The Emergence of Classical Civilization
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The Emergence of Classical Civilization: The Mediterranean & Mideast 2000-500 BCE
Just as Nubia was transformed by interaction w/ Egypt, other newer populated regions in western Asia & Med region were influenced by older civs in Mesop & Egypt
Occurred due to trade, diplomatic contacts, mil conquest, migrations
Spread pol, social(culture, rel, tech. beliefs, practices) & econ ideas & practices
1st Millenium BCE
many in E Hemisphere entering Iron Age, use of bronze declining
iron a single metal, not an alloy as bronze is, therefore iron stronger, had sharper edges
Early civs weaken in 3rd & 2ndmillenium BCE
New societies evolve into pol, cultural, and commericial (econ) ctrs
Mesop & Egypt fall to outside invaders 17th cen BCE
B/t 1500-1200 BCE (late bronze age) sev lg territorial sts dominate Mideast
Fought/competed w/ smaller grps of control of valuable goods & trade routes
Led to widely shared cultures & lifestyles=cosmopolitan
Lots of diplomacy & commercial contacts used to enable trade, led to exchange of ideas as well
Cosmopolitan /era (1700-1100 BCE) time of high standard of living for elites, but most were peasants & did not enjoy such benefits
~1500 BCe
Mesp divided inot 2 pol zones
North = Assyria
South= Babylon (see map p 66)
Babylon
Made pol & culturally strong under Hammurabi 18-17 cen BCE
Constant flow of Kassites from Zagros Mtns (east)
Eventually take contro, keep own names but adopt Babylonian lang, culture, & intermarried locals
In con troll 250 yrs, trade but do not expand terr
Assyrians another story
Engaged in much trade for asst raw materials & goods
20th Cen BCE Traded tin, textiles for silver
Traded w/ Anatolia (Turkey) from trade ctr on Tigris at Xrd (crossroad)
b/t Anatolia and Anatolian Plain
18th cen BCE gain control of upper Euphrates-Old Assyrian