoration of order by

the Third Dynasty of Ur.

Religion as “arm of the state.”

The Old Babylonian Period c. 2000-1600 B.C.E.

Hammurabi and his code. Mathematics and Society Literature and Religion

The End of an Era

Egypt: Gift of the Nile One of Africa’s earliest

civilizations. Attachment to the Nile River. Predynastic Egypt

The Old Kingdom c. 2700-2200 B.C.E.

All power becomes central: the pharaoh.

Pyramids

The Middle Kingdom 2050-1800 B.C.E.

The Eleventh and Twelfth Dynasties restore order.

Hyksos of western Asia rule much of Egypt.

The New Kingdom or Empire c. 1570-1090 B.C.E. The “aggressive state” and

Thutmose II

Third Intermediate Period c. 1090-332 B.C.E.

Amon priesthood ruled Upper Egypt

Libyans from the west ruled central Egypt.

Dynasty of merchant princes in the the Delta.

Nubia and the Kingdom of Kush

1600 B.C.E. Kingdom of Kush developed,

relying mostly on the Nile and agriculture.

Also united Egypt with African societies to the south and east.

Eventually absorbed by the Ethiopian kingdom c. 400 C.E.

Egyptian Society and Economy Social organization Economy Religion Mathematics and Science Monumentalism in Architecture Sculpture and Painting Writing and Literary Texts

The Hittites c. 2000-1200 B.C.E.

Probably entered Asia Minor from the northeast.

Aggressive and tenuous monarchies. The Hittite Empire Hittite Civilization

The Era of Small States C. 1200-700 B.C.E.

The Phoenicians The Hebrew Kingdoms

Questionable accuracy of biblical accounts

Hebrew religion The Aramaeans

Later Empires of Western Asia C. 700-500 B.C.E.

The Assyrian Empire Assyrian Culture Downfall of the Assyrian Empire The Lydians and the Medes The Chaldean Empire

The Persian Empire Persian Government Persian Religion and Art

Conclusion What do we know? What were the major factors that

allowed for the development of civilizations?

Why did certain civilizations develop where they did?

Make a prediction: how are these civilizations going to affect those that follow them?