Download Early Societies in SW Asia and the Indo European Migrations (2)

Mesopotamia —  Mesopotamia – “The land between the rivers.” —  Refers specifically to the fertile valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in modern-­‐day Iraq. —  First large scale society —  Water from the rivers was used to irrigate fields of barley, wheat, and peas. Mesopotamia —  Sumer —  Land in the Southern half of Mesopotamia —  By 3000 B.C.E almost one hundred thousand people —  Sumerians dominated Mesopotamia —  Many people migrated there (Semitic Migrants) Mesopotamia —  Sumerian City-­‐States —  Dominated public affairs in Mesopotamia —  Controlled public affairs in cities and surrounding agricultural regions — 
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Coordinated projects to benefit the community (Defense walls, temples, etc) —  Irrigation systems especially important Kept the peace… prevented conflicts b/t residents Ziggurat in Uruk The Ziggurat of Ur
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Mesopotamia —  Sumerian Kings —  By 3000 B.C.E. most Sumerian cities had kings. —  Most of which had come to power through military valor. The Course of Empire —  Some kings attempted to exert control over larger regions by taking over other cities and placing their own governors in control. The Course of Empire —  Hammurabi and the Babylonian Empire —  Dominated Mesopotamia until 1600 B.C.E. —  Ruled through centralized bureaucracy (in Babylon) and regular taxation The Course of Empire —  Hammurabi’s Laws —  Compiled extensive list of laws to regulate behavior and promote welfare —  High standards for behavior and stern punishments for violators —  Relied heavily on the principle of lex talionis, “the law of retaliation.” — 
Punishments fit the crime – i.e. penalty for murder is death —  Only for even classes though —  i.e. if a noble murdered a noble the penalty would be death, but not if a noble murdered a slave The Course of Empire —  Babylon fell about 1595 B.C.E. to the Hittites —  Chaos ensued for several centuries following Mesopotamian Empires
1800-600 BCE
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Later Mesopotamian Empires —  Assyrian Empire – 1300 B.C.E. – 600 B.C.E. —  Nebuchadnezzar and the New Babylonian Empire – 600 B.C.E. – 550 B.C.E. Economic Specializa8on and Trade —  Mesopotamia developments —  Bronze Metallurgy —  Iron Metallurgy —  The Wheel —  Shipbuilding —  Trade Networks The Emergence of a Stra8fied Patriarchal Society —  Social Classes —  Kings (Hereditary) —  Priests and Priestesses —  Free commoners (owned property) —  Dependent clients (no property) —  Slaves (Prisoners of War, Convicted Criminals, indebted individuals) Patriarchal Society —  Men —  In charge of public and private affairs —  Head of households —  Women —  A few priestesses —  Some scribes —  Sexual and social behavior strictly controlled (Viels) The Development of WriAen Cultural Tradi8ons —  World’s earliest known writing came from Mesopotamia —  Cuneiform – Depends on graphic symbols, one of the earliest writing forms (p. 44) —  Led to formal education —  Led to rapid expansion of knowledge, especially in Mathematics and Astronomy The Epic of Gilgamesh —  Famous piece of Mesopotamian literature and the earliest piece of human literature written about a demigod name Gilgamesh. Influence of Mesopotamia —  Judaism – From the area of Palestine (present day Israel). Believed in one God known as Yahweh. —  Phoenicians – Famous for maritime trade networks and alphabet. —  Indo-­‐Europeans – Spoke Indo-­‐European language. Migrated throughout much of Eurasia and had profound impact on southwest Asia. —  Moved into Europe (Celts… Dominant North of Mediterranean) and India and Iran —  Hittites – Most powerful Indo-­‐Europeans. Conquered Mesopotamia in 1595 B.C.E. — 
Horses domesticated… WAR CHARIOTS! Israel and Phoenicia, 1500-600 BCE
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Indo-European Migrations
—  Common roots of many languages of Europe, southwest
Asia, India
—  Implies influence of a single Indo-European people
—  Probable original homeland: contemporary Ukraine and
Russia, 4500-2500 BCE
—  Domestication of horses, use of Sumerian weaponry
allowed them to spread widely
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The Indo-European Migrations
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Implications of Indo-European Migration
—  Hittities migrate to central Anatolia, c. 1900 BCE, later
dominate Babylonia
—  Influence on trade
—  Horses, chariots with spoked wheels, use of Iron
—  Iron
—  Migrations to western China, Greece, Italy also significant
—  Influence on language and culture
—  Aryo, “noble, lord”
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Aryan, Iranian, Irish
Caste system in India
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