Early Societies in SW Asia and the Indo-European

Migrations

Ch. 2

A. Mesopotamia (3000bce): “The land

between the Rivers” Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

1. Sumer (3000bce) a. Construction of elaborate irrigation systems=abundant harvests. b. Dominant people of Mesopotamia

I. The Quest for Order

MESOPOTAMIA

2. Semitic Migrants a. Sumer attracted migrants (Akkadian, Aramaic, Hebrew & Phoenician).

b. Nomadic Herdersc. built first citiesd. centers of bureaucracy, marketplaces,

cultural centers, writing & formal education. 3. Sumerian City-States

a. est. states (internal/external pressures)b. gov’t formed (authority, organized

community projects)

I. The Quest for Order cont’d.

c. Ziggurats-stepped pyramids that housed

temples and altars to the principal local deity.d. Irrigation extremely important

(agriculturally and urban). 3. Sumerian Kings

a. absolute authority w/in their realmsb. cooperation with nobles

B. The Course of Empire Once they were organized w/in they began to

extend their boundaries.

I. The Quest for Order cont’d.

1. Sargon of Akkad (2370-2315bce)

a. began as a minister to king of Kishb. organized a coup, conquered Sumerian cities.

2. Empire: A New Form of Political Organizationa. Sargon “experiment” to hold powerb. Personal presence, results negativec. 2150 Empire collapse (internal pressures)

3. Hammurabi and the Babylonian Empire (1792-1750bce)

a. Improvements: centralized bureaucracy & regular taxation.

I. The Quest for Order cont’d.

b. stationed deputies

4. Hammurabi’s Lawsa. high standards of lawb. severe punishment for violatersc. lex talionis- “law of retaliation” punishment

resembling violation.d. took into account social standing

C. Later Mesopotamian Empires Imperial rule returned w/ Assyrians Powerful organized armies under officers of merit rule Calvary forces (chariots, archers)

I. The Quest for Order cont’d.

1. The Assyrian Empire (1300bce)

a. made use of iron weaponsb. administrative techniques of

predecessorsc. law like Code of Hammurabid. preserved literature (ex. Epic of

Gilgamesh) 2. Nebuchadnezzar and the New Babylonian Empire (605-562bce)

a. aka Chaldean empire

I. The Quest for Order cont’d.

Economic diversity Trade linked distant peoples Defined social classes Patriarchal Society Writing is the foundation A. Economic Specialization and Trade 1. Bronze Metallurgy

a. Metallurgical innovations one of the most important due to specialized labor.

II. The Formation of a Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural

Traditions

b. bronze impacts military and farming

2. Iron Metallurgy (1000bce)a. cheaper and more availableb. metal of choice

3. The Wheel (3500bce)a. Transportation (vehicles, ships)b. long distance tradec. agriculture

II. The Formation of a Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions

cont’d

4. Shipbuilding (3500bce)

a. trade in Persian Gulf area (Harappans of India)

5. Trade Networksa. Assyrians traveled by donkey from N.

Mesopotamia to Anatolia.b. well organized business

II. The Formation of a Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions

cont’d

B. The Emergence of a Stratified Patriarchal Society 1. Social Classes

a. agriculture and specialized work led to wealthb. long distance tradec. Ruling classes: kings (offspring of gods) and

nobles 2. Temple Communities

a. Priests communicate w/gods to ensure good for the community.

b. income from land holdings & workshopsc. banks, underwrite trading ventures, helped needy

II. The Formation of a Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions

cont’d

1. Slaves

a. 3 sources: POWs, convicted criminals, indebted individuals 2. Patriarchal Society

a. authority (public/private) w/menb. workc. marriage arrangementsd. policies/public affairs

II. The Formation of a Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions

cont’d

3. Women’s Roles

a. advised king’s of gov’tb. Formal educationc. scribesd. midwives, shopkeepers, brewers, bakers e. virginity of brides, no casual socializing

II. The Formation of a Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions

cont’d

B. The Development of Written Cultural Traditions 1. Cuneiform Writing

a. 2900bce graphic symbols to represent sounds, syllables and ideas.

b. wedge shaped 2. Education

a. vocational instruction, also formal schools

b. communicate complex ideas on the world, humans, gods & the world

II. The Formation of a Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions

cont’d

3. Astronomy & Mathematics

a. literacy=knowledgeb. crucial to agriculture

II. The Formation of a Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions

cont’d

The Epic of Gilgamesh

A. Hebrew, Israelites and Jews Hebrews speakers of Hebrew language Israelites branch of Hebrews settled in Palestine. Jews from southern Israelites from Kingdom of

Judah 1. The Early Hebrews

a. pastoral nomadsb. Abraham came from Sumerian city Ur.c. lex talionis

III. The Broader Influence of Mesopotamian Society

Phoenicia, Kingdom of Israel, Kingdom of Judah 1500-600bce

2. Migrations and Settlement in Palestine

a. Hebrews migrated to Egypt under Moses b. 12 tribes fought against other Palestine inhabitantsc. Monarchy under King Solomon & King David

3. Moses and Monotheisma. one god known as Yahwehb. creator and sustainer of the worldc. Ten Commandment=ethical & religious

principles

III. The Broader Influence of Mesopotamian Society cont’d

4. Assyrian & Babylonian Conquests

a. Political & military setbacks led Israelites closer to Yahweh.

5. The Early Jewish Communitya. Distinct religious community believing

that they had a special relationship with Yahweh

b. Torah-Yahweh’s teachingsc. strong sense of identity different from

Mesopotamians.

III. The Broader Influence of Mesopotamian Society cont’d

B. The Phoenicians 1. The Early Phoenicians

a. organized series of independent city-states 2. Phoenician Trade Networks

a. Influenced societies through Mediterranean basin of maritime trade & communication networks

b. imported-food & raw materials, exported-metal goods, pottery, glass

c. excellent sailors, best ships, commercial coloniesd. adapted Mesopotamian culture to their own needs

III. The Broader Influence of Mesopotamian Society cont’d

3. Alphabetic Writing

a. 22 symbols representing consonants, no vowelsb. more people became literatec. spread through travel and trade

III. The Broader Influence of Mesopotamian Society cont’d

Phoenician, Greek and Roman alphabet

A. Indo-European Origins 1. Indo-European Languages

a. similarities in vocabulary & grammatical structure in Europe, SW Asia, & India

b. sub-groups include: Indo-Iranian, Greek, Germanic, Italic, Celtic

c. common tongue 2. Horses

a. domesticate, originally source of foodb. hitch to carts, wagons, chariotsc. transportation technologies; faster & efficient

IV. The Indo-European Migrations

c. military advantage

B. Indo-European Expansion and its Effects 1. The Nature of Indo-European Migrations

a. expansion beyond homeland 2. The Hittites

a. to Anatolia; imposed language and ruleb. traded w/Babylonians and Assyriansc. Cuneiformd. Mesopotamian Deities

IV. The Indo-European Migrations cont’d

3. War Chariots

a. 2 innovations-light horse drawn war chariots & iron metallurgy

b. spoked wheelsc. strike forces in armies

4. Iron Metallurgya. weapons effective, cheap & large

quantityb. heat iron into charcoal, desired shape

IV. The Indo-European Migrations cont’d

4. Indo-European Migrations to the West

a. Indo-European Celtic dominated Northern Europe

b. recognizing 3 social groups: military elites, priests and commoners

IV. The Indo-European Migrations cont’d