HUMANITIES A History of Civilizations

THE CONCEPT OF CIVILIZATION AND SOCIAL SCIENCES The necessity to refer to history The necessity to refer to history History through the sociologist’s eyes History through the sociologist’s eyes Civilization as an accumulative combination of all cultural characteristics, making that civilization unique Civilization as an accumulative combination of all cultural characteristics, making that civilization unique Settled societies as the start point of the civilizing process of mankind Settled societies as the start point of the civilizing process of mankind From the ancient civilizations to today’s contemporary world From the ancient civilizations to today’s contemporary world

MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILIZATIONS FIRST ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS FOUNDED AROUND THE BASINS OF THE TIGRIS- EUPHRATES RIVERS FIRST ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS FOUNDED AROUND THE BASINS OF THE TIGRIS- EUPHRATES RIVERS SETTLED AGRARIAN SOCIETIES POLITICALLY ORGANIZED AS CITY-STATES SETTLED AGRARIAN SOCIETIES POLITICALLY ORGANIZED AS CITY-STATES THE FIRST OF THESE SOCIETIES WAS THE SUMERIANS THE FIRST OF THESE SOCIETIES WAS THE SUMERIANS

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA

SUMERIANS A PEOPLE OF ARIAN ORIGIN WHO MIGRATED TO THE REGION YEARS B.C. A PEOPLE OF ARIAN ORIGIN WHO MIGRATED TO THE REGION YEARS B.C. THEY FORMED A BI-ETHNIC SOCIETY WITH THE ACCADIANS OF SEMITIC ORIGIN WHO ALREADY RESIDED IN THE REGION THEY FORMED A BI-ETHNIC SOCIETY WITH THE ACCADIANS OF SEMITIC ORIGIN WHO ALREADY RESIDED IN THE REGION THERE WAS A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SUMERIANS AND THE ACCADIANS THERE WAS A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SUMERIANS AND THE ACCADIANS

SUMERIANS THEY WERE THE FIRST TO USE A WRITING FORM, NAMELY CUNEIFORM, WITH CLAY TABLETS THEY WERE THE FIRST TO USE A WRITING FORM, NAMELY CUNEIFORM, WITH CLAY TABLETS THEY WERE THE FIRST TO USE A LUNAR CALENDAR THEY WERE THE FIRST TO USE A LUNAR CALENDAR THEY USED WHEELED TRANSPORT IN TRADE ACTIVITIES THEY USED WHEELED TRANSPORT IN TRADE ACTIVITIES THEY WERE THE FIRST TO DESIGN A POLYTHEISTIC PANTHEON WITH LOTS OF DEITIES, EACH IN CHARGE OF VARIOUS DUTIES THEY WERE THE FIRST TO DESIGN A POLYTHEISTIC PANTHEON WITH LOTS OF DEITIES, EACH IN CHARGE OF VARIOUS DUTIES

SUMERIANS AT THE CENTER OF SUMERIAN SOCIAL LIFE LIES THE ZIGGURATS; HUGE BUILDINGS WHICH SERVE AS CENTERS OF: AT THE CENTER OF SUMERIAN SOCIAL LIFE LIES THE ZIGGURATS; HUGE BUILDINGS WHICH SERVE AS CENTERS OF: POLITICAL ADMINISTRATION POLITICAL ADMINISTRATION RELIGIOUS WORSHIP RELIGIOUS WORSHIP SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH TRADE RELATIONS AND TRANSACTIONS TRADE RELATIONS AND TRANSACTIONS EDUCATION EDUCATION

SUMERIANS SUMERIAN SOCIETY WAS COMPOSED OF THE FOLLOWING SOCIAL CLASSES: SUMERIAN SOCIETY WAS COMPOSED OF THE FOLLOWING SOCIAL CLASSES: RULING DYNASTY AND THE PRIESTS RULING DYNASTY AND THE PRIESTS SPECIALISTS (MERCHANTS, ARTISANS, ADMINISTRATORS) SPECIALISTS (MERCHANTS, ARTISANS, ADMINISTRATORS) FREE FARMERS FREE FARMERS SLAVES SLAVES

SUMERIANS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION OF THE SUMERIANS TO MIDDLE EASTERN CIVILIZATION IS THEIR POLYTHEISTIC PANTHEON WHICH WAS ALSO ADOPTED BY OTHER SEMITIC SOCIETIES OF THE REGION A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION OF THE SUMERIANS TO MIDDLE EASTERN CIVILIZATION IS THEIR POLYTHEISTIC PANTHEON WHICH WAS ALSO ADOPTED BY OTHER SEMITIC SOCIETIES OF THE REGION THE THEOGONY AND COSMOGONY DESIGNED BY THEM SERVED AS A MODEL FOR OTHER FOLLOWING SOCIETIES THE THEOGONY AND COSMOGONY DESIGNED BY THEM SERVED AS A MODEL FOR OTHER FOLLOWING SOCIETIES

SUMERIANS ENUMA ELIS (TALE OF CREATION) ENUMA ELIS (TALE OF CREATION) THE FLOOD TALE THE FLOOD TALE THE GILGAMESH EPIC THE GILGAMESH EPIC

SUMERIANS SUMERIAN POLITICAL EXISTENCE WAS ENDED BY AMORITE INVASIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 2.000s B.C., BUT THEIR CULTURE AND INSTITUTIONS SURVIVED AS A DOMINANT PART OF FUTURE MIDDLE-EASTERN CIVILIZATIONS SUMERIAN POLITICAL EXISTENCE WAS ENDED BY AMORITE INVASIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 2.000s B.C., BUT THEIR CULTURE AND INSTITUTIONS SURVIVED AS A DOMINANT PART OF FUTURE MIDDLE-EASTERN CIVILIZATIONS

BABYLONIANS THE AMORITES WERE CALLED AS BABYLONIANS, DEDICATED TO THE NAME OF THEIR BIGGEST CITY-STATE: BABYLON. THE AMORITES WERE CALLED AS BABYLONIANS, DEDICATED TO THE NAME OF THEIR BIGGEST CITY-STATE: BABYLON. THEY WERE A TRIBE OF SEMITIC ORIGIN THEY WERE A TRIBE OF SEMITIC ORIGIN THE FIRST BABYLONIAN KING HAMMURABI ( B.C.) PREPARED THE FIRST WRITTEN LEGAL CODE, NAMELY THE HAMMURABI CODE THE FIRST BABYLONIAN KING HAMMURABI ( B.C.) PREPARED THE FIRST WRITTEN LEGAL CODE, NAMELY THE HAMMURABI CODE MAIN LOGIC OF THIS CODE WAS: TOOTH TO TOOTH, EYE TO EYE MAIN LOGIC OF THIS CODE WAS: TOOTH TO TOOTH, EYE TO EYE THIS CODE SERVED AS THE FOUNDATIONS OF MIDDLE-EASTERN ETHICAL UNDERSTANDING THIS CODE SERVED AS THE FOUNDATIONS OF MIDDLE-EASTERN ETHICAL UNDERSTANDING BABYLONIAN THEOGONY AND THE CHAOS&ORDER THEME BABYLONIAN THEOGONY AND THE CHAOS&ORDER THEME

ASSYRIANS ( B.C.) THEY ROSE OVER THE ASHES OF THE BABYLONIANS THEY ROSE OVER THE ASHES OF THE BABYLONIANS THEIR MAIN CULTURAL CONTRIBUTION WAS THE GREAT LIBRARY IN NINEVEH THEIR MAIN CULTURAL CONTRIBUTION WAS THE GREAT LIBRARY IN NINEVEH THEIR REIGN WAS BROUGHT TO AN END BY THE MEDES AND THE CHALDEANS THEIR REIGN WAS BROUGHT TO AN END BY THE MEDES AND THE CHALDEANS

NEW BABYLONIANS THE CHALDEANS FOUNDED THE NEW BABYLONIAN EMPIRE IN THE 600s B.C. THE CHALDEANS FOUNDED THE NEW BABYLONIAN EMPIRE IN THE 600s B.C. BABYLON’S HANGING GARDENS ARE THE ARTIFACTS OF THIS ERA BABYLON’S HANGING GARDENS ARE THE ARTIFACTS OF THIS ERA THEIR REIGN WAS BROUGHT TO AN END BY THE PERSIANS THEIR REIGN WAS BROUGHT TO AN END BY THE PERSIANS

PHONECIANS ( B.C.) THEY WERE SPECIALISED IN TRADE AND THEY FOUNDED OVERSEAS TRADE COLONIES AROUND THE MEDITERRANEAN, CARTHAGE AS THE MOST NOTEWORTHY AND LONG-LASTING AMONG THEM THEY WERE SPECIALISED IN TRADE AND THEY FOUNDED OVERSEAS TRADE COLONIES AROUND THE MEDITERRANEAN, CARTHAGE AS THE MOST NOTEWORTHY AND LONG-LASTING AMONG THEM HUMAN SACRIFICE WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR RELIGIOUS CULTURE (THE BAAL CULT) HUMAN SACRIFICE WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR RELIGIOUS CULTURE (THE BAAL CULT)

ANOTHER RIVER CIVILIZATION: THE EGYPTIANS MUCH LIKE THE CASE IN MESOPOTAMIA, A SETTLED AGRARIAN CIVILIZATION WAS FOUNDED AROUND THE BASIN OF THE RIVER NILE IN THE 3rd MILLENIUM B.C. MUCH LIKE THE CASE IN MESOPOTAMIA, A SETTLED AGRARIAN CIVILIZATION WAS FOUNDED AROUND THE BASIN OF THE RIVER NILE IN THE 3rd MILLENIUM B.C. BUT UNLIKE THE MESOPOTAMIAN EXPERIENCE, DUE TO GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS, THE NILE VALLEY PROVIDED SECURITY AGAINST FOREIGN INVASIONS OF NOMADIC TRIBES BUT UNLIKE THE MESOPOTAMIAN EXPERIENCE, DUE TO GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS, THE NILE VALLEY PROVIDED SECURITY AGAINST FOREIGN INVASIONS OF NOMADIC TRIBES PLUS, FLOW RATE OF THE NILE WAS MUCH MORE STABLE THAN OF THE TIGRIS AND EUPHRATES RIVERS, MAKING THE LAND MORE AVAILABLE FOR AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES PLUS, FLOW RATE OF THE NILE WAS MUCH MORE STABLE THAN OF THE TIGRIS AND EUPHRATES RIVERS, MAKING THE LAND MORE AVAILABLE FOR AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES

THE EGYPTIANS UNLIKE THE MESOPOTAMIAN CITY-STATE, ANCIENT EGYPTIANS FOUNDED A POLITICALLY UNIFIED STATE SYSTEM WITH THE PHARAOH AS THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY, THE PRIEST- KING UNLIKE THE MESOPOTAMIAN CITY-STATE, ANCIENT EGYPTIANS FOUNDED A POLITICALLY UNIFIED STATE SYSTEM WITH THE PHARAOH AS THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY, THE PRIEST- KING EGYPTIAN SOCIETY WAS A RACIALLY HETEROGENEOUS ONE, A MIXTURE OF MEDITERRANEAN AND NEGROID PEOPLES EGYPTIAN SOCIETY WAS A RACIALLY HETEROGENEOUS ONE, A MIXTURE OF MEDITERRANEAN AND NEGROID PEOPLES

EGYPTIANS THE MAIN SOCIAL CLASSES WERE: THE MAIN SOCIAL CLASSES WERE: ROYAL FAMILY ROYAL FAMILY PRIESTS PRIESTS NOBLES NOBLES PROFESSIONAL SOLDIERS PROFESSIONAL SOLDIERS MIDDLE CLASS (ARTISANS, MERCHANTS...etc) MIDDLE CLASS (ARTISANS, MERCHANTS...etc) PEASANTS PEASANTS ( slaves can also be counted as another class)

EGYPTIANS USE OF HIEROGLIPHIC WRITING FORM USE OF HIEROGLIPHIC WRITING FORM ADOPTION OF THE SUMERIAN PANTHEON ADOPTION OF THE SUMERIAN PANTHEON UNLIKE THE MESOPOTAMIANS, SUN GOD RE AS THE CHIEF DEITY UNLIKE THE MESOPOTAMIANS, SUN GOD RE AS THE CHIEF DEITY OSIRIS CULT: AN AGRARIAN THEME OSIRIS CULT: AN AGRARIAN THEME THE FIRST MONOTHEISTIC RELIGION: ATON CULT UNDER PHARAOH IKHNATON (14th century B.C.) THE FIRST MONOTHEISTIC RELIGION: ATON CULT UNDER PHARAOH IKHNATON (14th century B.C.)

EGYPTIANS THEY SURVIVED INVASIONS BY THE HYKSOS, ASSYRIANS, PERSIANS, GREEK AND ROMANS THEY SURVIVED INVASIONS BY THE HYKSOS, ASSYRIANS, PERSIANS, GREEK AND ROMANS FINALLY THE ROMANS BROUGHT AN END TO EGYPTIAN REIGN FINALLY THE ROMANS BROUGHT AN END TO EGYPTIAN REIGN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN CULTURE SURVIVED FOR A LONG TIME, UNTIL THE ARABISATION OF EGYPT ANCIENT EGYPTIAN CULTURE SURVIVED FOR A LONG TIME, UNTIL THE ARABISATION OF EGYPT TODAY THE CHRISTIAN COPTS IN EGYPT CLAIM TO BE THE DESCENDANTS OPF ANCIENT EGYPTIANS TODAY THE CHRISTIAN COPTS IN EGYPT CLAIM TO BE THE DESCENDANTS OPF ANCIENT EGYPTIANS

THE HEBREW CIVILIZATION THEY WERE A PEOPLE OF SEMITIC ORIGIN THEY WERE A PEOPLE OF SEMITIC ORIGIN BIBLICAL FAMILY TREE DATES BACK TO ABRAHAM (1700 B.C.) BIBLICAL FAMILY TREE DATES BACK TO ABRAHAM (1700 B.C.) ABRAHAM’S GRANDSON JACOB AND HIS TWELVE SONS: TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL ABRAHAM’S GRANDSON JACOB AND HIS TWELVE SONS: TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL

HEBREW CIVILIZATION MOSES AND EGYPTIAN EXODUS (1300 B.C.) MOSES AND EGYPTIAN EXODUS (1300 B.C.) KING DAVID (1000 B.C.) AND THE FIRST HEBREW KINGDOM KING DAVID (1000 B.C.) AND THE FIRST HEBREW KINGDOM KING SOLOMON (LARGEST FRONTIERS) KING SOLOMON (LARGEST FRONTIERS) AFTER SOLOMON’ DEATH, THE HEBREW KINGDOM WAS SPLIT INTO TWO PARTS: AFTER SOLOMON’ DEATH, THE HEBREW KINGDOM WAS SPLIT INTO TWO PARTS: KINGDOM OF ISRAEL IN THE NORTH AND KINGDOM OF ISRAEL IN THE NORTH AND KINGDOM OF JUDAH IN THE SOUTH KINGDOM OF JUDAH IN THE SOUTH

HEBREW CIVILIZATION KINGDOM OF ISRAEL WAS CRUSHED BY THE ASSYRIANS IN 722 B.C. AND THE TEN TRIBES FOUNDING THIS KINGDOM WERE SPREAD AROUND THE WORLD, BEING ASSIMILATED BY OTHER ETHNIC SOCIETIES AND THUS BEING CALLED AS “THE TEN LOST TRIBES OF ISRAEL” KINGDOM OF ISRAEL WAS CRUSHED BY THE ASSYRIANS IN 722 B.C. AND THE TEN TRIBES FOUNDING THIS KINGDOM WERE SPREAD AROUND THE WORLD, BEING ASSIMILATED BY OTHER ETHNIC SOCIETIES AND THUS BEING CALLED AS “THE TEN LOST TRIBES OF ISRAEL” KINGDOM OF JUDAH WITH THE TWO REMAINING HEBREW TRIBES LASTED LONGER KINGDOM OF JUDAH WITH THE TWO REMAINING HEBREW TRIBES LASTED LONGER IN 586 B.C., KINGDOM OF JUDAH WAS INVADED BY THE NEW BABYLONIANS AND MOST JEWS WERE SENT TO EXILE IN 586 B.C., KINGDOM OF JUDAH WAS INVADED BY THE NEW BABYLONIANS AND MOST JEWS WERE SENT TO EXILE

HEBREW CIVILIZATION IN 538 B.C., BABYLONIANS WERE CONQUERED BY THE PERSIANS AND PERSIAN AUTHORITIES ALLOWED THE JEWS TO RETURN TO THE HOLY LAND IN 538 B.C., BABYLONIANS WERE CONQUERED BY THE PERSIANS AND PERSIAN AUTHORITIES ALLOWED THE JEWS TO RETURN TO THE HOLY LAND AFTER THE PERSIANS, ALEXANDER THE GREAT AND ROMANS CONQUERED THE REGION ONE AFTER ANOTHER AFTER THE PERSIANS, ALEXANDER THE GREAT AND ROMANS CONQUERED THE REGION ONE AFTER ANOTHER GREAT EXILE (ORIGINS OF THE JEWISH DIASPORA) GREAT EXILE (ORIGINS OF THE JEWISH DIASPORA)

HEBREW CIVILIZATION UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION TO MIDDLE EASTERN CIVILIZATION: MASS ACCEPTANCE AND PRACTICE OF THE FIRST MONOTHEIST RELIGION UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION TO MIDDLE EASTERN CIVILIZATION: MASS ACCEPTANCE AND PRACTICE OF THE FIRST MONOTHEIST RELIGION THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF MOSES: A NATIONALIZED SHORT VERSION OF THE HAMMURABI CODE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF MOSES: A NATIONALIZED SHORT VERSION OF THE HAMMURABI CODE ETHNIC+RELIGIOUS IDENTITY= JEWISH IDENTITY (TRANSFORMATION FROM THE TRIBE TO NATION) ETHNIC+RELIGIOUS IDENTITY= JEWISH IDENTITY (TRANSFORMATION FROM THE TRIBE TO NATION)

THE PERSIANS ( B.C.) CYRUS REVOLTED AGAINST THE MEDES AND FOUNDED THE PERSIAN EMPIRE, RISING AS A NEW IMPERIAL POWER IN THE REGION CYRUS REVOLTED AGAINST THE MEDES AND FOUNDED THE PERSIAN EMPIRE, RISING AS A NEW IMPERIAL POWER IN THE REGION PERSIAN CONQUESTS OF BABYLONIA AND EGYPT PERSIAN CONQUESTS OF BABYLONIA AND EGYPT GRECO-PERSIAN WARS OVER THE CONTROL OF ASIA MINOR AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS GRECO-PERSIAN WARS OVER THE CONTROL OF ASIA MINOR AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS ALEXANDER THE GREAT AND THE END OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE, WHICH WOULD BE SUCCEEDED BY THE PERSO-HELLENISTIC PARTHIAN STATE ALEXANDER THE GREAT AND THE END OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE, WHICH WOULD BE SUCCEEDED BY THE PERSO-HELLENISTIC PARTHIAN STATE

PERSIAN CIVILIZATION A POLYTHEISTIC RELIGION DATING BACK TO THE MEDES, WITH MITHRA THE GOD OF LIGHT AS THE CHIEF DEITY (MITHRAISM) A POLYTHEISTIC RELIGION DATING BACK TO THE MEDES, WITH MITHRA THE GOD OF LIGHT AS THE CHIEF DEITY (MITHRAISM) THE BIRTH OF ZOROASTRIAN RELIGION: A TURNING POINT IN THE RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY OF MIDDLE-EASTERN SOCIETIES THE BIRTH OF ZOROASTRIAN RELIGION: A TURNING POINT IN THE RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY OF MIDDLE-EASTERN SOCIETIES

ZOROASTIAN RELIGION FROM THE CHAOS&ORDER THEME TO EVIL&GOOD THEME FROM THE CHAOS&ORDER THEME TO EVIL&GOOD THEME AHURAMAZDA: GOD OF GOODNESS AHURAMAZDA: GOD OF GOODNESS AHRIMAN: GOD OF EVIL AHRIMAN: GOD OF EVIL

ANCIENT GREEKS The Minoan and Mycenaean Civilizations The Minoan and Mycenaean Civilizations The Dark Ages of Akhaians (1150 to 800 B.C.) The Dark Ages of Akhaians (1150 to 800 B.C.) Dorian migrations Dorian migrations Ununified Hellenic world with various city- states (polis) Ununified Hellenic world with various city- states (polis) Aristocratic monarchies as political regimes Aristocratic monarchies as political regimes The polis, the invention of the Greek alphabet: growth of trade and literacy The polis, the invention of the Greek alphabet: growth of trade and literacy

ANCIENT GREEK MILITARY The phalanx The phalanx The Persian Wars The Persian Wars The Spartan vs. Athenian conflict The Spartan vs. Athenian conflict The Peloponnesian War ( B.C.) The Peloponnesian War ( B.C.) The victory of the Spartans and the end of Greek Golden Age The victory of the Spartans and the end of Greek Golden Age

POLITICAL LIFE AND CULTURE Solon and Athenian democracy Solon and Athenian democracy Direct democracy in a limited form (women, aliens and slaves excluded from the democratic machinery) Direct democracy in a limited form (women, aliens and slaves excluded from the democratic machinery) Ancient Greek philosophy and political philosophers (Plato and Aristotle) Ancient Greek philosophy and political philosophers (Plato and Aristotle)

ANCIENT GREEK CULTURE The Greek polytheist pantheon The Greek polytheist pantheon From the Titans of the dark age to the Olympians of the golden age From the Titans of the dark age to the Olympians of the golden age Greek literature based on mythological texts Greek literature based on mythological texts The Iliad and Odyssey poems The Iliad and Odyssey poems Greek fine arts: sculpture and architecture Greek fine arts: sculpture and architecture

ALEXANDER THE GREAT AND THE HELLENISTIC EMPIRE

HELLENISTIC CIVILIZATION ALEXANDER’s EMPIRE MERGED THE EASTERN AND WESTERN WORLDS NOT ONLY IN TERRITORIAL, BUT ALSO IN CULTURAL TERMS ALEXANDER’s EMPIRE MERGED THE EASTERN AND WESTERN WORLDS NOT ONLY IN TERRITORIAL, BUT ALSO IN CULTURAL TERMS ALEXANDER’s ADOPTION OF THE GREEK CITY- STATE MODEL: CITIES AND URBAN LIFE AS CENTERS OF CIVILIZATION ALEXANDER’s ADOPTION OF THE GREEK CITY- STATE MODEL: CITIES AND URBAN LIFE AS CENTERS OF CIVILIZATION SPREAD OF GREEK CULTURE OVER THE MIDDLE-EAST AND THE NEW CULTURAL SENTHESIS SPREAD OF GREEK CULTURE OVER THE MIDDLE-EAST AND THE NEW CULTURAL SENTHESIS