Early Societies in SW Asia and the Indo-European Migrations Ch. 2

I. The Quest for Order A. Mesopotamia (3000bce): “The land between the Rivers” Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Sumer (3000bce) a. Construction of elaborate irrigation systems=abundant harvests. b. Dominant people of Mesopotamia

MESOPOTAMIA

I. The Quest for Order cont’d. 2. Semitic Migrants a. Sumer attracted migrants (Akkadian, Aramaic, Hebrew & Phoenician). b. Nomadic Herders c. built first cities d. centers of bureaucracy, marketplaces, cultural centers, writing & formal education. 3. Sumerian City-States a. est. states (internal/external pressures) b. gov’t formed (authority, organized community projects)

I. The Quest for Order cont’d. c. Ziggurats-stepped pyramids that housed temples and altars to the principal local deity. d. Irrigation extremely important (agriculturally and urban). 3. Sumerian Kings a. absolute authority w/in their realms b. cooperation with nobles B. The Course of Empire Once they were organized w/in they began to extend their boundaries.

I. The Quest for Order cont’d. 1. Sargon of Akkad (2370-2315bce) a. began as a minister to king of Kish b. organized a coup, conquered Sumerian cities. 2. Empire: A New Form of Political Organization a. Sargon “experiment” to hold power b. Personal presence, results negative c. 2150 Empire collapse (internal pressures) 3. Hammurabi and the Babylonian Empire (1792-1750bce) a. Improvements: centralized bureaucracy & regular taxation.

I. The Quest for Order cont’d. b. stationed deputies 4. Hammurabi’s Laws a. high standards of law b. severe punishment for violaters c. lex talionis- “law of retaliation” punishment resembling violation. d. took into account social standing C. Later Mesopotamian Empires Imperial rule returned w/ Assyrians Powerful organized armies under officers of merit rule Calvary forces (chariots, archers)

I. The Quest for Order cont’d. 1. The Assyrian Empire (1300bce) a. made use of iron weapons b. administrative techniques of predecessors c. law like Code of Hammurabi d. preserved literature (ex. Epic of Gilgamesh) 2. Nebuchadnezzar and the New Babylonian Empire (605-562bce) a. aka Chaldean empire

II. The Formation of a Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions Economic diversity Trade linked distant peoples Defined social classes Patriarchal Society Writing is the foundation A. Economic Specialization and Trade 1. Bronze Metallurgy a. Metallurgical innovations one of the most important due to specialized labor.

II. The Formation of a Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions cont’d b. bronze impacts military and farming 2. Iron Metallurgy (1000bce) a. cheaper and more available b. metal of choice 3. The Wheel (3500bce) a. Transportation (vehicles, ships) b. long distance trade c. agriculture

II. The Formation of a Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions cont’d 4. Shipbuilding (3500bce) a. trade in Persian Gulf area (Harappans of India) 5. Trade Networks a. Assyrians traveled by donkey from N. Mesopotamia to Anatolia. b. well organized business

II. The Formation of a Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions cont’d B. The Emergence of a Stratified Patriarchal Society 1. Social Classes a. agriculture and specialized work led to wealth b. long distance trade c. Ruling classes: kings (offspring of gods) and nobles 2. Temple Communities a. Priests communicate w/gods to ensure good for the community. b. income from land holdings & workshops c. banks, underwrite trading ventures, helped needy

II. The Formation of a Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions cont’d 1. Slaves a. 3 sources: POWs, convicted criminals, indebted individuals 2. Patriarchal Society a. authority (public/private) w/men b. work c. marriage arrangements d. policies/public affairs

II. The Formation of a Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions cont’d 3. Women’s Roles a. advised king’s of gov’t b. Formal education c. scribes d. midwives, shopkeepers, brewers, bakers e. virginity of brides, no casual socializing

II. The Formation of a Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions cont’d B. The Development of Written Cultural Traditions 1. Cuneiform Writing a. 2900bce graphic symbols to represent sounds, syllables and ideas. b. wedge shaped 2. Education a. vocational instruction, also formal schools b. communicate complex ideas on the world, humans, gods & the world

II. The Formation of a Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions cont’d 3. Astronomy & Mathematics a. literacy=knowledge b. crucial to agriculture

The Epic of Gilgamesh

III. The Broader Influence of Mesopotamian Society Hebrew, Israelites and Jews Hebrews speakers of Hebrew language Israelites branch of Hebrews settled in Palestine. Jews from southern Israelites from Kingdom of Judah 1. The Early Hebrews a. pastoral nomads b. Abraham came from Sumerian city Ur. c. lex talionis

Phoenicia, Kingdom of Israel, Kingdom of Judah 1500-600bce

III. The Broader Influence of Mesopotamian Society cont’d 2. Migrations and Settlement in Palestine a. Hebrews migrated to Egypt under Moses b. 12 tribes fought against other Palestine inhabitants c. Monarchy under King Solomon & King David 3. Moses and Monotheism a. one god known as Yahweh b. creator and sustainer of the world c. Ten Commandment=ethical & religious principles

III. The Broader Influence of Mesopotamian Society cont’d 4. Assyrian & Babylonian Conquests a. Political & military setbacks led Israelites closer to Yahweh. 5. The Early Jewish Community a. Distinct religious community believing that they had a special relationship with Yahweh b. Torah-Yahweh’s teachings c. strong sense of identity different from Mesopotamians.

III. The Broader Influence of Mesopotamian Society cont’d B. The Phoenicians 1. The Early Phoenicians a. organized series of independent city-states 2. Phoenician Trade Networks a. Influenced societies through Mediterranean basin of maritime trade & communication networks b. imported-food & raw materials, exported- metal goods, pottery, glass c. excellent sailors, best ships, commercial colonies d. adapted Mesopotamian culture to their own needs

III. The Broader Influence of Mesopotamian Society cont’d 3. Alphabetic Writing a. 22 symbols representing consonants, no vowels b. more people became literate c. spread through travel and trade

Phoenician, Greek and Roman alphabet

IV. The Indo-European Migrations Indo-European Origins 1. Indo-European Languages a. similarities in vocabulary & grammatical structure in Europe, SW Asia, & India b. sub-groups include: Indo-Iranian, Greek, Germanic, Italic, Celtic c. common tongue 2. Horses a. domesticate, originally source of food b. hitch to carts, wagons, chariots c. transportation technologies; faster & efficient

IV. The Indo-European Migrations cont’d c. military advantage B. Indo-European Expansion and its Effects 1. The Nature of Indo-European Migrations a. expansion beyond homeland 2. The Hittites a. to Anatolia; imposed language and rule b. traded w/Babylonians and Assyrians c. Cuneiform d. Mesopotamian Deities

IV. The Indo-European Migrations cont’d 3. War Chariots a. 2 innovations-light horse drawn war chariots & iron metallurgy b. spoked wheels c. strike forces in armies 4. Iron Metallurgy a. weapons effective, cheap & large quantity b. heat iron into charcoal, desired shape

IV. The Indo-European Migrations cont’d 4. Indo-European Migrations to the West a. Indo-European Celtic dominated Northern Europe b. recognizing 3 social groups: military elites, priests and commoners