Defining “Civilized”

1. Defining “Civilized” • Urban life: permanent constructions • System of regulatory government • Class distinction (through wealth and occupation) • Tools/skills --> production/trade • Written communication • Shared system of religious belief

2. Civilization • In pre-agricultural societies, as soon as there was enough food for all, work stopped. • With agriculture, a field must be sown, tended, and later harvested all at once. • The harvest must be stored. • Domestic animals must be maintained as a herd and be held in a contained area. • When all goes well, there will be a surplus of food that is not immediately distributed. • It is valuable, and must be managed and guarded.

3. civilization • With the Agricultural Revolution comes: • –Government bureaucracy • –Standing armies • –A controlling social elite

4. civilization • Not all people had to farm. Some could become specialists in particular tasks: • –Potters • –Tool makers • –Metal workers (smiths) • –Bakers, butchers, etc. • –Bureaucrats

5. civilization • Even if a farming society had begun to flourish with relatively independent farmers, once irrigation is introduced, infrastructure follows. • An irrigation ditch and water-raising devices are large, expensive projects, requiring government, taxation, a workforce, etc.

6. Fertile crescent • The first area of the world to move to an agricultural way of life was near where Africa, Europe, and Asia meet. • An area called the Fertile Crescent

7. Fertile crescent • The “Fertile Crescent” is fertile, because rivers from all three continents drain into it, bringing rich nutrients to the soil as well as water. • It was also in an area of moderate climate, perfect for growing crops. • For those reasons it was also more heavily populated.

8. Ancient Near East

9. Mesopotamia • The world’s first great civilization arose in the Fertile Crescent. • –This happened in particular in an area that is now part of Iraq. • –This area is bounded by the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers. • –The Greeks called it Mesopotamia, meaning “between the rivers.”

10. Sumer • The first notable civilization in Mesopotamia was Sumer. • It was located in southern Mesopotamia, near where the rivers join.

11. Ancient Near East • Sumerian Accomplishments • 3500 BCE – Invention of the Wheel • 3400 BCE – Invention of pottery wheel • 3300 BCE – Invention of writing (cuneiform) • 3000 BCE – Epic of Gilgamesh written – 1st literary work – Quiz 1 – due next week!

12. Ancient Near East • Other developments in Ancient Near East • 2300 – 2150 BCE - Akkadian Dynasty and Empire – conquest of Sumeria • 2150 – 1760 BCE - Neo-Sumerian Dynasty • 1760 – 1600 BCE – Babylonian Empire: develops advanced mathematics • 1600 – 1000 BCE – Splintering of Empire into 3 areas: Hittites in north (develop iron weapons); Kassites in center and Elamites in south.

13. Ancient Near East • 1350 – 612 BCE – Assyrian Empire : most brutal and feared warriors of A.N.E. • 669 – 627 BCE – Ashurbanipal rules Assyria • 612 – 538 BCE – Neo-Babylonian (Chaldaean) Empire : conquer Egypt in 605 BCE and Jerusalem in 586 BCE under Nebuchadnezzar II (Babylonian Captivity – Destruction of Temple of Solomon) • 538 – 330 BCE – Persian Empire : largest empire then known stretching from modern day Iran to Egypt

14. Ancient Near East • Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations were nearly all polytheistic. Polytheism – belief in more than one god. (Only exception was the Jews who later developed monotheism – a belief in one god). • All Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations were theocratic. Theocracy – government which is led by religious rulers that were in charge of both the political and religious aspects of their cultures

15. Sumerian Gods Annunaki – name for the Sumerian gods Anu- sky god/king of gods Innana – fertility goddess/ queen of gods Abu – god of plants Enlil – god of earth /wind Enki – god of wisdom Shamash – sun god Assyrians, Babylonians, Akkadians, Hittites shared the same gods though sometimes added new ones or changed the names Persian Gods Ahura Mazda – god of light Ahriman – god of darkness Dualistic religion where both gods were equal and opposite Zoroaster – chief prophet of Persian religion Zend-Avesta – Persian Holy Book Ancient Near East - religion

16. Chart: Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses. ca. 2200–2159 BCE.

17. Sumerians

18. Ancient Near East • Characteristics of Sumerian Art • Prominent Eyes • Arched eyebrows • Cylindrical body shape • Conceptual approach to human figures • Offers homage to the gods • Highly stylized/even abstract at times • Focus on the spiritual world

19. White Temple and ziggurat Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq ca. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E. mud brick Oldest temple structure in Mesopotamia

21. RECOVERED Female head (possibly Inanna) from Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq ca. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E. marble approximately 8 in. high

22. RECOVERED Warka Vase from Uruk (modern Warka) Iraq ca. 3,200-3,000 B.C.E. alabaster approximately 3 ft. high Considered masterpiece of Mesopotamian pottery

24. Sumerian- Art • Votive Statues from Abu Temple • 2600 BCE • Tell Asmar, Sumeria • Votive statues had prayers inscribed upon them and were offered to the gods • Votive means offering

26. Sumerian- Art • Standard of Ur • 2700 - 2600 BCE • Ur, Sumeria • Wood with inlaid shells, limestone and lapis lazuli • Considered masterpiece of Sumerian art • Two sided one side is war one is peace • King is largest figure on both sides

29. Sumerian- Art • Bull’s Head Lyre • 2600 BCE • Ur, Sumeria • Found in Queen Paubi’s tomb • Never used so signifies possible use in afterlife • Wood with inlaid shell, gold and lapis lazuli

30. Sumerian. Vessel in the shape of an ostrich egg, from the Royal Cemetery of Ur.Height: 5-3/4".

31. Sumerian. Cuneiform writing in Sumer. Sumerian tablet from Lagash, modern Tello, Iraq. ca. 2360 BCE.

32. Ram in a thicket from Tomb 789, Royal Cemetery Ur (modern Tell Muqayyar) Iraq ca. 2,600 B.C.E. gold, silver, lapis lazuli, copper, shell, red limestone, bitumen 42.6 cm. high Sumerian mythology included many magical animals

33. Akkadians

34. Ancient Near East • Akkadian and Assyrian Art Characteristics • Art to commemorate warriors and rulers • More naturalistic than Sumerian • Portrayal of violence • Illustrates and glorifies the military power of the people and their king and his accomplishments

35. MISSING Head of an Akkadian ruler from Ninevah (modern Kuyunjik) Iraq ca. 2,250-2,200 B.C.E. copper 14 3/8 in. high Possibly Sargon or Naram-Sin – 2 signs of power - beard and crown

36. Materials & Techniques: Lost-wax Casting (diagram).

37. Akkadian- Art • Victory Stele of Naram-Sim • 2300 – 2200 BCE • Akkad • Shows king on top of mountain triumphing over his enemies • Size of king dramatically larger than those around him • It was a public monument showing king’s power

39. Akkadian. Cylinder seal impression and the Seal of Adda. ca. 2600 BCE.Height: 1-1/2".

40. Neo-Sumerians

41. Neo-Sumerian- Art • Ziggurat of Ur-Nammu • 2500 – 2050 BCE • Ur, Sumeria (Iraq) • Priest was only one allowed to visit the home of the god at the top of the temple • Ur-Nammu writes first code of laws (incomplete) • Neo-Sumerians

43. Neo-Sumerian- Art • Gudea of Lagash • 2144 – 2124 BCE • Lagash, Sumeria • Priest-king – first statue of non-hero • Made of Diorite – because stone was strong and long lasting • No attempt at reality – but regal

45. Babylonians

46. Babylonian- Art • Law Code of Hammurabi • 1760 BCE • Babylon • Made of Diorite • First complete written code of laws • Sun god Shamash hands laws directly to Hammurabi making it clear that all must follow them • Quiz 2 – Due Next Week!

47. Hittites

48. Hittite Art • Lion Gate • 1343-1200 BCE • Hattusha, Turkey • Capital of Hittite Empire • Hittites are first to use iron weapons

49. Assyrians

50. Assyrian- Art • Lamassu from Citadel of Sargon • 883 – 859 BCE • Nimrud, Assyria • Lamassu were protector gods assumed by the Assyrians to come to life to protect them • Note 5 legs