Upload
tia
View
125
Download
1
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Four separate civilizations Mesopotamia Egypt Harappa (Indus Valley) Shang China (Huang He). Mesopotamia was a succession of societies Sumeria (Sumer) Akkad First Babylon Assyria Second Babylon. Geography Unpredictable rivers (Tigris and Euphrates) Delta region extremely fertile - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Citation preview
Four separate civilizations• Mesopotamia• Egypt• Harappa (Indus Valley)• Shang China (Huang He)
Mesopotamia was a succession of societies• Sumeria (Sumer)• Akkad• First Babylon• Assyria• Second Babylon
Geography• Unpredictable rivers (Tigris and Euphrates)• Delta region extremely fertile• Flat land open to invasion – no natural barriers• By 4,000 BCE at least four major groups had
migrated into Sumeria: Hamites from North Africa, Semites from Arabia, Indo-Europeans from Russia, and Caucasians from Georgia
• Semi-arid climate required extensive irrigation projects
Growth of the state• Irrigation projects required cooperation on
a grand scale and leadership• Farmers banded together in settlements to
manage the environment and for protection• These settlements became compact cities
surrounded by high mud-brick walls• These cities were independent from one
another hence they were city-states
The city-states were often built around existing religious structures – enhancing the close relationship between government and religion
The ziggurat became the focal point of these city-states
Ziggurats - stepped towers topped by temples
Ziggurats were the focal point of the city-state The Tower of Babel is believed to have been a ziggurat
Sumeria lasted about 1,300 years (3360 – 2400 BCE) There was constant warfare between city-states and
invaders and between city-states themselves Each city-state controlled an area about 100 square
miles There were about 12 major city-states including Ur,
Eridu, Lagash, and Uruk Each city-state was ruled by a priest/leader called a
Patesi who was the highest political, religious, and military authority
Religion• People felt utterly dependent on will of gods due to
harsh life• Originally, each city-state had its own patron god
but later all gods were collected into a hierarchy reflecting Sumerian values
• As male gods became dominant = strengthening of patriarchy
• Afterlife – sad and gloomy place (later used as model for Hell)
Religion and Politics• All land belonged to the gods and kings were their
representatives• Kings and priests afforded special place in society• Theocracy – rule by gods or priests• By the end of Sumeria’s influence, kings were
becoming separate from the priest class
Class System• Kings / priests• Commoners: farmers, artisans, merchants• Slaves
Sumerian Life• Marriage was based on a contract• Males were dominant but females had more freedom than
they do today • Females exerted influence through sexuality • Due to property inheritances, women would be put to death
for adultery
Cuneiform• Oldest writing
system• Original purpose was
economic• Used to record
memoranda, lists of goods, receipts, contracts, etc
• One of first uses was to record beer recipe
Cuneiform - first system of writing
Cuneiform tablet with envelope
Writing was reserved for the wealthy classes
Writing systems beget literature
Oldest literature was epic poem The Epic of Gilgamesh
Poem relates story of Gilgamesh, ruler of Uruk, who seeks out survivor of great flood in quest of eternal youth
Trade links with Egypt and Harappa Adopted use of silver as means of exchange “Invented” the wheel and pioneered use of carts and
chariots Sumerian mathematics based on 12, 60, and 360
(clock and circle) Sumerian astronomical charts basis for modern
astronomy Invented quadratic expressions
Conquered Sumeria = Akkad first empire
Some centralization of power
Sargon I = first emperor
Absorbed / took on Sumerian culture
Political• Akkad was overthrown
by Amorites• Sumerian language
disappeared – replaced by Amorite Semitic language
• Made capital at Babylon• Old Babylon overthrown
by invading Kassites and Hittites
• Period of chaos followed for about three centuries
Hammurabi• Founder of the Old
Babylonian Empire• Most known for his
code of laws based on 282 lawsprinciples: lex talonis
and class
Political• Conquered Kassites and
brought all of Mesopotamia under their control
• Noted for brutality and ruthlessness
• Largest Mesopotamian empire in landmass
• Conquered Egypt for short period
• Assyria brought down by invading Medes and Chaldeans
Political• Established by
Chaldeans who made capital at Babylon
• King Nebuchadnezzar
• Hanging gardens• Continued
Sumerian culture• Conquered by
the Persians
Other Middle Eastern Societies Hittites
• Iron Israelites
• Two kingdoms• Judaism
Phoenicians• Alphabet• Trade colonies
(Carthage)
1. What was the world’s first writing system?
2. What was it developed for?
3. Who were literate in Mesopotamia? Why?
4. What was the first piece of literature? What was it about?
5. What was the basic political unit of Mesopotamia?
6. What was the focal point of the Mesopotamian city-state?
7. How did geography affect the development of Mesopotamian religion?
8. How did geography affect the development of Mesopotamian civilization?
9. What was the first empire? Who created it?
10. What was the Code of Hammurabi? What was it based on?
11. Who laid the foundations for our modern alphabet?
The characteristic political organization of the Tigris – Euphrates civilization was
a. Democracyb. Large, durable empiresc. Village-level governmentd. Regional city-statese. Hunting bands
Geography • Desert
o “Redlands”o Natural barriers to invasion
• Nile River o “Blacklands”o Unlike Mesopotamia, river serene and predictableo River was everything to Egyptians: life and communication
• Mediterranean and Red seas• How did geography influence Egypt’s religion?
Political• Egypt separated into
two distinct regions: Upper and Lower Egypt
• These regions unified by King Menes during the Archaic Period
• Pharaoh – “great house” or “palace”
Founded by King Zoser Power virtually unlimited Pharaoh was considered
child of the sun god Married sister to keep blood
lines pure Pharaoh’s chief subordinates
were the priests – pharaoh was the chief priest
Egypt eventually divided into 42 provinces administered by a governor
Governors reported to the Pharaoh or his chief bureaucratic official, the Vizier
The Old Kingdom was a period of great peace Pharaoh had no standing army – each local area had
its own militia There was little to no slavery Most of the large pyramids were constructed during
the Old Kingdom
The pyramids at Giza
Contrary to popular belief, the pyramids were not built with slave labor but by the Egyptian people. How was it done?
The Old Kingdom fell about 2200 BCE• Financial problems due to
construction of the pyramids• Crop failures• Provincial nobles usurped
power from central government – warred against each other
• Civil war allowed development of brigands and invasion by desert nomads
• Period of chaos called the First Intermediate Period – ended with rise of Middle Kingdom around 2050 BCE
Ruled through an alliance composed of middle class – nobility kept in check
Period of expansion – Nubia conquered
Construction of public works versus pyramids
Religion democratized – hope of salvation of common people
Middle Kingdom considered golden age of Egypt
Middle Kingdom possibly fell to revolt by nobles
Period of chaos followed
Weakened Egypt conquered by Hyksos
Hyksos gained power through superior weapons: chariots and bronze weapons
Egyptians learned from Hyksos – united as one people to oust them
Ahmose became powerful as power of nobility severely curtailed
Egypt became imperialistic – appetite whetted for war and conquest
The large army gathered to destroy the Hyksos used by pharaoh to expand territory
Egypt conquered into Libya and Syria
Prisoners of war = large slave population
Hatshepsut• First of four female rulers
of Egypt• Became pharaoh as
regent for son• Succeeded by son
Thutmose III• Son destroyed most
records of Hatshepsut
Amenhotep IV (Akhenaton)• Established monotheism• Aton- the sun god• Queen Nefertiti• Short reign (~15 years)
Polytheism restored by boy-pharaoh Tutankhamen
Ramses II (The Great) The Treaty of Kadesh -
Egypt & Hittites Conquered by nomadic Sea
People Last real independent
kingdom• Libyans, Nubians (Kush),
Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Muslims, Europeans
Forensic experts have re-created the real Tutankhamen
The Treaty of Kadesh
Ramses the Greattoday
Egyptian Religion• Polytheistic• Two major gods: Amon-re (sun) and Osiris (Nile)• During Old Kingdom religion was for the state not the
masses• Story of Osiris symbolized death and resurrection =
immortality (Osiris, Isis, Seth, Horus)• The concept of the afterlife became fully developed during
the Middle Kingdom• Amon became god of the living and Osiris god of the dead
• Elaborate preparations were made to preserve remains for the afterlife
• The dead appeared before Osiris for judgment based on deeds done on earth – the good had eternal pleasure the bad were destroyed
• Religion was now ethical• Religion changed during the New Kingdom –people relied
on magic charms/potions for salvation instead of ethical behavior
• This was in part responsible for the monotheism that sprung up under Akhenaton
QUIZ
1. How did geography affect the Egyptian civilization?
2. Who united Upper and lower Egypt?
3. What are the three major phases of ancient Egyptian political history?
4. In what period were the great pyramids constructed?
5. What ended the Middle Kingdom?
6. Who was Egypt’s first female ruler?
9. What did Akhenaton introduce to Egypt?
8. In what period were the pharaohs most politically aligned with the middle class?
7. In what period were the Egyptians most warlike?
10. What ended the New Kingdom?
11. During what period do you think Moses and the Jews were in Egypt?
Egypt differed from Mesopotamian civilization by stressing
a. Well-organized, durable empiresb. Extensive tradec. Firm religious beliefsd. Greater social equalitye. More modest building projects
Sophisticated urban centers
Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
Dynamic trade state - trade with Mesopotamia and China
Monsoons
Cities very sophisticated with advanced sewage systems
Harappan writing has not yet been deciphered
Harappans worshipped cattle and Shiva
Decline due to• Degradation of
the ecosystem• Migration of
nomadic Aryans• Political collapse
• Aryans: “Noble People”Indo-Europeans
• The Vedas• Hinduism
• Level 1: The Brahmins (priests)• Level 2: The Kshatriyas
(warriors/nobles)• Level 3: The Vaisyas (traders and
farmers)• Level 4: The Sudras (common laborers)
Mostly Dravidians• Outcastes: The Untouchables
Geography• Isolated• Huang He (“China’s Sorrow”)• Vulnerable northern borders• Western desert• Himalayas• Vietnam• Pacific Ocean• Arable land – culture of conservation
Yangshao• Slash-and-burn agriculture• Domestication of animals• Silk production
Longshan People• Permanent settlements with walls• Occupational specialization
Xia Dynasty – mythical?
Shang Dynasty• 3,000 states - Fragmented• King - head shaman• Dynasty based on divine rule• Bureaucracy increasingly sophisticated • Technologically advanced
o Use of bronzeo Chariot warfare (imported from West?)o Lacquer
Writing• Oracle Bones• Ideographic symbols • Primary purpose was
religious
Bronze• Sophisticated
metallurgy skills• Controlled by
elites• Used for
religious rituals and weapons
QUIZ
1. What river gave life to Harappan civilization?
2. How would you characterize Harappan civilization?
3. How is the Harappan written language unlike that of the rest of the floodplain civilizations?
4. What happened to the Indus Valley civilization?
5. What was an early form of Chinese writing?
6. What geographic factor most influenced life in Harappa?
7. What area of China was most conflicted?
8. What form of art was used in Chinese religious rituals?
9. What is considered the first major Chinese civilization?
10. On what major river was Chinese civilization first established?
11. What did the Aryans base the caste system on?
12. What does the word “Aryan” mean?
13. What ancient texts give scholars information about the Aryans?
14. What is the goal of Hinduism?
15. Most of the Sudra caste is composed of what people?
Which river valley civilization was most completely destroyed by invasion?
a. Huang Heb. Indusc. Niled. Tigris-Euphratese. Mekong