MESOPOTAMIA – EGYPT – INDUS VALLEY

SHANG – OLMEC- CHAVIN - AEGEAN

ANCIENT WEAPONS& TECHNOLOGY

River valley civilizations depended on irrigation to survive Construction required engineering with stone and mud bricks Metallurgy gave advantages to civilizations that had it over those who

didn’t Stone Age – stone tools inferior to metal tools emerging!

Bronze Age – began c.3300 in the Near East & Europe, then South Asia, and then China by 2000BCE. Also differed in development of first writing during this time Late Bronze Age civilizations collapsed around 1200BCE

Iron Age – began after Bronze Age Encouraged different agricultural practices, religious beliefs, and artistic

styles Includes earliest texts preserved in manuscript tradition Sanskrit literature & Chinese literature flourished; also Hebrew Bible Introduction of alphabetic characters

Metal weapons allowed one army to defeat another with inferior weapons Increased agricultural & craftsmen capabilities

Important Concepts

Irrigation Dependent on irrigation for agriculture Natural spring floods were sudden & violent = unreliable

Cuneiform writingArtwork – Pottery, carved figurines, jewelry

Clay used for everyday dishes Mud bricks were primary building material

Agriculture – wheeled carts, sled-like platforms dragged by cattle

Boats & BargesMetallurgy – used copper alloyed with tin or arsenic to make

bronze – sharper edge than stone & easier to repair Metal tools Copper working

Glass & lamp makingTextile weavingFlood control & water storageWeapons

Daggers, swords, spears, maces Chariots c.2000BCE Siege machinery

Mesopotamia

Papyrus & hieroglyphics Used precious metals & stones in decoration Buildings required great engineering

Pyramids & elaborate tombs Construction projects of Ramesses II

Navigation Sails Variety of ships Stern-mounted rudders

Irrigation used Nile flooding to maximize crop output

Mummification – also taught human anatomy Developed mathematics to measure fields to

calculate produce owed to the state Astronomy calendar Weapons

Slings, clubs, throwing sticks, stone maces, stone tripped spears

Horn & wooden bows with stone-tipped arrows Used obsidian by 4000BCE Bronze weapons by 3150BCE - spearheads, axes,

maces Composite bow Standardized weapons & stockpiled arsenals Chariots – light, fast chariots to shower enemies with

arrows 7 retreat before counter attack launched

Egypt

Grid-like citiesConsistent sizes of mud

bricksSewage systemsPotteryAgriculture & warfare

incentive for technologyMaterial culture

prominentAdvanced metallurgy

Artifacts include precursors to modern machinery: needles, saws, drill with twisted grooves

Indus Valley

Writing on oracle bonesSpun on potters’ wheels & fired pottery

in kilnsProduced silk clothMetallurgy

Bronze objects a symbol of status & authority

Unlike other cultures, bronze reserved for use of majestic vessels for the state or ancestor worship (not weapons)

Axes, cauldrons, cups, bowls, vases, jarsSome amazingly heavy artifacts – 181lb

food cauldron at Met Museum!Chariots & Bronze Weapons in War

Military advantage over enemiesCompletely changed warfareUsed bronze-tipped halberd & spear,

compound bow, & horse-drawn chariotsChariots allowed commanders to

supervise troops across great distancesMobility in battle

Shang Dynasty

Olmec – limited technological & agricultural capacity, but did spread cultural influence across MesoamericaJaguar-god across Central

AmericaChavin – metallurgy

developed c.500BCESilver, gold, and gold alloy

ornaments unearthedSuperior-quality textiles,

gold crowns, and jewelry found in tombs

Abundant potteryMonumental architecture

Olmec & Chavin

Pottery found across the Mediterranean

System of writing (still undeciphered)

Palaces & fortificationsWeapons

Originally thought to be very peaceful civilization

Daggers & swords have been excavated from sanctuaries, graves, & residences

Archery popularHunting scenes depict

shields & helmetsHieroglyphs include bows,

arrows, spears, & daggers

Minoan Civilization

Linear B writing systemPalacesShaft gravesNavigation

Commercial vessels used sails to navigate by wind

Light wooden vesselsOnly elite owned metal goodsBronze weapons

Mycenaean Civilization

http://apworldhistory-rochester-k12-mi-us.wikispaces.com/1C.+Basic+features+of+early+civilizations-+Mesopotamia,+Indus+Valley,+%26+Egypt

http://www.indiaheritage.org/science/metal.htm

http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_4000bce_bronze.htm

http://spice.stanford.edu/docs/117http://

faculty.eas.ualberta.ca/wolfe/eprints/cooke_encyclopedia_chp.pdf

http://www.livescience.com/26275-peaceful-minoans-surprisingly-warlike.html

Resources