The Ancient The Ancient and and

Classical PeriodsClassical Periods

Ancient Period, c. 4500 – 1500 BCEAncient Period, c. 4500 – 1500 BCE Alternate name is Bronze AgeAlternate name is Bronze Age Bronze Age replaces stone, wood, bone toolsBronze Age replaces stone, wood, bone tools An age of many inventions, innovationsAn age of many inventions, innovations Begins from the rise of the first citiesBegins from the rise of the first cities Begins with the rise of writing, formal institutionsBegins with the rise of writing, formal institutions States were small, the focus was on the localStates were small, the focus was on the local Minimal interactions – trade, war, migrationsMinimal interactions – trade, war, migrations

Classical Period, c. 1500 BCE – 500 CEClassical Period, c. 1500 BCE – 500 CE Begins with the use of iron: called the Iron AgeBegins with the use of iron: called the Iron Age Age saw the rise of the world’s core culturesAge saw the rise of the world’s core cultures Interactions, exchanges increased significantlyInteractions, exchanges increased significantly Rise of cosmopolitan cultures across large regionsRise of cosmopolitan cultures across large regions Dominated by large, multi-national empiresDominated by large, multi-national empires Society was increasingly hierarchical, patriarchalSociety was increasingly hierarchical, patriarchal Elites were usually warrior aristocraciesElites were usually warrior aristocracies Civilization spread, diffused to a wider regionCivilization spread, diffused to a wider region

Stage 1Stage 1 Nomads overrun sedentary areaNomads overrun sedentary area Nomads intermarry with localsNomads intermarry with locals

Stage 2Stage 2 Nomadic group becomes sedentaryNomadic group becomes sedentary Nomadic culture blends with sedentary cultureNomadic culture blends with sedentary culture New culture rises to greater heightsNew culture rises to greater heights

Stage 3Stage 3 Culture begins to age, weakensCulture begins to age, weakens Government less effective, corruption, high taxesGovernment less effective, corruption, high taxes

Stage 4Stage 4 Culture overrun by new nomadic groupCulture overrun by new nomadic group

The Continuity of CivilizationsThe Continuity of Civilizations Despite new invasions, common Cuneiform civilization Despite new invasions, common Cuneiform civilization

preservedpreserved Despite changes in Dynasties, Egyptian culture continuedDespite changes in Dynasties, Egyptian culture continued

Sumerian City-statesSumerian City-states Ruled city and immediate surrounding countrysideRuled city and immediate surrounding countryside Small, independent but not totally autonomousSmall, independent but not totally autonomous Local differences but much similarityLocal differences but much similarity Run originally by priests, then warrior-kingsRun originally by priests, then warrior-kings Aristocratic nobles assisted kingsAristocratic nobles assisted kings

Akkadian EmpireAkkadian Empire Conquest state – state rose through conquestConquest state – state rose through conquest Tribute state Tribute state

Akkad demanded tributeAkkad demanded tribute Akkad permitted local autonomy if no revoltsAkkad permitted local autonomy if no revolts

Cuneiform culture of Sumer but SemiticCuneiform culture of Sumer but Semitic

Ever larger conquest empires aroseEver larger conquest empires aroseEgyptEgypt

Three periods called KingdomsThree periods called KingdomsFirst two periods, Old and Middle are ancientFirst two periods, Old and Middle are ancientNew Kingdom is an empire ruling into SW AsiaNew Kingdom is an empire ruling into SW Asia

Pharaoh became increasingly “human”Pharaoh became increasingly “human” Priests had enormous power in governmentPriests had enormous power in government

Babylonian and Assyrian EmpiresBabylonian and Assyrian Empires Conquest, tribute empiresConquest, tribute empires Old Babylonian Empire: Hammurabi’s CodeOld Babylonian Empire: Hammurabi’s Code Assyrian Empire used terror, regular armyAssyrian Empire used terror, regular army

HittitesHittites Indo-European Chariot peopleIndo-European Chariot people Settled in Anatolia around 1800 BCESettled in Anatolia around 1800 BCE Adopted Sumerian cuneiform cultureAdopted Sumerian cuneiform culture Borrowed Mesopotamian godsBorrowed Mesopotamian gods Codified their laws and historyCodified their laws and history

The Hittite EmpireThe Hittite Empire Arose around 1400 BCEArose around 1400 BCE Conquered Anatolia, Upper Mesopotamia, SyriaConquered Anatolia, Upper Mesopotamia, Syria Disintegrated around 1180 BCEDisintegrated around 1180 BCE Numerous Neo-Hittite StatesNumerous Neo-Hittite States

Some Key DifferencesSome Key Differences Introduced horses, chariots into regionIntroduced horses, chariots into region Introduced ability to work, use iron tools, weaponsIntroduced ability to work, use iron tools, weapons Their arrival begins Iron or Classical AgeTheir arrival begins Iron or Classical Age Queens and women had many rights in Hittite societyQueens and women had many rights in Hittite society Signed first historical peace treaty with Egypt after stalemated Signed first historical peace treaty with Egypt after stalemated

warwar

Ruling ClassesAristocracy

RoyaltyNobility

Priestly and MilitaryGroups came out of aristocracySome talented commoners

Other Classes“Free” classes

MerchantsArtisansIntellectuals

Peasants Slaves

Patriarchal Males dominate society Greatest influence of male is in public arena

Patrilocal After marriage, wife lives with husband’s family Wife “abandons” old family for husband’s family

Polygamous Men could have more than one wife Polygamy was an elite condition Poor usually had one wife

Male Roles Governmental and military Most religious roles Intellectual roles Farmers and craftsmen

Female Roles: Public vs. Private Women had no public role but predominates in raising family Women tended however to dominate in cloth, textile making

Religious Religious PolytheismPolytheism

Previous animism replaced by written teachings about Previous animism replaced by written teachings about religionreligion

Development of priests, formal structures, architectureDevelopment of priests, formal structures, architecture Anthropomorphism of natureAnthropomorphism of nature Priests hold great power, own land, templesPriests hold great power, own land, temples

Divine Right vs. TheocracyDivine Right vs. TheocracyIntellectualIntellectual

Cuneiform and HieroglyphicsCuneiform and Hieroglyphics Early writing was extremely complexEarly writing was extremely complex Scribes or an elite class Scribes or an elite class They alone can writeThey alone can write Important to rulers, priests, merchantsImportant to rulers, priests, merchants

Literatures: Gilgamesh, Book of the DeadLiteratures: Gilgamesh, Book of the DeadArts and ArchitectureArts and Architecture

Public Architecture, public artPublic Architecture, public art Both symbolized power, influence of rulersBoth symbolized power, influence of rulers Also symbolized influence of a god or a stateAlso symbolized influence of a god or a state

Art Conventions very rigidArt Conventions very rigid

Man is a tool maker and user The ability to make and use tools Man innovates to meet needs, deficiencies

Sumer is major source of first inventions 60 of the world’s first inventions From writing to wheels to numbers to sails

Metallurgy Sumer arose during Ancient or Bronze Age Classical Age begins with the Iron Age

Mathematics and Sciences

Man alters his environmentMan alters his environment More pronounced in MesopotamiaMore pronounced in Mesopotamia

Environment is unpredictable, harsherEnvironment is unpredictable, harsherIrrigation, dikes, dams, sluicesIrrigation, dikes, dams, sluices

Agriculture alters environmentAgriculture alters environmentAll societies were overwhelmingly agrarianAll societies were overwhelmingly agrarianHeavy agriculture increases human populationHeavy agriculture increases human populationSome crops really deplete soilSome crops really deplete soil

Cities are artificial and alter environmentCities are artificial and alter environment Extreme concentration of humans in small spaceExtreme concentration of humans in small space Wastes, diseases concentratedWastes, diseases concentrated

MovementMovement Human migration: pastoralists, mass migrationHuman migration: pastoralists, mass migration

Semites: Arabs, Jews, Hyksos, PhoeniciansSemites: Arabs, Jews, Hyksos, Phoenicians Hamites: Kush, AxumitesHamites: Kush, Axumites Nilo-SaharansNilo-Saharans Indo-Europeans: Hittites, CimmeriansIndo-Europeans: Hittites, Cimmerians Indo-Iranians: Hurrians, Medes/PersiansIndo-Iranians: Hurrians, Medes/Persians

Culture, social blendingCulture, social blending DisruptionsDisruptions

WarWar Interaction increases as resources scarceInteraction increases as resources scarce As technology improves, so does warAs technology improves, so does war Diplomacy arises as conflicts increaseDiplomacy arises as conflicts increase

Exchanges such as Trade, DiseasesExchanges such as Trade, Diseases Goods and skills exchangedGoods and skills exchanged Ideas, diseases exchangedIdeas, diseases exchanged

DiplomacyDiplomacy 11stst Treaty in history between Egypt, Hittites Treaty in history between Egypt, Hittites

Hebrews Hebrews OriginsOrigins

Semitic pastoralists on fringes of Fertile CrescentSemitic pastoralists on fringes of Fertile Crescent Abraham is the patriarch or founding fatherAbraham is the patriarch or founding father

Ethical MonotheismEthical Monotheism A Person’s actions dictate a person’s eternal rewardA Person’s actions dictate a person’s eternal reward God made a contract (covenant) with the JewsGod made a contract (covenant) with the Jews If the Jews would follow the code of conduct, they were savedIf the Jews would follow the code of conduct, they were saved There is only one God – have no false gods before MeThere is only one God – have no false gods before Me

PhoeniciansPhoenicians Semitic coastal dwellers along Lebanese mountainsSemitic coastal dwellers along Lebanese mountains Land could not support people through agricultureLand could not support people through agriculture Phoenicians become merchants, artisans: Cloth, Dye, Phoenicians become merchants, artisans: Cloth, Dye,

MetallurgyMetallurgy Created an Alphabet: Created an Alphabet: Aleph and Beth Aleph and Beth to improve to improve

communicationcommunication Established trading colonies across MediterraneanEstablished trading colonies across Mediterranean

Kush-Meroe Origins

Afro-Asiatic peoples on Upper Nile Conquered by Egypt Late migration of Nilo-Saharans into area Later migration overwhelmed people

A Kingdom After Old Kingdom, became independent Had an Egyptian culture with local variations Developed an iron based, gold rich trading, military state Conquered Egypt but driven out by Assyrians Continued to exist, trade with Persians, Greeks, Romans Eventually converted to Christianity c. 300 CE

Axum The Mystery of their Origins

Some think the culture migrated across the Red Sea from Yemen Yemeni civilizations were Semitic trading states active in East Africa Some think the culture arose independently from indigenous peoples

c. 300 CE Arose as a trading state independent of Southern Arabia Dominated trade in area and eventually became Christian

Church at Lalibela, AxumChurch at Lalibela, Axum

Obelisk, AxumObelisk, Axum

Pyramids of Kush-MeroePyramids of Kush-Meroe

Egyptian tombEgyptian tombPainting showingPainting showingGroups living inGroups living in

Region. Region.

Pharaoh Piye of KushPharaoh Piye of KushAfter he conqueredAfter he conqueredEgypt, 26Egypt, 26thth Dynasty Dynasty