Defining “Civilized” Urban life: permanent constructions System of regulatory government Class distinction (through wealth and occupation) Tools/skills --> production/trade Written communication Shared system of religious belief

Civilization In pre-agricultural societies, as soon as there was enough food for all, work stopped. With agriculture, a field must be sown, tended, and later harvested all at once. The harvest must be stored. Domestic animals must be maintained as a herd and be held in a contained area. When all goes well, there will be a surplus of food that is not immediately distributed. It is valuable, and must be managed and guarded.

civilization With the Agricultural Revolution comes: –Government bureaucracy –Standing armies –A controlling social elite

civilization Not all people had to farm. Some could become specialists in particular tasks: –Potters –Tool makers –Metal workers (smiths) –Bakers, butchers, etc. –Bureaucrats

civilization Even if a farming society had begun to flourish with relatively independent farmers, once irrigation is introduced, infrastructure follows. An irrigation ditch and water-raising devices are large, expensive projects, requiring government, taxation, a workforce, etc.

Fertile crescent The first area of the world to move to an agricultural way of life was near where Africa, Europe, and Asia meet. An area called the Fertile Crescent

Fertile crescent The “Fertile Crescent” is fertile, because rivers from all three continents drain into it, bringing rich nutrients to the soil as well as water. It was also in an area of moderate climate, perfect for growing crops. For those reasons it was also more heavily populated.

Ancient Near East

Mesopotamia The world’s first great civilization arose in the Fertile Crescent. –This happened in particular in an area that is now part of Iraq. –This area is bounded by the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers. –The Greeks called it Mesopotamia, meaning “between the rivers.”

Sumer The first notable civilization in Mesopotamia was Sumer. It was located in southern Mesopotamia, near where the rivers join.

Ancient Near East Sumerian Accomplishments 3500 BCE – Invention of the Wheel 3400 BCE – Invention of pottery wheel 3300 BCE – Invention of writing (cuneiform) 3000 BCE – Epic of Gilgamesh written – 1 st literary work – Quiz 1 – due next week!

Ancient Near East Other developments in Ancient Near East 2300 – 2150 BCE - Akkadian Dynasty and Empire – conquest of Sumeria 2150 – 1760 BCE - Neo-Sumerian Dynasty 1760 – 1600 BCE – Babylonian Empire: develops advanced mathematics 1600 – 1000 BCE – Splintering of Empire into 3 areas: Hittites in north (develop iron weapons); Kassites in center and Elamites in south.

Ancient Near East 1350 – 612 BCE – Assyrian Empire : most brutal and feared warriors of A.N.E. 669 – 627 BCE – Ashurbanipal rules Assyria 612 – 538 BCE – Neo-Babylonian (Chaldaean) Empire : conquer Egypt in 605 BCE and Jerusalem in 586 BCE under Nebuchadnezzar II (Babylonian Captivity – Destruction of Temple of Solomon) 538 – 330 BCE – Persian Empire : largest empire then known stretching from modern day Iran to Egypt

Ancient Near East Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations were nearly all polytheistic. Polytheism – belief in more than one god. (Only exception was the Jews who later developed monotheism – a belief in one god). All Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations were theocratic. Theocracy – government which is led by religious rulers that were in charge of both the political and religious aspects of their cultures

Ancient Near East - religion Sumerian Gods Annunaki – name for the Sumerian gods Anu- sky god/king of gods Innana – fertility goddess/ queen of gods Abu – god of plants Enlil – god of earth /wind Enki – god of wisdom Shamash – sun god Assyrians, Babylonians, Akkadians, Hittites shared the same gods though sometimes added new ones or changed the names Persian Gods Ahura Mazda – god of light Ahriman – god of darkness Dualistic religion where both gods were equal and opposite Zoroaster – chief prophet of Persian religion Zend-Avesta – Persian Holy Book

Chart: Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses. ca. 2200– 2159 BCE.

Sumerians

Ancient Near East Characteristics of Sumerian Art Prominent Eyes Arched eyebrows Cylindrical body shape Conceptual approach to human figures Offers homage to the gods Highly stylized/even abstract at times Focus on the spiritual world

White Temple and ziggurat Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq ca. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E. mud brick Oldest temple structure in Mesopotamia

Female head (possibly Inanna) from Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq ca. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E. marble approximately 8 in. high RECOVERED

Warka Vase from Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq ca. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E. alabaster approximately 3 ft. high Considered masterpiece of Mesopotamian pottery RECOVERED

Sumerian- Art Votive Statues from Abu Temple 2600 BCE Tell Asmar, Sumeria Votive statues had prayers inscribed upon them and were offered to the gods Votive means offering

Sumerian- Art Standard of Ur BCE Ur, Sumeria Wood with inlaid shells, limestone and lapis lazuli Considered masterpiece of Sumerian art Two sided one side is war one is peace King is largest figure on both sides

Sumerian- Art Bull’s Head Lyre 2600 BCE Ur, Sumeria Found in Queen Paubi’s tomb Never used so signifies possible use in afterlife Wood with inlaid shell, gold and lapis lazuli

Sumerian. Vessel in the shape of an ostrich egg, from the Royal Cemetery of Ur. Height: 5-3/4".

Sumerian. Cuneiform writing in Sumer. Sumerian tablet from Lagash, modern Tello, Iraq. ca BCE.

Ram in a thicket from Tomb 789, Royal Cemetery Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar) Iraq ca. 2,600 B.C.E. gold, silver, lapis lazuli, copper, shell, red limestone, bitumen 42.6 cm. high Sumerian mythology included many magical animals

Akkadians

Ancient Near East Akkadian and Assyrian Art Characteristics Art to commemorate warriors and rulers More naturalistic than Sumerian Portrayal of violence Illustrates and glorifies the military power of the people and their king and his accomplishments

Head of an Akkadian ruler from Ninevah (modern Kuyunjik) Iraq ca. 2,250-2,200 B.C.E. copper 14 3/8 in. high Possibly Sargon or Naram-Sin – 2 signs of power - beard and crown MISSING

Materials & Techniques: Lost-wax Casting (diagram).

Akkadian- Art Victory Stele of Naram- Sim 2300 – 2200 BCE Akkad Shows king on top of mountain triumphing over his enemies Size of king dramatically larger than those around him It was a public monument showing king’s power

Akkadian. Cylinder seal impression and the Seal of Adda. ca BCE. Height: 1-1/2".

Neo-Sumerians

Neo-Sumerian- Art Ziggurat of Ur-Nammu 2500 – 2050 BCE Ur, Sumeria (Iraq) Priest was only one allowed to visit the home of the god at the top of the temple Ur-Nammu writes first code of laws (incomplete) Neo-Sumerians

Gudea of Lagash 2144 – 2124 BCE Lagash, Sumeria Priest-king – first statue of non-hero Made of Diorite – because stone was strong and long lasting No attempt at reality – but regal

Babylonians

Babylonian- Art Law Code of Hammurabi 1760 BCE Babylon Made of Diorite First complete written code of laws Sun god Shamash hands laws directly to Hammurabi making it clear that all must follow them Quiz 2 – Due Next Week!

Hittites

Hittite Art Lion Gate BCE Hattusha, Turkey Capital of Hittite Empire Hittites are first to use iron weapons

Assyrians

Assyrian- Art Lamassu from Citadel of Sargon 883 – 859 BCE Nimrud, Assyria Lamassu were protector gods assumed by the Assyrians to come to life to protect them Note 5 legs

Assyrian archers pursuing enemies from the Northwest Palace of Ashurnasirpal II, Kalhu (modern Nimrud) ca B.C.E. gypsum 2 ft. 10 3/8 in. high Perspective is not even considered – larger figures are the important ones

Assyrian- Art Ashurnasirpal II Killing Lions 850 BCE Nimrud, Assyria Limestone Part of the Hunting Reliefs The Hunting Reliefs are considered the masterpiece of Ancient Near Eastern Art

Assyrian- Art Dying Lioness 850 BCE Nimrud, Assyria Relief Sculpture Limestone Part of the Hunting Reliefs The Hunting Reliefs are considered the masterpiece of Ancient Near Eastern Art

Hunting Reliefs

Tablet 11 of the Epic of Gilgamesh (fragment), with the Flood Story. From the Library of Ashurbanipal, Nineveh (modern Kuyunjik, Iraq). Second milennium BCE.

Ancient Near East Sack of Hamanu by Ashurbanipal 650 BCE Nineveh, Assyria Scale is all out of proportion Narrative is what is important Power of king and his army’s technique are the focus

Assyrian. Exile of the Israelites, from the Palace of Sennacherib, Nineveh, Assyria. Late 8th century BCE.

Neo-Babylonian

Neo-Babylonian- Art Ishtar Gate 575 BCE Babylon From Neo-Babylonian period made of glazed brick One of over 30 entrances to city – used for defensive purposes and to impress visitors Animals used for ornamentation Crenellations on top for defense

Ishtar Gate (restored) details of dragon (Marduk) and bull (Adad) from Babylon, Iraq ca. 575 B.C.E. glazed brick

Ishtar Gate (restored) details of lion (Ishtar) from Babylon, Iraq ca. 575 B.C.E. glazed brick

Babylonian. Reconstruction drawing: Babylon's Processional Way & Ishtar Gate as they appeared in the 6th century BCE.

Persian Art

Anonymous. Beaker with ibex, dogs, and long-necked birds, from Susa, southwest Iran. ca. 5000–4000 BCE. Height: 11-1/4".

Persian- Art Achaemenid Palace 518 – 460 BCE Persepolis, Persia Palace was destroyed by Alexander the Great in revenge for the destruction of the Acropolis in Athens Laid out in grid pattern

Palace of Darius I and Xerxes I Persepolis, Iran ca B.C.E.

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Persian. Darius and Xerxes Receiving Tribute. Detail, relief from a stairway leading to the Apadana, ceremonial complex, Persepolis, Iran BCE. Height: 8' 4".

Achaemenid. Rhyton. 5th-3rd centuries BCE.

Ancient Near East - Art Winged Ibex 4th century BCE Persia This object was used as a jar handle Gilded in gold over stone Animal motif prevailed in Ancient Near East

Sasanian Art

Palace of Shapur I from Ctesiphon, Iraq ca. 250 C.E. Roman artisans aided in the construction – hence the arch

Triumph of Shapur I over Valerian from Bishapur, Iraq ca. 260 C.E. rock-cut relief The Roman Emperor kneels in defeat before the Sasanian King

Head of Sasanian King (Shapur II?) from Ctesiphon, Iraq ca. 350 C.E. silver with mercury gilding 15 3/4 in. high Sculpture

Ancient Near East - Art The End Next Lecture: Ancient Egypt