Early Mesopotamian Early Mesopotamian and Nile River and Nile River

CulturesCultures

Anthropology - Anthropology - The scientific study of the The scientific study of the origin, the behavior, and the physical, social, and origin, the behavior, and the physical, social, and cultural development of humans.cultural development of humans.

Archaeology - Archaeology - The systematic study of past The systematic study of past human life and culture by the recovery and human life and culture by the recovery and examination of remaining material evidence, such examination of remaining material evidence, such as graves, buildings, tools, and pottery as graves, buildings, tools, and pottery

History - History - The branch of knowledge that records The branch of knowledge that records and analyzes past events and analyzes past events

““much of our understanding of early humans still much of our understanding of early humans still relies on considerable conjecture …”relies on considerable conjecture …”

Paleolithic Age (Old Stone)Paleolithic Age (Old Stone)

1. Characteristics1. Characteristicsa. hunting and gatheringa. hunting and gathering

b. lived in small bandsb. lived in small bands

c. nomadicc. nomadic

d. began to refine use of toolsd. began to refine use of tools

e. used fire and often lived in cavese. used fire and often lived in caves

2. Two important technological 2. Two important technological innovations: use of tools and fire innovations: use of tools and fire

Paleolithic Peoples: Example, San People of Paleolithic Peoples: Example, San People of Southern Africa – Rock Art depicting Southern Africa – Rock Art depicting Hunting and Spiritual LifeHunting and Spiritual Life

Neolithic Age (New Stone)Neolithic Age (New Stone) 10,000 – 4,000 BCE – stone tools for new 10,000 – 4,000 BCE – stone tools for new

uses: agricultureuses: agriculture “… “… The biggest change was the shift from hunting The biggest change was the shift from hunting

animals and gathering plants for sustenance to animals and gathering plants for sustenance to producing food by systematic agricultureproducing food by systematic agriculture.”.”

– 9000 BCE - Farming began in west Asia9000 BCE - Farming began in west Asia– 7000 BCE – Towns emerged7000 BCE – Towns emerged– 6000 BCE – Farming in Egypt6000 BCE – Farming in Egypt– 3000 BCE – cities and states in west Asia & Egypt3000 BCE – cities and states in west Asia & Egypt

Characteristics:Characteristics:

a. growing of cropsa. growing of crops

b. utilizing beasts of burdenb. utilizing beasts of burden

c. domestication of animalsc. domestication of animals

Permanent SettlementsPermanent SettlementsAgricultural Development Led to Permanent Agricultural Development Led to Permanent

Settlements: Settlements: a. a. houseshouses built for shelter and built for shelter and structuresstructures for for storing foodstoring food

b. began to b. began to tradetrade

c. began to c. began to specializespecialize in certain crafts in certain crafts

d. d. divisions of labor divisions of labor developeddeveloped

e. e. Technical developments Technical developments between 4,000 – 3,000 BCE– between 4,000 – 3,000 BCE–

better tools – Asians discovered how to combine better tools – Asians discovered how to combine

copper and tin to create bronze – harder substance copper and tin to create bronze – harder substance

than copper alonethan copper alone

Women’s WorkWomen’s WorkThis rock painting from a cave in modern-day This rock painting from a cave in modern-day Algeria, dating from around the fourth millennium Algeria, dating from around the fourth millennium BCE, shows women harvesting grain.BCE, shows women harvesting grain.

© Erich Lessing/Art Resource, NY

Similarities? Documents to support Similarities? Documents to support your case?your case?

Early Complex Societies: Early Complex Societies: Mesopotamia and EgyptMesopotamia and Egypt

Early Complex Societies: Early Complex Societies: Mesopotamia and EgyptMesopotamia and Egypt

Similarities Similarities 1. each developed in a river valley1. each developed in a river valley

2. urban focus2. urban focus

3. new political and military structures3. new political and military structures

4. new social structure based on economic 4. new social structure based on economic powerpower

5. distinct religious structure5. distinct religious structure

6. development of writing6. development of writing

7. new and significant artistic and intellectual 7. new and significant artistic and intellectual activityactivity

Mesopotamia (The Fertile Crescent)Mesopotamia (The Fertile Crescent)Location: Tigris & Euphrates RiversLocation: Tigris & Euphrates Rivers

Link to PBS,“BravingIraq” – story of Iraq’s Wetlands –(50 minutes)

What does the film have to do What does the film have to do with this class? Why did we with this class? Why did we

watch it?watch it?

City States of MesopotamiaCity States of Mesopotamia

Settlement of various city-states in Settlement of various city-states in Mesopotamia (“between the rivers”)Mesopotamia (“between the rivers”)

– Independent at times, sometimes united under Independent at times, sometimes united under same rulersame ruler

Sumerian cities (Eridu, Ur, Uruk, Lagesh)Sumerian cities (Eridu, Ur, Uruk, Lagesh) Buildings of mud-brick, arch & dome Buildings of mud-brick, arch & dome

structures and Zigguratsstructures and Ziggurats Produced woolen textiles, pottery, and Produced woolen textiles, pottery, and

metalworkmetalwork

Ziggurat and Royal Tombs at Ur …Ziggurat and Royal Tombs at Ur …

Link to video, “Royal Tombs of Ur” (7 minutes)

Video on Bull-headed Lyre at Penn Museum

Website for Exhibit, “Iraq’s Ancient Past”

ReligionReligion

Religious development reflected Religious development reflected economic and social developmenteconomic and social development

– – polytheisticpolytheistic – many gods, related to – many gods, related to

agriculture, nature, and kingsagriculture, nature, and kings

– – gods ruled the cities gods ruled the cities

– – theocracytheocracy – priesthood, division of – priesthood, division of laborlabor

– – kingship was divine kingship was divine – examples: – examples:

Gilgamesh, Hammurabi Gilgamesh, Hammurabi

HammurabiHammurabi United Sumeria (1792-1750 BCE)United Sumeria (1792-1750 BCE) Well-disciplined armyWell-disciplined army Assimilated conquered culturesAssimilated conquered cultures Built temples and defensive wallsBuilt temples and defensive walls Irrigation canalsIrrigation canals Encouraged tradeEncouraged trade

Code of Hammurabi – What does the Code Code of Hammurabi – What does the Code tell us about Mesopotamian society and tell us about Mesopotamian society and culture?culture?

Hammurabi’s Code Stele in Hammurabi’s Code Stele in Louvre Museum, ParisLouvre Museum, Paris

Hammurabi Code SteleHammurabi Code Stele

Solid basalt (rock) block inscribed with code of laws (in Akkadian language)

Hammurabi Receiving Code of Hammurabi Receiving Code of Laws from GodsLaws from Gods

Carved top of stele

Codes:Rules of conductPunishment for breakinglaws: physical punishment, fines Class does matterSex does matterRights for womenMarriage lawsProperty rights: land, crops,animals, slaves, toolsCommercial laws: standards,rent, taxes

Ishtar Gate (from Babylon)Ishtar Gate (from Babylon)now in Pergamon Museum, Berlinnow in Pergamon Museum, Berlin

Ishtar Gate LionIshtar Gate Lion

Ishtar Gate DragonIshtar Gate Dragon

Earliest Preserved Writing Earliest Preserved Writing SystemSystem

Earliest Writing – Earliest Writing – Cuneiform – Cuneiform – wedge- shaped wedge- shaped writing (from Ur)writing (from Ur)

Written in fired Written in fired clayclay

AccountingAccounting Of what?Of what?

Current ArchaeologyCurrent Archaeology

Assur – Assyrian/Babylonian city in Assur – Assyrian/Babylonian city in northern Mesopotamia (current-day Iraq)northern Mesopotamia (current-day Iraq)

Cuneiform was developed thereCuneiform was developed there Temples found – but many more thought Temples found – but many more thought

buriedburied Only recently safe to resume Only recently safe to resume

archaeological workarchaeological work But threatened by construction of a dam But threatened by construction of a dam

across the Tigris Riveracross the Tigris River

Assur SiteAssur Site

Video on Preservation Problems in Iraq (4 min.)

Links to videos on current state ofancient sites of Ur

Part OnePart Two

Nile River SocietiesNile River Societies

5500 BCE – 395 CE5500 BCE – 395 CE

Nile RiverNile River

Flows

Upper Nile

Lower Nile

Nile River DeltaNile River Delta

Egyptian Nile River SocietiesEgyptian Nile River Societies Importance of the Nile River – Importance of the Nile River –

– ““The Gift of the Nile”The Gift of the Nile”

– Predictable flooding, silting, fertilizing Predictable flooding, silting, fertilizing of fieldsof fields

– Transportation and tradeTransportation and trade

Nile FloodsNile Floods

Flood levels in Sudan, 2001

Flooding in Egypt, 1965

Current uses of Nilewaters

Egyptian Kingdoms and Egyptian Kingdoms and EmpireEmpire

Egypt protected from invasion by seas and Sahara desert

Saharan Desert

Egyptian Kingdoms and Egyptian Kingdoms and EmpireEmpire

Link to TimelineLink to Timeline

Old KingdomOld Kingdom - divine kingship (pharaohs) - divine kingship (pharaohs)– ruled by ma’at – idea of truth & justiceruled by ma’at – idea of truth & justice– Only time when pharaohs were buried in Only time when pharaohs were buried in

pyramidspyramids

Middle KingdomMiddle Kingdom – Golden Age – Golden Age– Stable in leadershipStable in leadership– Pharaohs, “shepherds,” but still divinePharaohs, “shepherds,” but still divine

Spiritual LifeSpiritual Life

No word for “Religion” – part of No word for “Religion” – part of everyday life, beliefs, and actionseveryday life, beliefs, and actions

Two groups of gods – sun and land – Two groups of gods – sun and land – – Similarities and differences from Similarities and differences from

Paleolithic beliefs?Paleolithic beliefs? Pyramids – burial places for pharaohs Pyramids – burial places for pharaohs

– the largest are from Old Kingdom – the largest are from Old Kingdom periodperiod

The Giza Pyramids were built as tombs for the fourth The Giza Pyramids were built as tombs for the fourth dynasty kings Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure who ruled dynasty kings Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure who ruled Egypt through 2589-2504 BCE.  The largest is the Great Egypt through 2589-2504 BCE.  The largest is the Great Pyramid of Khufu, one of the Seven Wonders of the Pyramid of Khufu, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.Ancient World.

Egyptian Kingdoms & Egyptian Kingdoms & EmpireEmpire

(continued)(continued) New Kingdom New Kingdom (1550-1085 BCE)(1550-1085 BCE)

– Pharaohs buried in Valley of the KingsPharaohs buried in Valley of the Kings– Kicked Hyksos conquerors outKicked Hyksos conquerors out– Egypt expanded through military Egypt expanded through military

conquestconquest– Most powerful state in Middle EastMost powerful state in Middle East

Amenhotep, a.k.a. Akhenaten Amenhotep, a.k.a. Akhenaten – tried to make Egypt monotheistictried to make Egypt monotheistic

Ramses II restored Kingdom of EgyptRamses II restored Kingdom of Egypt

Nubian Kingdoms on the Nubian Kingdoms on the Middle and Upper NileMiddle and Upper Nile

Changing Relationships with Egyptian Kingdoms Changing Relationships with Egyptian Kingdoms and Empireand Empire

Two areas were often linked through trade, Two areas were often linked through trade, religion, and culturereligion, and culture

Dependent on Egypt at timesDependent on Egypt at times Independent at timesIndependent at times Ruled Egypt for a timeRuled Egypt for a time

Source of luxury materials for Egypt: gold, ivory, Source of luxury materials for Egypt: gold, ivory, slaves, gems, elephants, lions, graniteslaves, gems, elephants, lions, granite

Received manufactured goods back from Egypt Received manufactured goods back from Egypt like linen cloth, glass, oils, wine & govt., religionlike linen cloth, glass, oils, wine & govt., religion

Nubian Kingdoms on the Nubian Kingdoms on the Middle and Upper NileMiddle and Upper Nile

Egypt

Nubia

Nubian Kingdoms and CitiesNubian Kingdoms and Cities

2500 BCE to Roman Period2500 BCE to Roman Period

KermaKerma – large agricultural settlement on – large agricultural settlement on Middle Nile – invaded by Egypt and Middle Nile – invaded by Egypt and disappeareddisappeared

NapataNapata – ruled Egypt during 25 – ruled Egypt during 25thth dynasty dynasty

KushKush – had own pharaonic rulers – had own pharaonic rulers

MeroeMeroe – ruling city of Kush, further south, – ruling city of Kush, further south, away from Egyptian dominationaway from Egyptian domination

Nubian Kingdoms and Nubian Kingdoms and CitiesCitiesKermaKerma

Large agricultural Large agricultural settlement in settlement in Middle Nile areaMiddle Nile area

Conquered by Conquered by Egyptian Egyptian Thutmoses I Thutmoses I

Kerma then Kerma then disappeared by disappeared by about 1580 BCEabout 1580 BCE

The Western Deffufa (temple) of Kerma made of mud bricks

Nubian/Kushite Sphinx of Nubian/Kushite Sphinx of TaharqoTaharqo

Ruler, 690-664 BCERuler, 690-664 BCE

History of “Palestinian History of “Palestinian Territory”Territory”

Also known as the Ancient Near EastAlso known as the Ancient Near East

Constant conflict from within and with Constant conflict from within and with neighboring peoplesneighboring peoples

Hebrew People and Canaan – historical figures Hebrew People and Canaan – historical figures 1. Abraham1. Abraham2. Exodus from Egypt (1700 BCE)2. Exodus from Egypt (1700 BCE)3. King Saul and King David3. King Saul and King David

(1020-922 BCE)(1020-922 BCE)4. Divided Kingdom – Israel and Judah4. Divided Kingdom – Israel and Judah

(922 – 587 BCE)(922 – 587 BCE)

Problems in Ancient Palestine: Problems in Ancient Palestine: Location, Location, Location?Location, Location, Location?

Map of Ancient Palestine

Phoenicians

Philistines

Israelites, Hebrew Peoples

Conquest of Hebrew People by Outside Conquest of Hebrew People by Outside InvadersInvaders1. Israel and the Assyrians1. Israel and the Assyrians

(722 BCE)(722 BCE)2. Judah and Babylon (Mesopotamians)2. Judah and Babylon (Mesopotamians)

(587 BCE)(587 BCE)3. Exile of Hebrews in Babylon/Egypt3. Exile of Hebrews in Babylon/Egypt

Return from Exile of the HebrewsReturn from Exile of the Hebrews1. Cyrus the Persian 1. Cyrus the Persian 2. Darius the Persian2. Darius the Persian

Flood Story Comparison –Flood Story Comparison –Religious and Cultural TraditionsReligious and Cultural Traditions

Discussion of Epic of Gilgamesh: Discussion of Epic of Gilgamesh: Questions: Questions:

1.1.What can EofG tell us about What can EofG tell us about Mesopotamian society, in particular?Mesopotamian society, in particular?

2.2.What does the epic tell us about life, What does the epic tell us about life, in general, in cultures of that time?in general, in cultures of that time?

3.3.Similarities between EofG and other Similarities between EofG and other stories? Why so similar, in your view?stories? Why so similar, in your view?