history 101 thematic - christopher gennari€œ at the command of the god ashur, the great lord, i...

HISTORY 101

Thematic

Themes of the Course:

War

Revolution

Thought and Ideas

Economics

Context:

Part I: Ancient World (5000bc – 500bc)

Part II: Classical World (500bc – 500ad)

Part III: Medieval World (500 – 1500)

Ancient World: War

Ancient World: War

Nomads/Settled -> Chariots -> Assyria -> Persia

Nomads vs Settled Ppl

Nomadic Warfare and Effects:


Professional


Professional

Horses


Professional

Horses

vs settled?


Professional

Horses

Settled Peoples Solutions and Effects:


walls


walls = kings + govt power + taxes


walls = kings + govt power + taxes

cities spread

What is it?

Chariots: 2000bc - 612bc

What is it?

Advantage


What is it?

Advantage

Disadvantage


Result

only rich matter

Result

only rich matter

Near East Divided in 3:

Babylon (Mesopotamia)

Egypt (Nile River)

Hittites (Mts/Minerals)

Geography

River Valley

(sumarian cities)

(babylon)

(Egypt)

Mountains

(Hittite Tribes)


Bronze Age Collapse (1200 - 1000 BC)

Assyrian Professional Army (900-612 BC)

Geography

Professionalization

Combined Arms

Exterminate!

Terrorism: Propoganda

“In strife and conflict I besieged [and] conquered the city. I

felled 3,000 of their fighting men with the sword … I captured

many troops alive: I cut off of some their arms [and] hands; I

cut off of others their noses, ears, [and] extremities. I gouged

out the eyes of many troops. I made one pile of the living

[and] one of heads. I hung their heads on trees around the

city.” Ashurnasirpal

At the beginning of my royal rule, I…the town of the Samarians I besieged, conquered [for the god…] who let me achieve this

my triumph… I led away as prisoners [27,290 inhabitants of it (and) equipped from among them 50 chariots for my royal

corps…. The town I rebuilt better than it was before and settled therein people from countries which I had conquered

(samarians). I placed an officer of mine as governor over them and imposed upon them tribute as is customary for Assyrian

citizens.

(Nimrud Prism IV 25-41: Sargon II) : destruction 10 tribes: the original Shoah (catastrophe)

“ At the command of the god Ashur, the great Lord, I rushed upon the enemy like the approach of a hurricane...I put them to rout and turned

them back. I transfixed the troops of the enemy with javelins and arrows. Humban-undasha, the commander in chief of the king of Elam,

together with his nobles...I cut their throats like sheep...My prancing steeds, trained to harness, plunged into their welling blood as into a river;

the wheels of my battle chariot were bespattered with blood and filth. I filled the plain with corpses of their warriors like herbage „—

Sennacherib,

Then I went into the country of Comukha, which was disobedient and withheld the tribute and offerings: I conquered the whole country. I

plundered their movables, their wealth, and their valuables. Their cities I burnt with fire, I destroyed and ruined. The common people of

Comukha, who fled before the face of my servants, crossed over to the city of Sherisha... I crossed the Tigris and took the city of Sherisha

their stronghold. Their fighting men, in the middle of the forests, like wild beasts, I smote. Their carcasses filled the Tigris, and the tops of

the mountains. At this time the troops of the Akhe, who came to the deliverance and assistance of Comukha, together with the troops of

Comukha, like chaff I scattered. The carcasses of their fighting men I piled up like heaps on the tops of the mountains. The bodies of their

warriors, the roaring waters carried down to the Tigris. Kili Teru son of Kali Teru, son of Zarupin Zihusun, their King, in the course of their

fighting fell into my power. His wives and his children, the delight of his heart I dispossessed him of. One hundred and eighty iron vessels

and 5 trays of copper, together with the gods of the people in gold and silver, and their beds and furniture I brought away. Their movables

and their wealth I plundered. This city and its palace I burnt with fire, I destroyed and ruined.

-Tiglath Pileser, the powerful King, the vanquisher of the disobedient, he who has swept the face of the earth. Tiglath Pileser, the illustrious warrior, the opener of the

roads of the countries, the subjugator of the rebellious . . . he who has overrun the whole Magian world

Terrorism: Displays of Power

Israel 725bc = genocide / 10 lost tribes

Nineveh = capital city

Great Library

Advantages?

Disadvantages?

Battle of Nineveh (612 BC)

Nomadic horsemen (cavalry) +

babylonian finances +

revolt of everyone

=

total destruction of Assyrians.

Persian Imperial Army

geography

Cyrus : 530s

Cyrus the Great

Cyrus : 530s

Nice:

Babylon, Lydia

Jews in Babylonian Captivity

Persians Nice = Imperial Army

Persian Cavalry + Conquered ppls in Native style

Effects and Results:

size

composition

adv

disadv

I.II: Revolution

Agricultural and Urban Revolution

6000bc:

domestication of plants

=

Need Big Rivers

=

tigris/euphrates

Nile

Indus/Ganges

Yellow/Yangtze

Advantages Disadvantages

Effects/Results:

1. People

2. Religion = Polytheism = Need Protection from Nature

3. Government = Kings

I.II: Revolution


6000bc:


=

Need Big Rivers

=

Effects/Results:

1. People

2. Religion = Polytheism

3. Government = Kings

I.II: Revolution


6000bc:


=

Need Big Rivers

=

Effects/Results:

1. People’s lives + People

Effects/Results:

1. People lives + People


Effects/Results:

1. People lives + People


3. Government = Kings = Protection from each other

= Protection from nomads

= Protection from nature

Cosmopolitan Revolution of Babylon

Hammurabi

Geography

Tigris/Euphrates

=

natural city

=

cosmopolitian

Advantages

size = vortex of ppl and stuff

=

$ on trade

Advantages

size = vortex of ppl and stuff

=

$ on trade

Diversity = knowledge + tech

=

bronze tools

+

lunar calendar

+

math (time)

+

gilgamesh

Disadv:

diversity

=

language

law/customs

anonymous

(more bad than good)

Solution:

Law Code

(who you are *

what you did /

who you did it to)

Hammurabi

Noble Noble

citizen citizen

slave slave

advantages

1. king as protector (= legitimacy)

advantages


2. end arguments = no romeo/juliet

advantages



3. protect weak from strong (first time penalities)

advantages




4. protect rich (important) from the poor (laborers)

advantages




4. protect rich (important) from the poor (laborers)

5. creates new status for women

= women protected by law but not subject to it

= children not citizens

Jewish Monotheism

Polytheism

Polytheism

expert gods in one thing = contracts

Polytheism


gods are like super people = strengths/weaknesses + connection

Polytheism


gods are like super people = strengths/weaknesses + connection

relationship is transactional = protection (Odysseus)

Why is Jewish Monotheism a Revolution?

transcendental god not physical/biological = disconnection

Relationship ppl with God

insignificant ppl= special/chosen

(self identity)

(intermarry)

(circumcision)

(diet w/o pork)

vs Babylon, vs Egypt

EGYPT

Relationship ppl with God

relationship = emotional

good (abraham, passover)

bad (sodom, flood)

=

precarious world

(god is with us! who can be against us?)

EGYPT

Morality

god of all things?

cares about?

Morality

god of all things?

cares about?

40 rules on diet

40 on sex

2 on thought in 10 commandments

debt, hair, marriage, farming, slavery (good), polygamy (ok),

Morality

god of all things?

cares about?

40 rules on diet

40 on sex

2 on thought in 10 commandments

debt, hair, marriage, farming, slavery (good), polygamy (ok),

no changes! = advantages + disadvantages

Part I.III – Thoughts and Ideas

Gilgamesh and how to live forever

Nature of Kingship

Mortality

(flood as battle between gods)

Job and evil in monotheism

Problem

Power = 128 lines = longest speech by god in bible /last in jewish scripture

Solution

Job 38King James Version (KJV)

38 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. 4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? 9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, 10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, 11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? 12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? 14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment. 15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken. 16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth? 17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? 18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all. 19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof, 20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof? 21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great? 22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, 23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? 24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth? 25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; 26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; 27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? 28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew? 29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? 30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. 31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? 32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? 33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? 34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? 35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are? 36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? 37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, 38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together? 39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, 40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait? 41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

1 Still speaking to Job, Yahweh said:

2 Is Yahweh's opponent going to give way? Has God's critic thought up an answer?

3 Job replied to Yahweh:

4 My words have been frivolous: what can I reply? I had better lay my hand over my mouth.

5 I have spoken once, I shall not speak again; I have spoken twice, I have nothing more to say.

power vs justice

did job give in..........or........

http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=6291

David Hume: “Is he willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is impotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Whence then is evil?”

Kant, “the book of Job shows that the problem of evil must remain an open wound.”

elie wiesel: “Job learned that he lived in a world that was cold and cynical—a world without true friends,” but one, nevertheless, in which “God seeks to join man in his solitude.”

Egyptian Legitimacy

Blessings of Geography

Nile + Deserts =

Problem of Legitimacy:

Solution: Old Kingdom (3000-2000bc)

Pyramids

No Slaves!!!!!!

Size Matters!

Size Matters!

bigger = better king = (ex. Khufu)

= more people working (100K)

= more resources required (485’ high vs 75’)

= more time as king (20 years)

Adv?

Disadv?

Solution: Middle Kingdom (1900-1600bc)

adv

disadv.

Middle Kingdom destroyed by Hyksos invasion (1600bc)

Solution: New Kingdom (1500-1000 bc)

Presence: Power: Position:

Battle of Kadesh: Ramses II vs Hittites / Luxor temples

Problems:

1. cost

2. kings (Ahmose, Tutmose III, Ramses II)

3. bronze age collapse = sea barbarians

Trauma: New Kingdom and Hebrew Judah

Egypt:

Hyksos = Mesopotamian warrior pirates

= crossed sinai, invaded lower egypt (delta)

= killed pharaoh in battle, ended M.K., looted lower egypt,

begin 2nd intermediate period = trauma!

Solution?

Hebrews:

David's Psalm of Victory: 2 Samuel 22.

monotheism =

Defeat = Trauma

Assyrian Invasion of Israel 722 bc

930 Solomon’s Kingdom Splits:

Israel in North

(richer, urbanized, populous,

sophisticated, more Meso.)

Judah in South

(had Jerusalem, traditional)

725 bc: Assyria Destroys Israel

= Ten Lost Tribes (depopulation)

725 BC: Assyria Destroys Israel


= trauma



= trauma

= religious explanation



= trauma


= punishment for not being

Hebrew enough.



= trauma


= punishment for not being

Hebrew enough.

= conservatism = literal view of Law

(great, judah should survive as small, conservative state in lrger empire)

(nothing bad should ever happen again)

585. Babylon Destroys Jerusalem

- destroy temple

= babylonian captivity


- destroy temple


= TRAUMA

= Religious response


- destroy temple


= TRAUMA


= Test


- destroy temple


= TRAUMA


= Test

= Cyrus (538)

Part 1:IV: Economics

Rivers = agriculture

Egypt and Nile

Nile Floods for 3 months every year

= 3-5 harvests per year = $

= egyptians wealthy

Displays of Wealth

pharaoh + Nobility

godlike

military power

Hebrews = isolation

Results:

1. homogenous culture

2. small

3. connections = problems

Phoenicia

Phoenicia = naval trade = connection

= wealth for small people (best sailors, respected merchants,

Tyre, Sidon = mercenary armies)

Phoenicia = naval trade = connection

= culture = alphabet = ease literacy (25 interchangable vs pics)

= corporations/contracts, glass, purple dye for clothes

= colonization = spread culture to wider world = wider influence

(Carthage NA, Spain = important into roman wrld)

End of Part 1

history 101 thematic - christopher gennari€œ at the command of the god ashur, the great lord, i...

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