A History of Western Society

CHAPTER 1Origins

To 1200 B.C.E.

Understanding Western History

What Is Civilization?

What is meant by “the West” and “Western civilization”?

Ideas about the West and the distinction b/t WEST and EAST originated with what people?

The concept of a distinct Western civilization remains controversial.

From Caves to Towns

Nomadic Life (400,000 BCE–11,000 BCE) 1. Explain their lifestyle 2. What was their basic unit of social organization ? 3. Gender differences — What did the males do?/what did the females do?

The Earliest Human Societies

Neolithic Life (11,000 BCE–4000 BCE)

1. Transition to settled life 2. Agriculture 3. Stonehenge

Mesopotamian Civilization

Environment and Mesopotamian Development-People established the first cities in southern

Mesopotamia …the location was called _________/and the people were called _____________.

-Isolated Cities — What did this lead to?

-Religious Development — Devastating natural catastrophes (floods) attributed to ________?

Spread of Cultures in the Ancient Near East

Mesopotamian Civilization

Advances in Mathematics —Place value, geometry, trigonometry, Practical knowledge required in the building of cities.

Medicine — A combination of magic, prescriptions and surgery. Evil spirits vs. rational treatments

Mesopotamian Civilization

Environment and Mesopotamian Development-Use of wheeled vehicles-Cities and villages trade-Sumerian cities develop governments-Sumerian priests control the building of

irrigation systems-Temples in city centers

Mesopotamian Thought and Religion

Religion — Was polytheistic…which means what?

Mesopotamians had to appease the gods and built shrines called ziggurats.

How were they to please the gods in times of affliction?

The Invention of Writing and the First Schools

• Why a need for writing??• Early Writing — Pictographs evolved into cuneiform • Early Schools — Established to teach Sumerian writing and

set the standards for Mesopotamian culture.

The Invention of Writing and the First Schools

The Invention of Writing and the First Schools-Mastering Sumerian Language-Scribal Schools for the Wealthy-Uses for Writing-Clay Tablets Provide Information

for Historians

Sumerian Social and Gender Divisions

Social Structure — A complex division of freedom and dependence: nobles, free clients of nobility, commoners, and slaves.

Patriarchy — Power lay with older adult men and probably originated in private ownership of property for agriculture.

Slaves- Slaves, many of whom had lost their freedom as prisoners of war or as punishment for crimes, were subject to the treatment of their owners. Those who served as slaves to repay debts received some legal protections, including the requirement that they be freed after three years of servitude.

The Spread of Mesopotamian Culture

• Babylon & Hammurabi — Babylon was ruled by King Hammurabi

(1792– 1750 BCE).

Hammurabi made Babylon the center of Mesopotamia and unified Mesopotamia

Babylonian merchants further spread the vibrant Mesopotamian culture…to north and west.

Life Under Hammurabi

• Hammurabi’s Law Code• Code Details Punishments• Rules on Agriculture• Rules on Marriage and Families

Life Under Hammurabi

-Punishments Vary Based on Social Status-Complaints Brought to Court-Legal Procedures-Consumer Protection-Upholding of the Code

Life Under Hammurabi-Women Engage in Business-Religious Festivals and Holidays-Advances in Mathematics and Numeric Place Value-Mesopotamian Culture Spreads to Syria and Middle East-Forming Connections Through Trade

Egypt, the Land of the Pharaohs, 3100–1200 BCE

The God-King of Egypt Pharaoh — The word means “great house;”

Mediator b/t who?

Afterlife —The ideas about the afterlife were explained in what book?

Day of an Egyptian • Daily life began at dawn with a bath and clean clothes; because of

the heat, Egyptians would bathe several times each day and wore very light clothing, preferably linen.

• During the annual flooding (June to September), farmers were free to work on the building programs of the pharaoh.

• From October to February, Egyptians planted and harvested crops, managed irrigation, and paid their taxes.

Egyptian Family Life

-View Marriage as a Legal Contract-Women could Obtain a Divorce-Possible to have Several Wives and Concubines-Husbands’ Rights-Women Expected to Obey and Economic and Legal Rights-Literature, Art, and Tomb Monuments

The New Kingdom: Revival and Empire (1570–1075 BCE)

• 18th Dynasty — A New line of pharaohs who subdued the Hyksos and introduced widespread slavery.

• Egyptian Empire — The pharaohs of the 18th Dynasty established an Egyptian Empire, which included Palestine, Syria.

Akhenaten…• Monotheism• The sun-God, Aton• People returned to their traditional worship

….AKHENATEN…

Akhenaten Only Worships WHAT GOD?

Akhenaten’s Religion Fails to Spread-WHY????

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER Akhenaten’s Death?

King Tut

-Ruled 1332 BC- 1323 BC

-Known for tomb and riches

-Came to throne when 8

-Nickname=____________

The Egyptians

The Hyksos and New Kingdom RevivalTutankhamonDNA Analysis of TutankhamonWarfare Erupts during Tutankhamon’s ReignCourt Officials Succeed Tutankhamon

The Hittites and the End of an Era, ca. 1640–1100 BCE

The Rise of the Hittites • 1. Indo-Europeans — The first Indo-Europeans in

the region.

• 2. Culture — Introduced iron into warfare and agriculture and made alliances with the Egyptians and Babylonians. Created little that was culturally new but preserved the customs and traditions of their ancestors.

The Hittites and the End of an Era, ca. 1640–1100 BCE

The Fall of Empires and the Survival of Cultures • 1. Devastating Invasions — A series of devastating

foreign invasions from Sea Peoples (1200– 1000 BCE) destroyed the Hittites and drove the Egyptians back to the Nile Delta

• 2. Cultural Survival — The culture of regions survived because of exchange between newcomers and old-timers. The cultural exchange of Semitic and Babylonian literature, mathematics, and religion led to a mixture of adoption, adaptation, contrast, and balance.