The Mediterranean & The Middle East, 2000-500 B.C.E. - PowerPoint Presentation

The Mediterranean & The Middle East, 2000-500 B.C.E. John Ermer World History Miami Beach Senior High School

The Iron Age The Mediterranean Sea provides vehicle for cultural ex. New cultures and civilizations emerge in Middle East Interactions b/w civilizations increases 2000 s B.C.E.: Many civilizations begin using Iron Easier to make than bronze, one metal rather than an alloy Harder and sharper than bronze Must be heated to higher temperature than bronze With the Iron Age also came large scale use of horses Horses allow for quicker and farther travel—empire building

The Cosmopolitan Middle East The Late Bronze Age Egypt and Mesopotamia conquered by outsiders Outsiders either cast out or assimilated into dominant culture New, large territorial states emerge to dominate Mid. East Egypt, Babylon (Mesopotamia), Hittite Empire, Phoenicia, PalestineCosmopolitanA time of widely shared cultures and lifestylesHigh level of trade and diplomatic relationsHigh standard of living for elite groupsConflict between centers of power for control of resources

The Aegean World Geography Greece and the islands of the Aegean & Ionian seas Mountainous, mostly rocky, arid climate Limited arable land, in plains between mountain ranges Grains, grapevines, olive treesFood, lumber, metals must be imported by ancient GreeksSea travel is easier than overland, trade is paramount

Minoan Crete, 2000-1450 B.C.E. Crete = home of first European civilization Bronze work, writing, monumental building, extensive trade Minoans named for mythical “King Minos” Unfortified cities/palace complexes Indoor plumbing and frescoes = sophistication1450 B.C.E.: Minoan cities/palaces destroyedCapital city of Cnossus (Knossos) survives under Mycenaeans

Mycenaean Greece, 1600-1150 B.C.E. 2000 B.C.E.: Indo-Europeans migrate into Greece Homer’s poems the Illiad & Odyssey tell of MycenaeSchliemann finds the shaft gravesAdopt Minoan style and architectureCities built on hilltops, thick fortifications4,000 clay tablets of Linear B Government regulated and controlled production Metal work reserved for elite class Trade and communication by small sailboats Mycenaeans were warlike and acquisitive Conflict with the Hittites

Moving & Shaking 1200 B.C.E.: Mass migrations across the Mediterranean c . 1200: Hittite kingdom collapses, Ugarit destroyed 1190: Ramesses III of Egypt battles “Sea People”Egypt loses control of Palestine, Syria, and NubiaEgypt falls to possible Mycenaean invasionc. 1175: Mycenaean civilization collapsesMediterranean & Middle East enter a Dark AgeEconomic and political collapse leads to long, deep declineWar brings limited trade, much poorer societies Loss of artistic & technical skills, writing/education declines Loss of writing, artistic & technical skills

The Sea Peoples & t he Fall of Late Bronze Age Empires

Phoenician Colonization of the Mediterranean—Carthage 900 B.C.E.: Tyre colonizes Cyprus for copper, trade route Phoenician Triangle: N. Africa, S. Spain, W. Italy, Sicily, Malta Conflict with Greeks, Sicily is main battlegroundCarthage becomes powerful Phoenician colony (N. Africa)Comes to dominate many other Phoenician coloniesPopulation of 400,000 (one of world’s largest cities)Naval power dominates western MediterraneanSailed the Atlantic, sourced tin as far away as England Trade with Sub-Saharan Africa Used Numidians , Iberians, and Gauls as merceniaries Direct control of Iberia & Sardinia, system of protectorates

The Carthaginian Empire

Phoenician Carthage