John Ermer World History AP Miami Beach Senior High School

The Iron Age The Mediterranean Sea provides vehicle for cultural ex. New cultures and civilizations emerge in Middle East Interactions b/w civilizations increases 2000 s B.C.E.: Many civilizations begin using Iron Easier to make than bronze, one metal rather than an alloy Harder and sharper than bronze Must be heated to higher temperature than bronze With the Iron Age also came large scale use of horses Horses allow for quicker and farther travel—empire building

The Cosmopolitan Middle East The Late Bronze Age Egypt and Mesopotamia conquered by outsiders Outsiders either cast out or assimilated into dominant culture New, large territorial states emerge to dominate Mid. East Egypt, Babylon (Mesopotamia), Hittite Empire, Phoenicia, Palestine Cosmopolitan A time of widely shared cultures and lifestyles High level of trade and diplomatic relations High standard of living for elite groups Conflict between centers of power for control of resources

Western Asia Akkadian becomes language of trade & diplomacy in W. Asia Cuneiform writing system adopted across region Eventually simplified into an alphabet by Pheonicians Mesopotamia divided b/w Babylonia (S) & Assyria (N) Babylonia Attracts non-Semite Kassites from Zargos mountains, assimilated Kassite kings of Babylon did not seek empire Assyrians begin conquering neighbors for empire Controlled important trade routes in northern Mesopotamia The Hittite Empire Spoke an Indo-European language Exported copper, silver, tin First to develop iron weapons

New Kingdom Egypt Hyksos among the many SW Asians who migrate to Egypt Hyksos means “foreigners” Egyptians expel the Hyksos, pharaohs expand empire Trade exposes Egyptians to new cultures and technologies

New Kingdom Egyptian Influence

The Aegean World Geography Greece and the islands of the Aegean & Ionian seas Mountainous, mostly rocky, arid climate Limited arable land, in plains between mountain ranges Grains, grapevines, olive trees Food, lumber, metals must be imported by ancient Greeks Sea travel is easier than overland, trade is paramount

Minoan Crete, B.C.E. Crete = home of first European civilization Bronze work, writing, monumental building, extensive trade Minoans named for mythical “King Minos” Unfortified cities/palace complexes Indoor plumbing and frescoes = sophistication 1450 B.C.E.: Minoan cities/palaces destroyed Capital city of Cnossus (Knossos) survives under Mycenaeans

Mycenaean Greece, B.C.E B.C.E.: Indo-Europeans migrate into Greece Homer’s poems the Illiad & Odyssey tell of Mycenae Schliemann finds the shaft graves Adopt Minoan style and architecture Cities built on hilltops, thick fortifications 4,000 clay tablets of Linear B Government regulated and controlled production Metal work reserved for elite class Trade and communication by small sailboats Mycenaeans were warlike and acquisitive Conflict with the Hittites

Moving & Shaking 1200 B.C.E.: Mass migrations across the Mediterranean c. 1200: Hittite kingdom collapses, Ugarit destroyed 1190: Ramesses III of Egypt battles “Sea People” Egypt loses control of Palestine, Syria, and Nubia Egypt falls to possible Mycenaean invasion c. 1175: Mycenaean civilization collapses Mediterranean & Middle East enter a Dark Age Economic and political collapse leads to long, deep decline War brings limited trade, much poorer societies Loss of artistic & technical skills, writing/education declines Loss of writing, artistic & technical skills

The Sea Peoples & the Fall of Late Bronze Age Empires