Download Unit 1 Study Sheet This is a student

Unit 1 Study Sheet
This is a student-designed study sheet that outlines they key concepts in Unit 1 "The Emergence of Human
Communities, to 500 B.C.E. Each student is responsible for a portion of the content for this study sheet.
Chapter 1: Nature, Humanity, and History, to 500 B.C.E (Text Pages 1-21)
Politics: By: ____________
Religion: By ______________________________________
Society: By ______________________________________
Technology: By _
Economics: By ______________________________________
Gender Issues: By REBEKAH
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Chapter 2: The First River-Valley Civilizations, 3500-1500 B.C.E. (Text Pages 21-46)
Politics: By Mr. Armstrong
Jericho and Catal
Huyuk, 7000-5000
B.C.E.
Civilization
Early towns in Middle East located near natural spring. Elaborate Agriculture. Mud-Brick Dwellings. Ladders and doors connecting
houses which you entered from roof. Significant because it`s the first cities we studied.
Features: (1) cities as administrative centers; (2) a political system based on defined territory; (3) many people engaged in
Mesopotamia
specialization, non-food producing activities; (4) status distinctions based on wealth accumulation; (5) monumental building; (6) system
of permanent record-keeping; (7) long distance trade and (8) major arts and science advances
"land between rivers" located in Middle East, between Euphrates and Tigris Rivers (Modern Day Iraq)
Sumerians: 5000 B.C.E. dominated the area. Spoke Semitic Languages (Hebrew, Aramic, Phoenician)
City-State: self-governing urban centers that controlled the agriculture around them, protected villagers, produced goods and organized
trade. There were many small city states in early Mesopotamia that disputed over land. Each city-state controlled irrigation by building
dams, drainage ditches, dikes. Had its own written records.
Regional Empires
Political Leader: each city had its own "Lugal" or "big man" who we'd call a king. Normally portrayed himself as a deity on earth. He
maintained city walls/defences, repaired/extended irrigation, guarded property rights, warded off attacker, established justice.
Sargon ruler of Akkad: 2350 BCE united many cities under one king and capital. Lasted 120 years. Created walls, troops, installed
governors, adapted cuneiform to express own language. Not sure why it ended.
Semitic Amorites Babylon: Hammurabi 1792-150 BCE. 125 Mile long wall. Hammurabi's Law Code (many offenses met with severe
physical punishments.
Divine Kingship: increased population leads to complex political organization with divine kings who led Upper and Lower Egypt.
King was called Pharaoh. Pharaoh maintained "Ma'at"- the divinely authorized order of the universe.
Tombs: Massive Pyramids. Near Memphis Egpt and Giza Egypt. Let them reunite with the Gods and showed their power.
Egypt
Administration: Capital- Memphis (near Cairo today)- divided into districts. Bureaucrats kept track of land, products, people and taxed
them. Government controlled all sectors of the economy. Used Hieroglyphic writing for record keeping. Kings grant land to peasants.
Low-level officials ensure they work the land. Country was mostly agriculture but a few wealthy elite.
Military: Isolationist (tried not to fight other countries). Had small standing army of professional soldiers to fight when Nomads
attacked.
Indus Valley
Politics of Nubia: Wanted to control Nubia to get its gold, incense, ivory, exotic jungle animals.
western Pakistan near Indus River
Harappa and Mohenjo=Daro (Major Urban Centers)
Settled 5000 BCE
Little known about political life. Not sure why it broke down.
Religion: By MAISHA
Mesopotamia
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Egypt
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Each city temple housed deities who watched over the community
Temples owned agricultural land and stored donations
Priests controlled shrines, managed wealth, played prominent political and economic roles
Kings were portrayed as a deity’s representative
Believed gods had bodies and senses, needed sacrifices, enjoyed worship and obedience and were emotional
Gods were feared, for they were thought to be the cause of natural disasters
Cities built temples and showed devotion to deities who protected communities
Temple was considered god’s residence and the cult statue in the interior shrine was believed to embody the deity’s life
force
Priests met every need to the divine image; waking, entertaining, soothing
Priests performed central acts in great rituals, played music to please gods, exorcise evil spirits, etc.
People placed mini-statues of themselves in temple to gain deity’s favor
Had amulets to protect them from evil spirits
Believed pharaohs were sent by god to maintain the order of the universe; pharaohs were the link between humans and
gods
Gods were linked to nature
Pharaohs were chief priests and intervened with the gods on the behalf of his people
religious activities were used to win god’s favour, maintain the continuity of the divine kingship, and the ensure the
renewal of the life-giving forces of the world
towns have temples for locally prominent gods; when a town became the capital, the chief god of that town became
prominent across Egypt
priests performed private activities in the inner reaches of the temples
little is known about day-to-day beliefs and practices of common people
house hold members made offerings to the god of marriage and happiness, to local deities and to family’s ancestors
used amulets and depictions of demonic figures to protect the bearer and ward off evil forces
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believed in afterlife and had made preparations for a safe passage to the nest world and a comfortable existence once
one arrived there
when a person died, their body organs were removed and their body was stuffed; privileged classes were buried with
treasures
Society: By JESSICA
Mesopotamian Society (p.26)
-Temple leaders and Kings controlled large
agricultural estates
- Palace administration collected taxes from
subjects
-elite class acquired large landholdings
-soldiers and religious officials received plots of
land in return for their services
Three Classes
1.
Free landowning Class (royalty, high ranking
officials, warriors, priests, merchants, artisans,
shopkeepers)
Dependent farmers and artisans whose legal
attachment to royal, temple, or private estates
made them primary rural work force
Slaves- employed in domestic service
2.
3.
*penalty for crimes depended on class
Slaves
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identifies by distinctive hairstyles
Could be a person in debt
They were illiterate, so not much written
records.
Women
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primary occupation was bearing and raising
children
Could own property, maintain/control own
dowry, engage in trade
Some worked outside of home as:
prostitutes, tavern keepers, bakers, fortune
tellers
Women were to marry so families wealth
could increase
Laws favored rights of the husbands
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Mesopotamia
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Egypt
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Indus Valley
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Early China
Celtic Europe
New Kingdom of
Egypt
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The Aegean
World
Assyrian Empire
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Phoenician Citystates
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Used boats in river and sea trade
Since more trade, the writing system develop
Cuneiform writing, about political, literacy, religious, and scientific topics
Wheeled carts and sled like platforms dragged by cattle were used to transport goods in some
locations
Metallurgy- used it to make bronze
Hieroglyphics, the earliest form of system using picture symbols standing for worlds, syllables or
individual sounds.
Used papyrus to make papers
Developed math to measure the dimension of field.
They had a system of writing with more than four hundred signs.
Skilled irrigation- used potter’s wheel, and laid the foundations of large public buildings with mud
bricks fired to rock hardness kilns.
Technology: By
JANET
Divination- used oracle bones to record done the interpretation of phenomena in the natural
world as signs of the gods’ will and intentions.
The first in the world to forge steel by removing carbon during the iron-smelting process.
Used boats to trade (long distance)
Craftsmen skilled in metalworking, including weapons and jewelleries; they produced high quality
potteries.
Advanced military technologies, such as the horse-drawn war chariot and a composite bow, made
of wood and horn.
Linear B, uses pictorial signs to represent syllables and to keep record by the administrators.
Crafted goods of Cretan potteries.
Dug tunnels, build mobile tower for archers
Mass deportation- the forced uprooting of entire communities and resettlement, broke the spirit
of rebellion
Developed Canaanite models in to an alphabetic system of writing with about two dozen symbols,
in which each symbol represent a sound.
They had skilled Phoenician craftsmen and cedar wood for building the First Temple in Jerusalem.
Technology of 1500 B.C.E-1025 C.E (HARSHAN)
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Irrigation was developed in the Indus Valley Civilization by around 4500 BCE; harnesses were used to
tie animals to a plow to lessen the work load of the people.
Size of the Indus civilization grew as a result of this innovation, which eventually led to more planned
settlements making use of drainage and sewerage.
Eventually, irrigation systems and storage systems were developed in the Indus Valley Civilization,
including artificial reservoirs at Girnar.
Animals used as warfare were also used here and they had been able to suceed greatly
Arrows and flaming arrows were also used
Textiles were still major and the manufacturing was still slow but increasing in technology.
DHARSAN
The Indus Valley
Civilization
Mesopotamia
Tech - irrigation, used potter’s wheel and laid foundations of large public buildings with mud bricks fired to rocky hardness in kilns.
System of writing with more than 400 signs. Used seal stones which may represent names of merchants who stamped their wares while
trading.
Tech – Writing, type of technology, first appeared 3300 B.C.E. Method of writing involved pressing the point of a sharpened reed into
moist clay tablet. Cuneiform is not a language, but a system of writing which would take years of training and practice to master.
Wheeled carts & sled like platforms dragged by cattle used to transport goods.
Metallurgy, refining ores containing copper and alloying with arsenic to make bronze. Poured molten bronze into moulds to produce
tools and weapons.
Economics: By ROONEY
Mesopotamia The law code of Hammurabi in eighteenth century B.C.E. Babylonia reflects social
divisions that may have been valid for other places and times. Society was divided into
three classes. Penalties for crimes prescribed in the Law Code depended on the class of the
offender, with the most severe punishments reserved for the lower order.
In mesopotamia food production depended on the heavy physical labor jobs usually
performed by men. Bearing and rearing children became the primary occupation of many
women. Women could own property, maintain control of their dowry, and even engage in
trade.
The survival of many amulets and representations of a host of demons suggests widespread
belief in magic the use of special words and rituals to manipulate and control the force of
nature.
EGYPT
The artistic convention of depicting men with a dark red and women with yellow lesh tone
implies that the elite women's proper sphere was indoors, away from the searing sun.
Legal documents show that Egyptian women could own property, inherit property from
their parents, and will their property to whomever they wished. Marriage, usually
monogamous, was not
confirmed by any legal or religious ceremony and essentially constituted a decision by a
man and women establish a household together.
Egyptian believed in the afterlife and made extensive preparations for safe passenge to the
next world and a comfortable existence once they arrived there.
Obsession with the afterlife led to great concern about the physical condition of the
cadaver. Egyptians perfected techniques of mummification to preserve the dead body.
Gender Issues: By ______________________________________
Culture (Ideology, Philosophies, Art): By ______________________________________
Chapter 3: New Civilizations in the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, 3500-1500 B.C.E. (Text Pages 46-71)
Chapter 1: Nature, Humanity, and History, to 500 B.C.E (Text Pages 1-21)
Politics: By KIMBERLY
Early China
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Xia Dynasty had little written about them so history begins with its successors ,the Shang
In the mid 11th century B.C.E. the Shang were over thrown by the Zhou
Wen defeated the Shang and his son Wu was the first new ruler
When wu dies, his son, Cheng was too young to rule , so the kingdom was run by his uncles ,
namely the Duke of Zhou
In 771 came the Eastern Zhou era in which only northern and central china have allegiance
In 481 came the Warring states period , called this because of the constant warfare between states
Nubia
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Cotrolled by aggressive Egyptians who wante to control their gold
For half a century (from 712-660) the kings of Nubia ruled over all of Egypt
In 660 B.C.E the Assyrians invaded Egypt and overthrew the Nubian kings
Celtic Europe
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Controlled by the Romans who didn’t interfere much
In the First century the roman government threatened to attack the Druids out of fear they would
serve as a rallying point
Olmec and
Chavin
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Little is known about the olmec political structure, however it seems that the rise of major urban
center coincided with the appearance of kingship that combined religious and secular roles
Both local chiefs and a more powerful chief or king dominated
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Religion: By _CHRISTIAN
Early China,
2000-221 B.C.E
Alongside the new primacy of the Zhou deity Tian and continuation of
religious practices inherited from the Shang era, new forums of divination
developed. Over time a multilayered text was complied, called the Book of
Changes, that explained in details the meanings each of the 64 standard
patterns formed by the stalks. The Book of Songs provides extraordinary
glimpses into the lives, activities, and a diverse cross section of early
Chinese people. Some men and women engaged in sex outside of
marriage.
Nubia adopted Egyptian religion. The Nubians built towns on the Egyptian
model and erected stone temples to Egyptian gods, particularly Amon. The
frequent depiction of Amon with the head of a ram may reflect a blending
of the chief Egyptian god with a Nubian ram deity.
Nubia, 3100
B.C.E.-350 C.E.
The Olmec and
Chavin 1200250B.C.E.
Many unique statuses of the Olmec culture, all are about 11 feet but each
had unique heads. The Olmec elite used elaborate religious to control this
complex society. They became associated with the gods through
bloodletting and human sacrifice, evidence of which is found in all the
urban centers. The Olmec were polytheistic, and most deities had male
and female nature. Human and animal characteristics were also blended,
humans could transform themselves into powerful animals. The Olmec
were also responsible for or the likely originators for a ritual ball game that
became, an enduring part of Mesoamerican ceremonial life.
Trainees spent years memorizing religious prayers, secret rituals, legal
precedents, and other traditions. The priests headed off warfare between
feuding groups and served as judges involving cases celts from different
groups.
Celtic Europe
1000-50 B.C.E.
Society: By ______________________________________
Technology: By SANDY
Early China, 2000 221 B.C.E
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Eastern river valleys and North China Plain contained timber, stone, scattered deposits of metals, and above all, potentially
productive land.
Over the ages, a thick mantle of soil accumulate which was extremely fertile allowing for extensive crop growth and
expansion.
Forests cleared and dikes constructed to protect nearby fields from recurrent floods on Yellow River.
Cultivation of rice required great outlay of labour. Rice paddies, where rice was grown, must be flat and surrounded by
water channels to bring and lead away water according to a precise schedule. Flooding eliminates weeds and rival plants. In
the end the reward is a harvest than can feed more people per cultivated grain than any other crop.
Archaeological evidence shows that the Neolithic population of China made stone tools. They made pottery on a wheel and
fired it in high temperature kilns. They pioneered production of silk cloth. They built walls of pounded earth by hammering
the soil inside temporary wooden frames until it became hard as cement.
By 2000 B.C.E they began to make bronze.
Little is known about the Shang period as documents during its time were so-called oracle bones, the bones of cattle, shell of
turtles.
Shan writing system – several hundred characters were pictures of objects but have become simpler over time and is the
writing system of the system currently used in China today.
In the mid-eleventh century, Shang were overthrown by Zhou.
Mandate of Heaven – validated the institution of monarchy by connecting religious and political spheres.
Early Zhou rulers constructed new capital city in their homeland. Cities laid out on grid plan aligned with the north polar star,
with the gates in the walls opening to cardinal directions.
Warfare largely conducted by members of elite who rode chariots. In high stakes conflict of Eastern Zhou period there were
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Nubia, 3100 B.C.E
– 350 C.E
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Celtic Europe,
1000-50 B.C.E
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First Civilizations
of the Americas:
The Olmec and
Chavin, 1200-250
B.C.E
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much larger armies made up of conscripted farmers.
Learned to put fighters on horseback to give them an advantage in battle.
By 600 B.C.E, iron began to replace bronze.
Increasing size and complexity of governments also began to occur in 600 B.C.E
During the Warring States Period, 481-221 B.C.E, war was become more of a problem so states sought security by any means
possible including building walls, putting the largest possible armies out, and devising new techniques.
Served as corridor for trade between tropical Africa and the Mediterranean.
Richly endowed with natural resources such as gold copper and semiprecious tones
Had an early rise as a civilization with complex political organization, social stratification, metallurgy, monumental building,
and writing.
River irrigation was essential for agriculture.
Egypt supplied gold to states of Middle East when exploiting mines of Nubia.
Inaugurated an artistic and cultural renaissance, building on monumental scale for the first time in centuries and
reinvigorated art, architecture, and religion.
By the fourth century B.C.E, hieroglyphs gave way to a new set of symbols for writing the Meroitic language.
Land contained broad plains with good soil and had a temperate clime with cold winters, warm summers, and ample rainfall.
Had a lot of natural resources such as timber, metals, and large navigable rivers facilitated travel and trade.
Divided into classes of warriors, priests and bards, and commoners.
Built houses out of wattle and daub, a wooden framework filled with clay and straw, with thatched roofs. Surrounded by
wooden fence for protection.
Did not build temples but worshipped wherever they felt the presence of divinity.
Depended on agriculture, and domesticated animals.
Ability to produce dependable surpluses
Craft specializations
Built irrigation ditches and drainage canals, developed raised fields in wetlands that could be farmed more intesnsively,
constructed monumental buildings.
Large platforms and mounds of packed earth dominated Olmec urban centres because there was an absence of housing.
Produced high quality crafts such as carved jade figurines, necklaces, and ceremonial knives and axes.
Developed trade networks. Llamas were bred and integrated into the trading system as they decreased the labour needed
for transport of goods.
Economics: By ______________________________________
Gender Issues: By ______________________________________
Culture (Ideology, Philosophies, Art): By CHRISTIAN
Early China,
2000-221 B.C.E.
Nubia 3100
B.C.E.-350 C.E.
China was separated by formidable natural barriers. The Himalaya
mountain range to the south west, and pamir and Tian Mountains and the
Takla Makan desert to the west. During the Shang period grew millet,
raised bpigs and chicken. They pioneered the production of silk cloth, first
raising silk worms.By the mid 11th century the Shang were overthrown by
the Zhou. The two most influential “philosophical” systems Confucianism
and Daoism had their roots in this period, though they would be further
developed and adapted to changing circumstances in later times.
A culture based on Egypt and Africa. Egypt took control of Nubia and thy
adopted Egyptian culture all though some argue that Egyptians adopted
Celtic Europe,
1000-50 B.C.E
Nubian culture. It was the corridor for trade between tropical Africa and
he Mediterranean. Rich in natural resources such as copper gold and
semiprecious stones. Some Nubians served as archers in the armed
forces. Eventually Nubia was regained by the Nubians and then they ruled
Egypt.
Is now present day Italy, Greece, and Spain. Had a temperate climate with
very good soil. Celtic society was divided into an elite class of warriors,
professional groups of priests and bards and commoners. The warriors
owned land and monopolized both wealth and power. Celts built houses
out of wattle and daub- a wooden framework with clay and straw. They
would have druken feats and contests of strength and wit. Warriors
would fight to the death at dinners just to get the best cut of meet. Druids
preformed religious, judicial, and educational fuctions. Grew lots of
potatoes on fertile land. Celts collided with Romans when they invaded
the Celts lands.
Chapter 4: The Mediterranean and Middle East, 2000-500 B.C.E. (Text Pages 71-102)
Chapter 1: Nature, Humanity, and History, to 500 B.C.E (Text Pages 1-21)
Politics: By ____JENNIFER
Mesopotamian
Empire
Egyptian
Empire
Minoan Empire
Mycenaean
Empire
Assyrian
Empire
Israelites of
Israel
Phoenician
Empire
Religion: By Adam
Babylon  gained political gains when Mesopotamia was divided into 2 political zones
(Babylonia & Assyria)
Habits spread to western Asia (E.g. Cuneiform, myths, legends, art, architectures)
Officials became independent, political system declined
Received taxes & tribute payments from conquered people
Gvnt officials resent Akhenaten’s reforms (a new style of early art)
Centralized government
System of writing
Palace administrators kept track of people in exhausting details with cuneiform (helped
economy)
King  military leader, planned campaigns
Messengers brought king information from every corner
Royal writings discussed recent victories and punishments to anyone who disobeyed the king
Control of territory: tight at centre in lands closest to the area
King told officials to look at taxes, law and order, troops, and observe armies
Lost political autonomy and experience of exile had sharpened their identity
Lived by a rigid set of rules
Inhabitants of the populated area adopted new political reforms and turned to seaborne
commerce and new manufacturing techniques for survival
Wealth from city-states gave them important roles in Intl politics
Akhenaten
(New Kingdom
Egypt)
Mycenaean
Believed in “Aten” (The disk of the Sun) so changed his name in order to spread the belief that
Aten was the supreme deity. There was also the invention of monotheism which is the belief in
one exclusive god. (pg.75)
Greece
They buried their royal or very important and rich people in shaft graves with the deceased
person possessing gold jewellery and ornaments, weapons and utensils. Showing their beliefs and
importance of the burial process. (pg.78)
Assyrian
Empire
Believed that gods choose the king as their earthly representative. Meaning that the King had
strong connections to the gods making this ruler very powerful due to their beliefs. (pg. 81)
Israel
Used the Hebrew Bible which tells of different Israelite traditions and has the point of view of the
priests who controlled the temple in Jerusalem. (pg.84-85)
Phoenicia and
the
Mediterranean
Deities of Mesopotamia the gods of the Carthaginians chief among them Baal Hammon a male
storm-god, and Tanit a male fertility figure and entities who had to be appeased by anxious
worshipers. (pg 97-98).
Society: By _____YASHIKA
New Egyptian
Kingdom
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Society flourished in resources(gold, timber)
Relied on networking linking Western Asia; commerce w/ many people
Believed in multiple god[ ruled and decided outcome for people]
Very artistic[built many grand temples, statues of Pharaohs]
Ruled by Pharaoh who could speak to gods[held in high respect
Diplomatic methods to deal w/ other empires[marriage of Ramses ll to Hittite princess]
Created hieroglyphics to write, communicate
Mycenaean[Greece]
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Spoke multiple lang. [b/c of intermarriages, melding of cultural practices]
Remained simple and static for centuries
Burial sites held gold, jewellery, weapons [buried men, women and children]
Lived within large palace complex, massive walls [technologically adv.]
Believed in supernatural[ gods, otherworld]
Used pictorial symbols[ linear B]
Skilled in seafaring [used in trade and contact]
Traded pottery, wine, olive oil and imported metals
Assyrian Empire
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King was center of Assyrian society [ppl were very loyal to him& decisions made by King]
Viewed as a god
Military, gov’t and growth of empire all ruled by one person[King]
Believed in supernatural as well
Society supported military campaigns
Gov’t had A LOT of power
Many conquest LED to superior military organizations & technology
Elite class bound to monarch [ used rewards and fear on people]
Everyone was entitled to same legal protections and same liabilities
Agriculture proved to be important [ majority with this job]
Also skilled professions
Well educated [held HOUSE OF KNOWLEDGE]
Israel
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Religious people [Hebrew bible]
Started off with nomadic people and later became settled in agricultural life
Unified state
At a time society was ruled by Egyptians
Later rose to form monarchy
Priests regarded as important people
Gap b/w urban and rural life as well as the rich and poor
Lived in extended families
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Phoenicians
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Practiced monotheism
Developed own writing system
Lots of networks & trading [Tyre]
Extended to other cities for resources [ ended up colonizing Mediterranean]
Gov’t officers ringed a large central square
Lived in complex inner city
Ethnically diverse
GOV’T= elected judges every 2 yrs to carry administrative and judicial functions
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Senate ruled society [ powerful]
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Also had assembly of citizens
Had impressive navy
Foreign policy conducted by merchants
Land worked by peasants and slaves
Had states for specific things [i.e. military protection= Carthage]
Believed n supernatural [ had amazing and grand power]
Technology: By ______________________________________
Economics: By ______________________________________
Rulers of Babylonia defended their core area and traded for raw materials
North Mesopotamia had a busy trade route across north Anatolia
Merchant families settled outside walls of Anatolian cities and exchanged textiles and tin
Engaged in campaigns of conquest and expansion of its economic interests
Hitties made tools & weapons but kept it a secret as it would benefit them economically
Mesopotamian
Empire
Officials became independent, economic system declined
Access to timber, gold, copper
Received taxes & tribute payments from conquered people
Nubia  pressured people to adopt to culture
Syria  strategically placed forts and cooperative rulers
Camels  domesticated animals that allow governors to cover distances fast
Egyptian
Empire
Minoan Empire
Mycenaean
Empire
Assyrian
Empire
Israelites of
Israel
Phoenician
Empire
Strongly influenced Mycenaean culture
Need metals to make bronze weapons
Linear B: kept track of people, animals, objects
Traded wine and olive oil
Need metals to make bronze weapons
Traded with empires who were strong and took from the weak
Vital resources to iron and silver  control of Intl commerce
Iron tools for war aided them greatly
Exploited wealth and resources of other empires
Silver was the basic medium of exchange
Fostered long-distance trade
Census taken to facilitate collection of taxes
Alliances and trade linked Israel with near and distant lands
Wealth gained from military & commercial ventures aided Israel’s regional power
Crafted luxury goods
Focused on protecting sea lanes, gaining access to raw materials, and fostering trade
Merchants were able to sail along the shores but if they tried to operate on their own, they
would sink the ships of the intruders
Traded perishable goods  textiles, animal skin, slaves, raw metals, foods
Gender Issues: By ______________________________________
Culture (Ideology, Philosophies, Art): By ___BULKARN
The spread of
Culture
* The story of dido and her supporters fled the Phoenician city-state of Tyre in southern
Lebanon after her husband was murdered by her brother, the king * They landed on the
north African coast and contracted the local people * This story represents cultural pattern
from older centers to new regions , also its showed the migration of late bronze age to
Early Iron Age people in Mediterranean land and western Asia
Western Asia
* The city of Babylon had gained political and cultural arsendancy over the southern plain
under the dynasty of Hammurabi in ....The Kassites from the Zagrous mountains
embrassed babylonion languages and culture * Mesopotamin cultural concept spread
across western Asia * Akkadian become the language of diplomary and correspndance
between governments * The Elamites and hitties adapted the cuneiform system to write
their own languages, and it was the early form of consonant sounds and alphabetic
principle * Mesopotamian myths, legends and styles of art and architecture were imitated
New
Kingdom
* The hyksos intermarried with Egyptians, used the Egyptain language and maintained
Egyptian institutions and culture, But the hykos were still called foreigners * In Nubia,
Egypt imposed direct control and pressed the native population to adopt Egyptian
language and culture * Akhenation created the invention of monotheism- the beliefs in
one exclusive god
Egypt
The Aegean
World
* The speakers of Indo- European Language ancestral to greek migrated into greek
peninsula around 2000 BCE * The Linear B writing system was created that represented
syllables in the early Greek
The Assyrian
* The king was the center of the empire and all the land belonged to him * The elite class
was bound to the monarch by oaths of obedience, fear of punishment and the expectation
of reward * The Library of Ashurbanipal contained official document as well as literary
and science enteric texts. * Much of what we know about Mesopotamian art, literature,
science, and earlier history comes from discover at Assyrian sites
Empire
Israel, 2000500
BCE
* The Hebrew Bible was created around this time period * Traditions in Israelites were
transmitted orally, it was not until the tenth century BCE when they written down on
scripts borrowed from the Phoenicians * The First temple was created in Jerusalem, it had
a set of rituals * The temple priests became a powerful and wealthy class * They believed
also in monotheism, the beliefs in Yahweh as the one and only god
Phoenicia and
The
Mediterranean
1200-500
BCE
* There was few written recorded and archaeological remains disturbed by frequent
migrations and invasion * Cultural was affected by trade in raw material like foodstuffs,
wines, spies, salted and fishs