FoundationsofWesternCivilizationTo1000B.C.E.PrehistoricHumanSocietiesThePaleolithic(“OldStone〞)Age,c.40,000-c.10,000B.C.E.Hunter-gatherersTrade(e.g.seashells)TechnologyfiremakingboneandstoneweaponsandjewelryArtandreligion:CavepaintingsandfemalefigurinesTheNeolithic(“NewStone〞)Revolution,c.10,000-c.4000B.C.E.Transitionfromanomadicexistenceashunter-gathererstomoresettledlifestyleInventionofagricultureDomesticationofanimalsIncreasinglygender-baseddivisionoflaborSpecializedcrafts(metallurgyandweaving)Emergenceofsocialhierarchy:patriarchalorganizationofstateandsocietywouldbecomethenormintheWestInventionofirrigation(c.6500B.C.E.)facilitatedestablishmentofsettledagriculturalcommunitiesintheFertileCrescentMesopotamia,c.4000-1000B.C.E.

(BronzeAge)TheTigrisandEuphratesFloodcontrolandirrigationTrade,migration,movementofarmiesTheWest’sfirstlarge-scalecivilizationCitiescontaininglargepublicbuildingsCropdiversificationanddiversecraftsOrganizedcentralgovernmentsWritingReligionandMythologyPolytheisticreligiousbeliefreflectedharshnessofwarandstrugglewithunpredictableenvironmentWar-likegodswhopossessedtotalcontroloverhumanlivesSacrifices,rituals,temples(ziggurats)PowerofpriestsandpriestessesEpicofGilgameshSearchforimmortalitybysemihistoricalKingGilgameshofUrukafterdeathofhisfriendEnkiduRealizesthatonlygodsenjoyimmortality;humansmustcontentthemselveswithfamederivedfromperformingmightydeedsStoryofadevastatingfloodinlaterversionSumerEarliestcitiesinsouthernMesopotamiaAgricultureandtrade(asfarawayasIndia)SumeriansDevelopedthewheelCreatedfirstwritingsystem(cuneiform)DevisedamathematicalsystemandastronomyTheAkkadianEmpire,c.2350-2200B.C.E.World’sfirstempireSargontheGreatconqueredSumeriancitiesandterritorieswestwardtotheMediterranean,inparttoensuremetalsuppliesDestroyedbyinvadingGutiansduringreignofSargon’sgrandsonTheKingdomofAssyria,c.1900B.C.E.Becamedominantcity-stateduetocontroloftradebetweenAnatoliaandMesopotamiaEncouragementofprivateenterpriseratherthanstatemonopolyTheKingdomofBabylonandKingHammurabi’sCode(18thcenturyB.C.E.)EarliestknownwrittenlawsKing’sresponsibilitytomaintainorderandjusticeBasisofinternationalcommerciallaw:regulatedcontracts,interest,mortgages,etc.CriminalpenaltiesharshandreflectiveofsocialhierarchyEgyptandtheLevant,c.3050-1000B.C.E.EgyptianCivilizationGeographyasDestinyTheNileProtectedbydesertsontheeastandwestPredictableannualfloodingStabilityandUnityDevelopedinrelativeisolationintoaprosperousandstablekingdomOldKingdom,c.2687-2190B.C.E.UnificationofUpperandLowerEgyptbyKingMenes,c.3100-3000B.C.E.ControllingtheriverAstronomicalchartsWritingsystem:hieroglyphsReligionandGovernmentAbout2,000godsintheEgyptianpantheonAllpowerfulkingswerebelievedtobehumanincarnationsofgodsOnlythekingcouldexpresstheultimatetruthandjustice,orma’atTheAfterlifeBeliefinanimmortalsoulandrewardforthosewholivedajustlifeMummificationProvisionsfortheafterlifeinburialchambersofthosewhocouldaffordit,includingtheBookoftheDeadThePyramidsRoyalburialtombsreflectedthekings’powerinpoliticalandreligiouslifeKingDjoser’sStepPyramidatSaqqara(c.2650B.C.E.)KingCheop’sGreatPyramidatGiza(c.2575B.C.E.)MiddleKingdom,c.2061-1665B.C.E.DiminishedfloodingoftheNileandfaminesaround2350B.C.E.ledtocivicdisruptionandthelossofroyalauthorityRegionalgovernorswithdrewsupportoftheking,spawningpoliticalbreakdownandtheFirstIntermediatePeriod(c.2190-2061B.C.E.)KingMentuhotepII’sreunificationofEgyptinitiatedtheMiddleKingdomTerritorialexpansionandincreasedtradecontactsNewKingdom,c.1569-1081B.C.E.SecondIntermediatePeriod(c.1664-1570B.C.E.)FaminesInvasionbytheHyksosThebansfromUpperEgyptreunitedEgyptasNewKingdomWarriorpharaohsfurtherextendedEgypt’sbordersandtradecontactsNewKingdomaberrationsQueenHatshepsut(r.1502-1482B.C.E):Onlywomantoruleaspharaoh(andfemaleking)Akhenaten(AmenhotepIV,r.1372-1355B.C.E.)andNefertitiIntroducedcultofonecentralgod,Aten,andmovedcapitaltoAmarnaWifetriedtorestrainhiszeal,buthisdevotiontoAtenunderminedhiseffectivenessasrulerTutankhamen(r.1355-1346B.C.E.):restoredworshipoftraditionalgodsOtherBronzeAgeCivilizationsThePeoplesoftheLevantTheCanaanitesDominatedtradebetweentheMediterraneanandNearEastDevelopedfirstalphabet,c.1600B.C.E.TheHebrewsOrigins,accordingtotheBookofGenesisintheOldTestamentAbrahamandmigrationfromUrtoPalestine(c.1900B.C.E.)LooselyorganizedintotwelvetribesAbraham’scovenantwiththeHebrewgodYahwehExodusHebrewsmovedintoEgyptunderAbraham’sdescendantJoseph.By13thcenturyB.C.E.,theywereenslavedtoworkonthepharaoh’sbuildingprojects.MosesledHebrewsoutofEgyptianbondage,andonMountSinaihereestablishedtheircovenantwithYahweh(c.1250B.C.E.)TheHebrewCovenantTheTenCommandmentsTheTorah(Pentateuch):firstfivebooksoftheBibleHebrewMonotheismIdeaofYahwehastheoneGoddevelopedinthecenturiesaftertheperiodofExodusFundamentalinfluenceofBiblicaltextsandmonotheismonChristianityandIslam,andofHebrewlawonWesternethicaltraditionBronze-AgeGreeceandAnatolia,c.2200-1000B.C.E.TheHittiteKingdom,c.1750-1200B.C.E.Maintaineddominancebycontrollingtraderoutesandrawmaterials,especiallymetalsMilitaryprowessSackofBabylon,1595B.C.E.PreventedEgyptiandominationoftheregionbystoppingRamessesIIattheBattleofKadesh(c.1274B.C.E.)MinoanCrete,c.2200-1400B.C.E.Palacesociety:centeredonindependentpalacecomplexesthatcontrolledthereligious,economic,andpoliticallifeoftheircommunitiesMediterraneanpolycultureIntegratedthecultivationofgr