Chapter 1Chapter 1

Ancient Near East:Ancient Near East:

The First CivilizationsThe First Civilizations

The First HumansThe First HumansHistorians primarily use documents to create their pictures Historians primarily use documents to create their pictures of the past, but no written records exist for pre-historyof the past, but no written records exist for pre-history– Prehistory relies on archeological & biological findingsPrehistory relies on archeological & biological findings

Earliest human-like creatures (hominids) existed in Africa as Earliest human-like creatures (hominids) existed in Africa as early as 3-4 million yrs ago (Australopithecines) early as 3-4 million yrs ago (Australopithecines)

1.5 million yrs ago 1.5 million yrs ago Homo Erectus Homo Erectus (upright human being) (upright human being) appearedappeared– Used more varied tools & 1Used more varied tools & 1stst hominid to leave Africa for Europe & hominid to leave Africa for Europe &

AsiaAsia

250,000 yrs ago 250,000 yrs ago Homo SapiensHomo Sapiens appear appear

100,000 B.C. – Neanderthals & Homo Sapiens Sapiens (1100,000 B.C. – Neanderthals & Homo Sapiens Sapiens (1stst anatomically modern human)anatomically modern human)– By 30,000 B.C., Homo Sapiens Sapiens had replaced NeanderthalsBy 30,000 B.C., Homo Sapiens Sapiens had replaced Neanderthals– 10,000 B.C. – H.S.S could be found all over the world10,000 B.C. – H.S.S could be found all over the world

Hunter Gatherers of the Old Stone AgeHunter Gatherers of the Old Stone AgePaleolithicPaleolithic (Greek for “old stone”) (Greek for “old stone”) AgeAge is the name for the is the name for the earliest period of human history (2.5 mil – 10,000 BC)earliest period of human history (2.5 mil – 10,000 BC)

Spent most of their time hunting, migrating with the herds Spent most of their time hunting, migrating with the herds of wild animalsof wild animals

500,000 BC – estimated beginning of systematic use of fire500,000 BC – estimated beginning of systematic use of fire– Food can be cooked & used for light & warmthFood can be cooked & used for light & warmth

The Neolithic Revolution The Neolithic Revolution (10,000 BC – 4,000 BC)(10,000 BC – 4,000 BC)

The last ice age ended 10,000 BC and with it came great The last ice age ended 10,000 BC and with it came great change in the living patterns of early manchange in the living patterns of early man– Shift away from hunting-gatheringShift away from hunting-gathering– Development of systematic agricultureDevelopment of systematic agriculture– Taming of animalsTaming of animals

Once sustainable food sources developed, permanent Once sustainable food sources developed, permanent settlements appear & more complex societies developsettlements appear & more complex societies develop

Emergence of CivilizationEmergence of Civilizationcivilizationcivilization – a complex culture in which large numbers of – a complex culture in which large numbers of human beings share a variety of common elementshuman beings share a variety of common elements

Characteristics of a civilization:Characteristics of a civilization:– An urban focusAn urban focus– Distinct religious structureDistinct religious structure– Political & military structuresPolitical & military structures– Social structure (usually based on economic power)Social structure (usually based on economic power)– Development of a system of writingDevelopment of a system of writing– Development of new forms of intellectual & artistic activityDevelopment of new forms of intellectual & artistic activity

Egypt & Mesopotamia were the forerunners of Western Egypt & Mesopotamia were the forerunners of Western civilization but 4 other civilizations developed in other civilization but 4 other civilizations developed in other regions around the world 4,000-5,000 yrs agoregions around the world 4,000-5,000 yrs ago– Indus River Valley, Yellow River (China), Central Asia (modern Indus River Valley, Yellow River (China), Central Asia (modern

Turkmenistan) & Supe River Valley (Peru)Turkmenistan) & Supe River Valley (Peru)

Civilization in MesopotamiaCivilization in MesopotamiaMesopotamiaMesopotamia – valley between the Tigris and Euphrates – valley between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, Greek for “land between the rivers”rivers, Greek for “land between the rivers”

The founders of Mesopotamian civilization were the The founders of Mesopotamian civilization were the SumeriansSumerians– ~3000 B.C. – several independent cities had formed; as the cities ~3000 B.C. – several independent cities had formed; as the cities

grew, they held economic & political power over the surrounding grew, they held economic & political power over the surrounding countryside (forming city-states)countryside (forming city-states)

– Sumerian cities were walled to protect from invasion, buildings Sumerian cities were walled to protect from invasion, buildings were formed from mud brickswere formed from mud bricks

Each city was believed to be owned by a specific god or Each city was believed to be owned by a specific god or goddessgoddess– The The zigguratziggurat (stepped temple) dominated the city (stepped temple) dominated the city

Sumerian city-states were effectively Sumerian city-states were effectively theocraciestheocracies

As time passed, the priests’ ruling power was shared with a As time passed, the priests’ ruling power was shared with a kingking

Empires of Ancient MesopotamiaEmpires of Ancient Mesopotamia~2340 B.C. – the Akkadian king, Sargon, attacked the ~2340 B.C. – the Akkadian king, Sargon, attacked the Sumerian city-states from the northSumerian city-states from the north– The Akkadians are referred to as the Semitic people b/c of The Akkadians are referred to as the Semitic people b/c of

the languages they spoke (p.9)the languages they spoke (p.9)

Sargon conquered all of Mesopotamia and west to the Sargon conquered all of Mesopotamia and west to the MediterraneanMediterranean– After his death, Semitic lands were conquered by 2100 B.C.After his death, Semitic lands were conquered by 2100 B.C.

Hammurabi’s EmpireHammurabi’s Empire

Babylonian king, Hammurabi (1792-1750 BC) reunited Babylonian king, Hammurabi (1792-1750 BC) reunited Sumer & AkkadSumer & Akkad– Best known for his code of law (Best known for his code of law (The Code of Hammurabi The Code of Hammurabi p10)p10)– ““Eye for an eye”Eye for an eye”

ReligionReligion (p.12) (p.12) polytheisticpolytheistic, poor outlook of the afterlife, poor outlook of the afterlife

oldest examples of Sumerian writing date to 3000 BColdest examples of Sumerian writing date to 3000 BC– Called Called cuneiformcuneiform, used pictograms , used pictograms – Only a very few were trained to write since it took so long to Only a very few were trained to write since it took so long to

mastermaster– Literature was used for instructional purposesLiterature was used for instructional purposes

Epic of GilgameshEpic of Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh, historic Sumerian ruler 2700 BCGilgamesh, historic Sumerian ruler 2700 BC– Seems to be part historical truth, part legendSeems to be part historical truth, part legend

Very pessimistic workVery pessimistic work

Projects the gods as vengeful and enemies of manProjects the gods as vengeful and enemies of man

Raises questions about man’s mortalityRaises questions about man’s mortality

Part of the story shares similarities with the biblical story Part of the story shares similarities with the biblical story of Noahof Noah

Egyptian CivilizationEgyptian CivilizationAncient Egypt developed along Ancient Egypt developed along the same time as the same time as Mesopotamian civilization along Mesopotamian civilization along the Nile Riverthe Nile River– The Nile runs out of central Africa The Nile runs out of central Africa

north for 1,000 miles to the north for 1,000 miles to the Mediterranian Mediterranian

– Flooding of the Nile was gradual & Flooding of the Nile was gradual & predictable, making farming and predictable, making farming and living easier than in Mesopotamialiving easier than in Mesopotamia

Roughly 75% of the pop of Roughly 75% of the pop of Egypt existed in the Nile DeltaEgypt existed in the Nile Delta

Because of the predictability of Because of the predictability of the annual flooding, Egyptians the annual flooding, Egyptians had a more optimistic outlook had a more optimistic outlook on the stability of lifeon the stability of life

The Old & Middle KingdomsThe Old & Middle KingdomsBasic framework of Egyptian history provided by Basic framework of Egyptian history provided by Manetho, an Egyptian priest of the 3Manetho, an Egyptian priest of the 3rdrd cent BC cent BC

Divided the history of the civilization into four periodsDivided the history of the civilization into four periods– Old Kingdom – (3100-2700 BC)Old Kingdom – (3100-2700 BC)– Middle Kingdom – (2125-2055 BC)Middle Kingdom – (2125-2055 BC)– New Kingdom – (1550-1070 BC)New Kingdom – (1550-1070 BC)– Late Period – (1070-30 BC)Late Period – (1070-30 BC)

3100 BC – Upper and Lower Egypt united under Menes3100 BC – Upper and Lower Egypt united under Menes

Old Kingdom (3-6 dynasties)Old Kingdom (3-6 dynasties)– age of great prosperityage of great prosperity– greatest of the pyramids were builtgreatest of the pyramids were built– pharaohs seen as godspharaohs seen as gods– Had absolute rule but had to rule by ma’at (justice & truth)Had absolute rule but had to rule by ma’at (justice & truth)– Vizier ran the bureaucracy & nomarchs served as governorsVizier ran the bureaucracy & nomarchs served as governors

Nomarchs could sometimes amass power that rivaled that Nomarchs could sometimes amass power that rivaled that of the pharaohof the pharaoh– The first Intermediate period resulted from rivalriesThe first Intermediate period resulted from rivalries

The Middle Kingdom (dynasties 11-12)The Middle Kingdom (dynasties 11-12)– Egyptians viewed the Middle Kingdom as a “golden age” of stabilityEgyptians viewed the Middle Kingdom as a “golden age” of stability– The view of pharaoh changed from god-king to a guide/shepherd of The view of pharaoh changed from god-king to a guide/shepherd of

the peoplethe people– Period when Egypt begins imperial expansion (Nubia, Near East)Period when Egypt begins imperial expansion (Nubia, Near East)

Society & EconomySociety & Economy– PharaohPharaoh – theoretically owned all of Egypt – theoretically owned all of Egypt– Nobles and Priests Nobles and Priests – ran the govt & performed religious rituals– ran the govt & performed religious rituals– Merchants & Artisans Merchants & Artisans – traders and craftsmen that sold goods all – traders and craftsmen that sold goods all

up & down the Nileup & down the Nile– FarmersFarmers – paid taxes through crops & provided military service & – paid taxes through crops & provided military service &

labor for building projectslabor for building projects

Culture of EgyptCulture of EgyptSpiritual LifeSpiritual Life

Egyptians had no word for Egyptians had no word for religion b/c it was such a big religion b/c it was such a big part of all other aspects of lifepart of all other aspects of life

Sun and land gods were Sun and land gods were especially reveredespecially revered– ReRe – sun god, pharaoh referred – sun god, pharaoh referred

to as “son of Re”to as “son of Re”– OsirisOsiris – judge of the dead; – judge of the dead;

Book of the Dead Book of the Dead (p. 20)(p. 20)

PyramidsPyramids11stst pyramid for Djoser (3 pyramid for Djoser (3rdrd Dyn) Dyn)

Pyramids @ Giza for Snefru, Pyramids @ Giza for Snefru, Khafre, KhufuKhafre, Khufu

Tomb & symbol of royal powerTomb & symbol of royal power

Art & WritingArt & Writing

Egyptian art was functional, not just decorationEgyptian art was functional, not just decoration– Wall paintings and statues of gods & pharaohs strictly spiritual in Wall paintings and statues of gods & pharaohs strictly spiritual in

purposepurpose– Murals in tombs suppose to guide the soul into the afterlifeMurals in tombs suppose to guide the soul into the afterlife

Writing emerged in Egypt during the 1Writing emerged in Egypt during the 1stst or 2 or 2ndnd dynasty dynasty– Greeks later named it Greeks later named it hieroglyphicshieroglyphics “priest-carvings” “priest-carvings”

New Kingdom (dynasties 18-20)New Kingdom (dynasties 18-20)

During this time, Egypt became the most powerful empire of During this time, Egypt became the most powerful empire of the ancient Near Eastthe ancient Near East

Reached its height under Amenhotep III (1412-1375 BC)Reached its height under Amenhotep III (1412-1375 BC)– His son Amenhotep IV created religious upheaval when he closed His son Amenhotep IV created religious upheaval when he closed

temples and abolished the gods, declaring a monotheistic religiontemples and abolished the gods, declaring a monotheistic religion– Change d his name to Ahkenaten “servant of Aten”Change d his name to Ahkenaten “servant of Aten”– After his death, the old religion reinstated by Tutankhamen After his death, the old religion reinstated by Tutankhamen

Daily Life (p. 23-26)Daily Life (p. 23-26)

On the Fringes of CivilizationOn the Fringes of CivilizationFarming had spread into the Balkan Peninsula by 6500 BCFarming had spread into the Balkan Peninsula by 6500 BC– By 4000 BC it had spread to southern FranceBy 4000 BC it had spread to southern France– At the same time, Europeans were building megaliths (similar to At the same time, Europeans were building megaliths (similar to

Stonehenge) a thousand years before the Egyptians were building Stonehenge) a thousand years before the Egyptians were building pyramidspyramids

Stonehenge itself was built 2100-1900 BCStonehenge itself was built 2100-1900 BC– The 80 standing stones were 4 ton each & were transported 135 The 80 standing stones were 4 ton each & were transported 135

miles to the construction sitemiles to the construction site

The term Indo-European refers to people who shared a parent The term Indo-European refers to people who shared a parent tongue (Greek, Latin, Persian, Sanskrit & Germanic)tongue (Greek, Latin, Persian, Sanskrit & Germanic)– First Indo-Europeans based around modern Iran or AfgahnistanFirst Indo-Europeans based around modern Iran or Afgahnistan– Those that settled in Asia Minor formed the first Hittite kingdomThose that settled in Asia Minor formed the first Hittite kingdom– Hittite Empire formed around 1400 BCHittite Empire formed around 1400 BC– First Indo-Europeans to use iron, fought with Egypt until Ramses II First Indo-Europeans to use iron, fought with Egypt until Ramses II

worked out a treatyworked out a treaty– By 1190, Hittite power ended; but good example of assimilating By 1190, Hittite power ended; but good example of assimilating

aspects of other cultures into their ownaspects of other cultures into their own