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