The Mediterranean & The Middle East, 2000-500 B.C.E.

Part IJohn Ermer

World History APMiami Beach Senior High School

The Iron AgeThe Mediterranean Sea provides vehicle for

cultural ex.New cultures and civilizations emerge in Middle

EastInteractions b/w civilizations increases

2000s B.C.E.: Many civilizations begin using IronEasier to make than bronze, one metal rather than

an alloyHarder and sharper than bronzeMust be heated to higher temperature than bronzeWith the Iron Age also came large scale use of

horses Horses allow for quicker and farther travel—empire

building

The Cosmopolitan Middle EastThe Late Bronze Age

Egypt and Mesopotamia conquered by outsiders Outsiders either cast out or assimilated into dominant

cultureNew, large territorial states emerge to dominate

Mid. East Egypt, Babylon (Mesopotamia), Hittite Empire,

Phoenicia, Palestine

CosmopolitanA time of widely shared cultures and lifestyles

High level of trade and diplomatic relations High standard of living for elite groups

Conflict between centers of power for control of resources

Western AsiaAkkadian becomes language of trade & diplomacy in W.

AsiaCuneiform writing system adopted across region

Eventually simplified into an alphabet by Pheonicians

Mesopotamia divided b/w Babylonia (S) & Assyria (N)Babylonia

Attracts non-Semite Kassites from Zargos mountains, assimilated Kassite kings of Babylon did not seek empire

Assyrians begin conquering neighbors for empire Controlled important trade routes in northern Mesopotamia

The Hittite EmpireSpoke an Indo-European languageExported copper, silver, tin

First to develop iron weapons

New Kingdom Egypt

Hyksos among the many SW Asians who migrate to EgyptHyksos means “foreigners”

Egyptians expel the Hyksos, pharaohs expand empireTrade exposes Egyptians to new cultures and

technologies

New Kingdom Egyptian Influence

The Aegean WorldGeography

Greece and the islands of the Aegean & Ionian seasMountainous, mostly rocky, arid climateLimited arable land, in plains between mountain

ranges Grains, grapevines, olive trees Food, lumber, metals must be imported by ancient

GreeksSea travel is easier than overland, trade is

paramount

Minoan Crete, 2000-1450 B.C.E.Crete = home of first European civilization

Bronze work, writing, monumental building, extensive trade

Minoans named for mythical “King Minos”Unfortified cities/palace complexesIndoor plumbing and frescoes = sophistication1450 B.C.E.: Minoan cities/palaces destroyed

Capital city of Cnossus (Knossos) survives under Mycenaeans

Mycenaean Greece, 1600-1150 B.C.E.2000 B.C.E.: Indo-Europeans migrate into Greece

Homer’s poems the Illiad & Odyssey tell of Mycenae

Schliemann finds the shaft graves Adopt Minoan style and architecture

Cities built on hilltops, thick fortifications 4,000 clay tablets of Linear B Government regulated and controlled

production Metal work reserved for elite class Trade and communication by small sailboats Mycenaeans were warlike and acquisitive

Conflict with the Hittites

Moving & Shaking1200 B.C.E.: Mass migrations across the

Mediterraneanc. 1200: Hittite kingdom collapses, Ugarit

destroyed1190: Ramesses III of Egypt battles “Sea People”

Egypt loses control of Palestine, Syria, and NubiaEgypt falls to possible Mycenaean invasion

c. 1175: Mycenaean civilization collapsesMediterranean & Middle East enter a Dark Age

Economic and political collapse leads to long, deep decline

War brings limited trade, much poorer societiesLoss of artistic & technical skills, writing/education

declinesLoss of writing, artistic & technical skills

The Sea Peoples & the Fall of Late Bronze Age Empires