Lecture 1.4: Bronze Age Near Eastern Empires (CLAS 160B1)

Summary

In this lecture, Dr. Rob Stephan explores the rise of civilization in Mesopotamia, beginning with the Neolithic Revolution around 10,000 BC. He details how humans shifted from nomadic lifestyles to settled farming communities, leading to surplus food, technological advancements, and the emergence of complex societies. Dr. Stephan covers key developments like the rise of city-states, political hierarchies, the invention of writing, and the creation of monumental architecture. The lecture also delves into the early empires of the region, including the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Hittites, emphasizing their contributions to law, warfare, and technological innovation.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Neolithic Revolution, starting around 10,000 BC, marked the shift from nomadic lifestyles to settled farming communities, leading to technological, social, and political advancements.
• 😀 The Neolithic Revolution introduced permanent settlements, animal domestication, and farming, which allowed people to store food, leading to population growth and specialization of labor.
• 😀 Catal Huyuk, a significant Neolithic site, exemplifies early settlements with religious elements such as goddess figurines and bull skulls, reflecting a culture intertwined with spirituality.
• 😀 The rise of Bronze Age civilizations, particularly in Mesopotamia, saw the development of cities with monumental architecture, like ziggurats, and the emergence of public and private spaces.
• 😀 Political hierarchies and priesthoods emerged in the Bronze Age, where rulers justified their power by claiming divine right, often using religion to consolidate authority.
• 😀 Writing, such as cuneiform and hieroglyphs, was initially used for record-keeping but later became vital for preserving knowledge and enabling the growth of literature and technological advancements.
• 😀 Bronze Age empires were characterized by technological innovations like the wheel (initially for pottery), the use of bronze for tools, and the development of writing systems for documentation and communication.
• 😀 The Sumerians, living in the land between the Tigris and Euphrates, created independent city-states, each with its own governance, but shared language, culture, and religion.
• 😀 Sargon the Great of the Akkadian Empire unified Mesopotamia into the world’s first empire, shifting from city-states to large-scale centralized rule, which was a major step in the development of political structures.
• 😀 Hammurabi’s Code from the Babylonian Empire introduced written law, marking a critical advancement in legal systems, although punishments varied depending on social class and the crime committed.

Q & A

What was the Neolithic Revolution, and why was it significant?

The Neolithic Revolution, which began around 10,000 BC, marked the transition from nomadic hunter-gatherer societies to settled farming communities. This revolution was significant because it led to the domestication of plants and animals, the establishment of permanent settlements, and the ability to store surplus food. These developments enabled population growth, labor specialization, and the eventual rise of complex societies and civilizations.

How did climate change at the end of the Ice Age contribute to the Neolithic Revolution?

As the climate warmed around 10,000 BC, the number of large animals decreased, and the human population grew. This shift in environment led people to reconsider their nomadic lifestyle and focus on cultivating the land. Instead of following dwindling herds of animals, humans began to settle in one place, farm the land, and domesticate animals, laying the foundation for agricultural societies.

What role did food surplus play in the development of early civilizations?

Food surplus allowed for population growth and stability. With excess food, people could survive periods of drought or famine, leading to more births. This surplus also freed up some members of society from food production, enabling them to specialize in other tasks, such as arts, technology, politics, and religion. This specialization ultimately contributed to the rise of more complex societies and technological advances.

What were some key features of Neolithic settlements like Catal Huyuk?

Catal Huyuk, located in modern-day Turkey, was a significant Neolithic settlement around 6000 BC. Key features included tightly packed houses, a focus on religion (with many goddess figurines and bull skulls), and a lack of streets. The residents of Catal Huyuk lived in close-knit communities, and the settlement was likely centered around religious practices and agricultural production.

How did the layout of Bronze Age cities differ from earlier Neolithic settlements?

Bronze Age cities, such as Uruk, were much larger and more complex than Neolithic settlements. They featured specialized spaces, such as monumental architecture (ziggurats), public meeting areas, and distinct private and public zones. Unlike Neolithic settlements like Catal Huyuk, which had uniform houses, Bronze Age cities had greater social and economic differentiation, reflecting the emergence of political and religious hierarchies.

What role did political hierarchies play in the development of early civilizations?

Political hierarchies were crucial in organizing large-scale projects, such as irrigation systems. In the early Bronze Age civilizations, rulers were often seen as divine or as representatives of the gods, legitimizing their authority. These hierarchies helped coordinate complex tasks, manage resources, and maintain order within growing urban societies, contributing to the rise of empires.

Why was writing so important for the development of ancient civilizations?

Writing allowed civilizations to record and transmit knowledge across time and space. Early writing systems like cuneiform in Mesopotamia and hieroglyphs in Egypt were initially used for record-keeping and administrative purposes, but later evolved to document literature, laws, and history. This preserved knowledge for future generations, enabling technological and cultural advancement without starting from scratch.

How did the Sumerians contribute to the development of early technology and writing?

The Sumerians made significant contributions, including the invention of the wheel around 3500 BC, initially for pottery and later adapted for transportation. They also developed **cuneiform**, one of the earliest writing systems, which was used for accounting and later expanded to include literature, like the 'Epic of Gilgamesh.' These innovations played a pivotal role in the advancement of civilization in the Near East.

What was the significance of Hammurabi's Code, and how did it influence later legal systems?

Hammurabi's Code, established by the Babylonian king Hammurabi in the 18th century BC, was one of the earliest written legal codes. It standardized laws and punishments for various crimes, promoting justice and order in Babylonian society. The concept of written laws influenced future civilizations and legal systems, contributing to the idea that everyone should be held accountable to the same rules, even if the punishments varied based on class.

What technological advancements did the Hittites introduce, and how did they impact warfare?

The Hittites introduced iron metallurgy, which gave them a significant military advantage. They also pioneered the use of **war chariots**, which became an essential part of their military tactics. The chariots allowed for faster movement and greater flexibility in battle, as demonstrated in the famous **Battle of Kadesh** in 1274 BC, where the Hittites fought against the Egyptians.