The Late Bronze Age in the The Late Bronze Age in the Eastern HemisphereEastern Hemisphere

2200-500 B.C.E.2200-500 B.C.E.I.I. Early ChinaEarly China A. Geography and ResourceA. Geography and Resource 1. Chinese Neolithic cultures began to 1. Chinese Neolithic cultures began to

spring up as early as 8000 B.C.E.spring up as early as 8000 B.C.E. 2. China is isolated from the rest of the 2. China is isolated from the rest of the

Eastern Hemisphere by the Himalayan Eastern Hemisphere by the Himalayan Mountains to the south, Pamir/Tian Mountains to the south, Pamir/Tian Mountains to the west, and the Gobi Mountains to the west, and the Gobi desert to the northwest.desert to the northwest.

3. China’s two great river systems are called 3. China’s two great river systems are called the Yellow River and the Yangzi River (yang-zuh).the Yellow River and the Yangzi River (yang-zuh).

4. Winds rising over Central Asia deposits a 4. Winds rising over Central Asia deposits a yellowish-brown silt called loess, which is yellowish-brown silt called loess, which is extremely fertile.extremely fertile.

5. Because of varying degrees of precipitation, 5. Because of varying degrees of precipitation, two distinct patterns of agriculture developed in two distinct patterns of agriculture developed in China. In the North, millet and wheat – in the China. In the North, millet and wheat – in the South, Rice.South, Rice.

6. China, as well as East Asia as a whole, 6. China, as well as East Asia as a whole, developed complex societies independent of the developed complex societies independent of the Middle East and the Indus valley.Middle East and the Indus valley.

B. The Shang PeriodB. The Shang Period

1. Archaeologists have identified 1. Archaeologists have identified several Neolithic cultures along the Yellow several Neolithic cultures along the Yellow River.River.

2. They grew millet, raised pigs, 2. They grew millet, raised pigs, possessed stone tools, made pottery, etc.possessed stone tools, made pottery, etc.

3. Their most important development 3. Their most important development was the manufacturing of silk from the was the manufacturing of silk from the cocoons of silk worms.cocoons of silk worms.

Early ShangEarly Shang

Shang Bronze VesselShang Bronze Vessel

4. By 2000 B.C.E., the Chinese 4. By 2000 B.C.E., the Chinese acquired Bronze metallurgy appx. 1000 acquired Bronze metallurgy appx. 1000 years before the Middle East!years before the Middle East!

5. For all practical purposes, Chinese 5. For all practical purposes, Chinese history begins with the rise of Shang Clans history begins with the rise of Shang Clans in the early 2in the early 2ndnd millennium B.C.E. millennium B.C.E.

6. The most prominent social class 6. The most prominent social class among the Shang was the warrior among the Shang was the warrior aristocracy.aristocracy.

7. The Shang royal family and aristocracy 7. The Shang royal family and aristocracy worshiped the spirits of their male ancestors.worshiped the spirits of their male ancestors.

8. They believed their ancestors were 8. They believed their ancestors were interested in the fortunes of their interested in the fortunes of their descendents.descendents.

9. They practiced 9. They practiced divinationdivination, techniques , techniques for the telling the future or the will of the for the telling the future or the will of the gods by interpreting natural phenomena. gods by interpreting natural phenomena. (Cracks on bones)(Cracks on bones)

10. They developed a system of 10. They developed a system of writing using writing using pictogramspictograms, pictures , pictures representing objects or concepts.representing objects or concepts.

11. and 11. and phonetic symbolsphonetic symbols representing sounds of syllables.representing sounds of syllables.

12. The time to master this was 12. The time to master this was extensive and took many years.extensive and took many years.

Early Shang WritingEarly Shang Writing

C. The Zhou PeriodC. The Zhou Period 1. In the 111. In the 11thth century B.C.E., a century B.C.E., a

dependent state in the valley of the Wei dependent state in the valley of the Wei River, defeated the last Shang king.River, defeated the last Shang king.

2. Wu started the Zhou dynasty, 2. Wu started the Zhou dynasty, which lasted from 1027 – 221 B.C.E.which lasted from 1027 – 221 B.C.E.

3. The Zhou dynasty was the 3. The Zhou dynasty was the longest lasting dynasty in Chinese longest lasting dynasty in Chinese history.history.

Zhou BoundaryZhou Boundary

4. In order to justify his rule, the Zhou 4. In order to justify his rule, the Zhou monarchs formulated a new ideology monarchs formulated a new ideology called the “Mandate of Heaven”.called the “Mandate of Heaven”.

5. The chief deity was called “Heaven” 5. The chief deity was called “Heaven” and the monarch was called the “Son of and the monarch was called the “Son of Heaven”.Heaven”.

6. In essence, the ruler was chosen as 6. In essence, the ruler was chosen as long as he served as a wise, energetic long as he served as a wise, energetic guardian of his people.guardian of his people.

7. Zhou history can be split into 2 7. Zhou history can be split into 2 different periods. Western Zhou (11different periods. Western Zhou (11thth – 9– 9thth centuries B.C.E.) and Eastern centuries B.C.E.) and Eastern Zhou (800-221 B.C.E.).Zhou (800-221 B.C.E.).

8. The Eastern Zhou is noted for 8. The Eastern Zhou is noted for the political philosophies that the political philosophies that developed: Legalism, Confucianism & developed: Legalism, Confucianism & Daoism.Daoism.

9. 9. LegalismLegalism: assumes people are wicked : assumes people are wicked & selfish & will only behave when ruled with & selfish & will only behave when ruled with strict laws and harsh punishment.strict laws and harsh punishment.

10. 10. ConfucianismConfucianism: assumes human nature : assumes human nature is good & is concerned about the moral is good & is concerned about the moral foundation of the government.foundation of the government.

11. 11. DaoismDaoism: humanity should follow the : humanity should follow the “path” avoiding futile struggles and violence.“path” avoiding futile struggles and violence.

ConfuciusConfucius

12. 12. Yin and yang: Represents Yin and yang: Represents complementary nature of male & female complementary nature of male & female roles in the natural order.roles in the natural order.

13. Male (yin) equated with the sun, 13. Male (yin) equated with the sun, active, bright & shining.active, bright & shining.

14. Female (yang) moon, passive, 14. Female (yang) moon, passive, shaded and reflective.shaded and reflective.

Ying - YangYing - Yang

15. This period also saw changes 15. This period also saw changes in social organization, especially in social organization, especially within the family.within the family.

16. Clan-based kinship was 16. Clan-based kinship was eventually replaced by the three-eventually replaced by the three-generation family within the later generation family within the later Zhou – grandparent, parent, and Zhou – grandparent, parent, and children.children.

II.II. The Cosmopolitan Middle EastThe Cosmopolitan Middle East A. Western AsiaA. Western Asia 1. Western Asia or the “Middle East” 1. Western Asia or the “Middle East”

becomes a cosmopolitan area because becomes a cosmopolitan area because culture and lifestyle become widely culture and lifestyle become widely shared.shared.

2. By 1500 B.C.E., Mesopotamia 2. By 1500 B.C.E., Mesopotamia becomes divided into two distinct becomes divided into two distinct political zones: Babylonians in the south political zones: Babylonians in the south and the Assyrians in the north.and the Assyrians in the north.

Late Bronze AgeLate Bronze Age

3. The city of Assur had established a 3. The city of Assur had established a trade route that extended from the upper trade route that extended from the upper Tigris to the Anatolian plateau.Tigris to the Anatolian plateau.

4. This trade route brought tin and 4. This trade route brought tin and textiles to Anatolia in exchange for silver.textiles to Anatolia in exchange for silver.

5. As a result of this trade a new 5. As a result of this trade a new formidable forced arrived in central formidable forced arrived in central Anatolia called the Anatolia called the HittitesHittites between 1700 between 1700 to 1200 B.C.E.to 1200 B.C.E.

B. New Kingdom EgyptB. New Kingdom Egypt

1. Towards the end of the Middle 1. Towards the end of the Middle Kingdom Egypt came under foreign Kingdom Egypt came under foreign domination by a Semitic speaking domination by a Semitic speaking peoples called the Hyksos.peoples called the Hyksos.

2. The word Hyksos came to 2. The word Hyksos came to mean “Princes of Foreign Lands”. mean “Princes of Foreign Lands”.

Ahmose expelling the Ahmose expelling the HyksosHyksos

3. At least one woman held the throne of the 3. At least one woman held the throne of the New Kingdom, she was New Kingdom, she was HatshepsutHatshepsut. (1473-1458 . (1473-1458 B.C.E.)B.C.E.)

4. She often had herself depicted as a male to 4. She often had herself depicted as a male to minimize opposition to her rule.minimize opposition to her rule.

5. 5. AmenhotepAmenhotep, aka , aka AkhenatenAkhenaten, (1353 – 1335 , (1353 – 1335 B.C.E.) departed from the ways of the past.B.C.E.) departed from the ways of the past.

6. He has often by credited as the inventor of 6. He has often by credited as the inventor of Monotheism because of his attempts to establish Monotheism because of his attempts to establish Aten (the disk of the sun) as the Supreme Deity.Aten (the disk of the sun) as the Supreme Deity.

7. Akhenaten, his wife Nefertiti, and their 7. Akhenaten, his wife Nefertiti, and their daughters were often depicted in fluid poses.daughters were often depicted in fluid poses.

8. When Akhenaten died the old ways of 8. When Akhenaten died the old ways of Egyptian religion was restored and Amon Egyptian religion was restored and Amon was returned to his primacy position.was returned to his primacy position.

9. One of his immediate successors was 9. One of his immediate successors was the boy-king Tutankhamun (1333-1323 the boy-king Tutankhamun (1333-1323 B.C.E.).B.C.E.).

10. King Tut’s popularity is due to the 10. King Tut’s popularity is due to the fact his tomb was entirely intact or fact his tomb was entirely intact or untouched by tomb robbers.untouched by tomb robbers.

King Tut’s Death MaskKing Tut’s Death Mask

III.III. NubiaNubia A. Early Cultures and Egyptian DominationA. Early Cultures and Egyptian Domination 1. Since the 11. Since the 1stst century B.C.E. “Nubia” century B.C.E. “Nubia”

has been applied to a thousand-mile has been applied to a thousand-mile stretch of the Nile Valley lying between stretch of the Nile Valley lying between Aswan and Khartoum.Aswan and Khartoum.

2. The ancient Egyptians called it “Ta-2. The ancient Egyptians called it “Ta-sety” meaning “Land of the Bow”.sety” meaning “Land of the Bow”.

NubiaNubia

3. Early civilization in Nubia arose 3. Early civilization in Nubia arose because of its wealth of resources such as because of its wealth of resources such as myrrh, gold, copper, and semiprecious myrrh, gold, copper, and semiprecious stones.stones.

4. Nubian kingdoms maintained a 4. Nubian kingdoms maintained a matrilineal system where the monarch was matrilineal system where the monarch was the son of the previous dead king’s sister.the son of the previous dead king’s sister.

5. The earliest evidence for an urban 5. The earliest evidence for an urban center was the kingdom of Kush (1750 B.C.E.) center was the kingdom of Kush (1750 B.C.E.) whose capital was located in Kerma.whose capital was located in Kerma.

B. The Kingdom of MeroB. The Kingdom of Meroëë

1. Egyptian weakness after 1200 B.C.E. 1. Egyptian weakness after 1200 B.C.E. led to the collapse of its authority in Nubia.led to the collapse of its authority in Nubia.

2. In the 82. In the 8thth century B.C.E., a powerful century B.C.E., a powerful new kingdom emerged in southern Nubia.new kingdom emerged in southern Nubia.

3. Between 712 to 600 B.C.E., the 3. Between 712 to 600 B.C.E., the kings of Nubia ruled all of Egypt as the 25kings of Nubia ruled all of Egypt as the 25thth dynasty.dynasty.

IV.IV. The Aegean WorldThe Aegean World

A. The Minoan Civilization in CreteA. The Minoan Civilization in Crete

1. By 2000 B.C.E., the island of Crete, 1. By 2000 B.C.E., the island of Crete, which forms the southern boundary of which forms the southern boundary of the Aegean Sea, was the home of the the Aegean Sea, was the home of the Minoan Civilization.Minoan Civilization.

2. Archaeologists labeled this 2. Archaeologists labeled this civilization Minoan after the Greek civilization Minoan after the Greek legends of King Minos.legends of King Minos.

Ancient MediterraneanAncient Mediterranean

Minoan CreteMinoan Crete

3. Little is known about the Cretans of 3. Little is known about the Cretans of this period mainly because their writing has this period mainly because their writing has yet to be decoded.yet to be decoded.

4. Most of what we know comes from 4. Most of what we know comes from Greek legends like that of King Minos and his Greek legends like that of King Minos and his half-man, half-bull pet called the Minotaur.half-man, half-bull pet called the Minotaur.

5. Greek legends also maintain that 5. Greek legends also maintain that Crete was the home of a vast navy and Crete was the home of a vast navy and sophisticated technology.sophisticated technology.

Bust of MinotaurBust of Minotaur

B. The Rise of Mycenaean CivilizationB. The Rise of Mycenaean Civilization 1. The standard view of Greek origins 1. The standard view of Greek origins

is that Indo-European speakers migrated is that Indo-European speakers migrated to the Greek peninsula around 2000 B.C.E.to the Greek peninsula around 2000 B.C.E.

2. A synthesis of Minoan civilization 2. A synthesis of Minoan civilization and these early inhabitants resulted in and these early inhabitants resulted in what became Greek culture.what became Greek culture.

3. They lived in relative stone age 3. They lived in relative stone age conditions until something happened conditions until something happened around 1600 B.C.E.around 1600 B.C.E.

Mycenaean GreeceMycenaean Greece

4. According to Homer’s Greek literary 4. According to Homer’s Greek literary epics, epics, IliadIliad and the and the Odyssey Odyssey (700 B.C.E.),(700 B.C.E.), these Mycenaens were led by the King of these Mycenaens were led by the King of Mycenae called Agamemnon.Mycenae called Agamemnon.

5. Archeological evidence confirmed the 5. Archeological evidence confirmed the existence of a advanced civilization that existence of a advanced civilization that lasted from 1600 to 1150 B.C.E.lasted from 1600 to 1150 B.C.E.

6. That evidence consisted of a common 6. That evidence consisted of a common citadel perched upon a fortified hill in the citadel perched upon a fortified hill in the cities of Mycenae, Thebes, and Pylos.cities of Mycenae, Thebes, and Pylos.

Remains of fortress in Remains of fortress in ThebesThebes