SOUTHWEST ASIA SOUTHWEST ASIA AND EGYPTAND EGYPT

The Ancient and Classical The Ancient and Classical PeriodPeriod

CYCLE OF CIVILIZATIONCYCLE OF CIVILIZATION Nomadic group overruns sedentary areaNomadic group overruns sedentary area Nomadic group settles downNomadic group settles down Nomadic group adopts sedentary cultureNomadic group adopts sedentary culture New culture rises to greater heightsNew culture rises to greater heights Culture weakensCulture weakens Culture overrun by new nomadic groupCulture overrun by new nomadic group Common civilization preserved,Common civilization preserved, Typical for all river valley civilizations Typical for all river valley civilizations

11stst STATE STRUCTURES STATE STRUCTURES Sumerian City-statesSumerian City-states

Small, independent but not totally autonomousSmall, independent but not totally autonomous Local differences but much similarityLocal differences but much similarity Run originally by priests, then warrior-kingsRun originally by priests, then warrior-kings Aristocratic nobles assisted kingsAristocratic nobles assisted kings

Akkadian EmpireAkkadian Empire Conquest stateConquest state Tribute stateTribute state Cuneiform culture of Sumer but SemiticCuneiform culture of Sumer but Semitic

22ndnd STATE STRUCTURES STATE STRUCTURES Ever larger conquest empiresEver larger conquest empires EgyptEgypt

Three periods called KingdomsThree periods called Kingdoms First two periods, Old and Middle are ancientFirst two periods, Old and Middle are ancient New Kingdom is an empireNew Kingdom is an empire

Pharaoh became increasingly “human”Pharaoh became increasingly “human” Priests had enormous power in governmentPriests had enormous power in government

Babylonian and Assyrian EmpiresBabylonian and Assyrian Empires Conquest, tribute empiresConquest, tribute empires Old Babylonian Empire: Hammurabi’s CodeOld Babylonian Empire: Hammurabi’s Code Assyrian Empire used terror, regular armyAssyrian Empire used terror, regular army

SOCIAL STRUCTURESSOCIAL STRUCTURES Ruling ClassesRuling Classes

AristocracyAristocracy RoyaltyRoyalty NobilityNobility

Priestly and MilitaryPriestly and Military

Other ClassesOther Classes ““Free” classesFree” classes

MerchantsMerchants ArtisansArtisans IntellectualsIntellectuals

Peasants and slavesPeasants and slaves

GENDER STRUCTURESGENDER STRUCTURES

PatriarchalPatriarchal PatrilocalPatrilocal PolygamousPolygamous Male RolesMale Roles Female Roles: Public vs. PrivateFemale Roles: Public vs. Private

CULTURALCULTURAL Religious Religious

Polytheist, anthropomorphism of naturePolytheist, anthropomorphism of nature Priests hold great power, own land, templesPriests hold great power, own land, temples Divine Right vs. TheocracyDivine Right vs. Theocracy

IntellectualIntellectual Cuneiform and Hieroglyphics: ScribesCuneiform and Hieroglyphics: Scribes Literatures: Gilgamesh, Book of the DeadLiteratures: Gilgamesh, Book of the Dead

Arts and ArchitectureArts and Architecture Public Architecture, public artPublic Architecture, public art Art Conventions very rigidArt Conventions very rigid

TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY Man is a tool maker and userMan is a tool maker and user

The ability to make and use toolsThe ability to make and use tools Man innovates to meet needs, deficienciesMan innovates to meet needs, deficiencies

Sumer is major source of first inventionsSumer is major source of first inventions Metallurgy: Iron AgeMetallurgy: Iron Age Maths and SciencesMaths and Sciences ToolsTools

DEMOGRAPHY/ENVIRONMENTDEMOGRAPHY/ENVIRONMENT

Man alters his environmentMan alters his environment More pronounced in MesopotamiaMore pronounced in Mesopotamia

Environment is unpredictable, harsherEnvironment is unpredictable, harsher Irrigation, dikes, dams, sluicesIrrigation, dikes, dams, sluices

Agriculture alters environmentAgriculture alters environment All societies were overwhelmingly agrarianAll societies were overwhelmingly agrarian Heavy agriculture increases human populationHeavy agriculture increases human population Some crops really deplete soilSome crops really deplete soil

Cities are artificial and alter environmentCities are artificial and alter environment Extreme concentration of humans in small spaceExtreme concentration of humans in small space Wastes, diseases concentratedWastes, diseases concentrated

INTERACTIONSINTERACTIONS MovementMovement

Human migration: pastoralists, mass migrationHuman migration: pastoralists, mass migration Semites: Arabs, Jews, Hyksos, Nubians, PhoeniciansSemites: Arabs, Jews, Hyksos, Nubians, Phoenicians Indo-Europeans, Indo-Iranians: Hittites, Medes/PersiansIndo-Europeans, Indo-Iranians: Hittites, Medes/Persians

Culture, social blendingCulture, social blending DisruptionsDisruptions

WarWar Interaction increases as resources become rareInteraction increases as resources become rare As technology improves, so does warAs technology improves, so does war Diplomacy arises as conflicts increaseDiplomacy arises as conflicts increase

Exchanges such as Trade, DiseasesExchanges such as Trade, Diseases Goods and skills exchangedGoods and skills exchanged Ideas, diseases exchangedIdeas, diseases exchanged

TWO EXCEPTIONSTWO EXCEPTIONS Hebrews Hebrews

Abraham: Origins – nomadic pastorialistAbraham: Origins – nomadic pastorialist Ethical MonotheismEthical Monotheism Yahweh, Moses, Covenant, CommandmentsYahweh, Moses, Covenant, Commandments

PhoeniciansPhoenicians Traders throughout MediterraneanTraders throughout Mediterranean Artisans: Cloth, Dye, MetallurgyArtisans: Cloth, Dye, Metallurgy Alphabet: Alphabet: Aleph and BethAleph and Beth