1. Ancient Near Eastern Empires{Chapter 1

2. Chronology 3. Early African CivilizationsKingdom of Kush 2000 B.C.E. traded with EgyptYam was the Kingdom in Old Kingdom times that Egyptused to trade with until it was replaced or usurped by theKushites 4. Ancient Near Eastern Empires Hittites 1500-1200 B.C.E. Asia Minor (Turkey) Indo-European people Powerful & centralized state with capital near Ankara Invention of iron (Era called the Iron Age)Replaced the use of copper and bronze for weapons Kassites Babylon (ruled for 500 years) (gained control after fall of OldBabylonian Empire) Organized into tribal families Promoted Babylonian culture and literature People of unknown origin warrior people Supported a military aristocracy based on horses and chariots Mitannians northern Syria and Mesopotamia (conquered by Hittites) Capital at Washukani Improved chariot warfare and horse training warrior people 5. Hittites 6. Hittites Horse and Chariot 7. Hittites Contested Egypts control of Palestine and Syria Helped transmit the ancient cultures ofMesopotamia and Egypt to the Greeks Kings did not derive power from gods Had a council of nobles who who limited thekings power Hittites were ultimately conquered by Assyriansin 1000 B.C.E 8. Assyrians Assyrians Semitic speaking peoples in the city of Assur,in Northern Mesapotamia Assur = early center for trade & gainedpolitical power in the 14th century B.C.E. Had a proud, independent culture heavilyinfluenced by Babylonia First Assyrian Empire conquered Hittites andexpanded their territory 9. Assyrians Second Empire Period of Expansion: From 1000-665 B.C.E.Conquered all of Mesopotamia, much of southern Asia Minor, Syria,Palestine and a part of EgyptWell-structured empires Powerful army Large & well-disciplinedSociety that valued military skillsBoasted of Atrocities = Inspired terror throughout the Near East Empire FallsGrows too large to govern efficientlyCivil war further divided the countryConquered by Nebuchadnezzar, Babylonian ruler in 612 B.C.E. 10. Nebuchadnezzar Became ruler of Babylonian ruler in 612 B.C.E. He was the first Babylonian king to rule Egypt Controlled an empire that extended to Lydia, but his bestknown accomplishment was his palace --- a place used foradministrative, religious, ceremonial, as well as residentialpurpose Defeated the Egyptian Pharaoh in 605 In 597, he captured Jerusalem, exiled Jews from Jerusalemand destroyed their temple (Babylonian captivity) Would be defeated by Cyrus the Great (539 B.C.E.) Most famous for creating Hanging GardensTo please his homesick wife of Media (Persia)Mountain of fragrant flowers and shrubs 11. Indus Civilization2500-1500 B.C.E. Writing cannot be read Largest cities = Harappa and Mohenjo-DaroPopulations of over 35,000 in each cityHomogeneous archaeological sitesCities laid out in structured gridsSuggest integrated economicsystem and good internalcommunicationCentralized governments Economy based on agricultureBarley and WheatTraded with Mesopotamia xfAncient Mohenjo-Daro 12. Indus CivilizationDrainage SystemComplex system of drains and sewersThe created drainage system would be unrivalleduntil the time of the Romans, nearly 2,000 yearslaterPrivate houses with wells and bathrooms 13. End of Indus Civilization Passing of Indus Civilization Between 1800 - 1700 B.C.E. Do not know exact reason for its demiseImpact of Aryan invaders?Flooding and ecological damage 14. Aryanizing of North India Vedic Aryans were Indo-Europeans semi-nomadic warriors (not urban like Indus Civilization) Horsemen and cattle herders Aryans left their mark in the changes they left New languages Social organization Techniques of warfare Religious forms and ideas 15. Vedic Aryan Civilization Rig-Vedic Age 1700-1000 B.C.E. Vedas source of most information- Aryan sacred texts religious text- Offer insight into religion, society, values andthoughts of early Aryan Indians- Veda means Knowledge considered today asholiest sources of Indian tradition- Vedas made up of Rig-Veda 1028 Hymns to the gods 16. Term Aryan Aryans- Term comes from word Arya noble or free born- Central Asian origins- The people who came to India became known asIndo-Aryans or Vedic Aryans- 19th century term Aryan was used to refer tolanguage group known as Indo-Europeans- Includes Greek, Latin, Romance, andGermanic languages- Nazis used Aryan to refer to a white masterrace 17. Vedic Aryan Civilization1800-500 B.C.E. Early Period (1800 1500 B.C.E.) Aryans penetrate the Indus valley in search ofgrazing lands for livestock Rig Vedic Age (1700 1000 B.C.E.) Vedic Aryans settle in Punjab and take up agriculture& stockbreeding Late Vedic Age 1000-500 B.C.E. Also known as Brahmanic Age Dominance of priestly class or Brahmans Aryans spread to other areas of India 18. Vedic Aryan Society Patrilineal society Succession and inheritance in the male line Widows could remarry and marriages weremonogamous Tribes ruled by raja or chieftain Aryan society originally had simple divisionbetween nobles and commoners Dasas were darker conquered peoples 19. Vedic Aryan Society (contd) Over time = rise of four varnas orclasses Brahman priest Kshatriya warrior or noble Vaishya peasant ortradesman Shudra servant NOTE: Untouchablesexcluded from the system 20. Vedic Religion Worshipped many gods Mixing of Aryan and Indus concepts Upanishads 800 B.C.E. Some of the latest Vedic texts Would lead to later Hindu tradition Topics like transmigration of soul after death Various gods Indra god of war and storm Varuna guarded the cosmic order Agni fire-god of sacrifice and priestsIndra 21. Nazis Misuse of Swastika andAryan