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Development of Early Societies in Southeast Asia and Mesopotamia: Urbanization and Culture

This chapter explores the evolution of early societies in Southeast Asia and Mesopotamia, focusing on the rise of urbanization, political systems, social stratification, and economic specialization. It delves into the Sumerian civilization, its city-states, irrigation practices, and the development of writing systems. The impact of Semitic migrations, the political decline of Sumer, and the emergence of empires like Babylon under Hammurabi are discussed. Additionally, it examines the social classes, patriarchy, and the cultural contributions of the early Hebrews and Phoenicians.

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Development of Early Societies in Southeast Asia and Mesopotamia: Urbanization and Culture

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  1. Chapter 2 Early Societies in Southeast Asia and the Indo-European Migrations

  2. Civilization Defined • Urban • Political/military system • Social stratification • Economic specialization • Religion • Communications • “Higher Culture”

  3. Mesopotamia • Early Mesopotamia, 3000-2000 B.C.E. • “Between the Rivers” • Tigris and Euphrates • Modern-day Iraq • Cultural continuum of “fertile crescent” • Sumerians the dominant people

  4. The Wealth of the Rivers • Nutrient-rich silt • Key: irrigation • Necessity of coordinated efforts • Promoted development of local governments • City-states • Sumer begins small-scale irrigation 6000 BCE • By 5000 BCE, complex irrigation networks • Population reaches 100,000 by 3000 BCE • Attracts Semitic migrants, influences culture

  5. Sumerian City-States • Cities appear 4000 BCE • Dominate region from 3200-2350 BCE • Ur (home of Abraham, see Genesis 11:28), Nineveh (see Jonah) • Ziggurat home of the god • Divine mandate to Kings • Regulation of Trade • Defence from nomadic marauders

  6. The Ziggurat of Ur

  7. Political Decline of Sumer • Semitic peoples from northern Mesopotamia overshadow Sumer • Sargon of Akkad (2370-2315 BCE) • Destroyed Sumerian city-states one by one, created empire based in Akkad • Empire unable to maintain chronic rebellions • Hammurabi of Babylon (1792-1750 BCE) • Improved taxation, legislation • Used local governors to maintain control of city-states • Babylonian Empire later destroyed by Hittites from Anatolia, c. 1595 BCE

  8. Legal System • The Code of Hammurabi • Established high standards of behavior and stern punishment for violators • lex talionis – “law of retaliation” • Social status and punishment • women as property, but some rights

  9. Later Mesopotamian Empires • Weakening of central rule an invitation to foreign invaders • Assyrians use new iron weaponry • Beginning 1300 BCE, by 8th-7th centuries BCE control Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, most of Egypt • Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (r. 605-562) takes advantage of internal dissent to create Chaldean (New Babylonian) Empire • Famously luxurious capital

  10. Mesopotamian Empires, 1800-600 BCE

  11. Technological Development in Mesopotamia • Bronze (copper with tin), c. 4000 BCE • Military, agricultural applications • Iron, c. 1000 BCE • Cheaper than bronze • Wheel, boats, c. 3500 BCE • Shipbuilding increases trade networks

  12. Social Classes • Ruling classes based often on military prowess • Originally elected, later hereditary • Perceived as offspring of gods • Religious classes • Role: intervention with gods to ensure fertility, safety • Considerable landholdings, other economic activities • Free commoners • Peasant cultivators • Some urban professionals • Slaves • Prisoners of war, convicted criminals, debtors

  13. Patriarchal Society • Men as landowners, relationship to status • Patriarchy: “rule of the father” • Right to sell wives, children • Double standard of sexual morality • Women drowned for adultery • Relaxed sexual mores for men • Yet some possibilities of social mobility for women • Court advisers, temple priestesses, economic activity • Introduction of the veil at least c. 1500 BCE

  14. Development of Writing • Sumerian writing systems form 3500 BCE • Pictographs • Cuneiform: “wedge-shaped” • Preservation of documents on clay • Declines from 400 BCE with spread of Greek alphabetic script

  15. Uses for Writing • Trade • Astronomy • Mathematics • Agricultural applications • Calculation of time • 12-month year • 24-hour day, 60-minute hour

  16. Mesopotamian Literature • Epic of Gilgamesh, compiled after 2000 BCE • Heroic saga • Search for meaning, esp. afterlife • This-worldly emphasis

  17. The Early Hebrews • Patriarchs and Matriarchs from Babylon, c. 1850 BCE • Parallels between early biblical texts, Code of Hammurabi • Early settlement of Canaan (Israel), c. 1300 BCE • Biblical text: slavery in Egypt, divine redemption • On-going conflict with indigenous populations under King David (1000-970 BCE) and Solomon (970-930 BCE)

  18. Moses and Monotheism • Hebrews shared polytheistic beliefs of other Mesopotamian civilizations • Moses introduces monotheism, belief in single god • Denies existence of competing parallel deities • Personal god: reward and punishment for conformity with revealed law • The Torah (“doctrine or teaching”)

  19. Foreign conquests of Israel • Assyrian conquest, 722 BCE • Conquered the northern kingdom • Deported many inhabitants to other regions • Many exiles assimilated and lost their identity • Babylonian conquest, 586 BCE • Destroyed Jerusalem • Forced many into exile • Israelites maintained their religious identity and many returned to Judea

  20. Israel and Phoenicia , 1500-600 BCE

  21. The Phoenicians • City-states along Mediterranean coast after 3000 BCE • Extensive maritime trade • Dominated Mediterranean trade, 1200-800 BCE • Development of alphabet symbols • Simpler alternative to cuneiform • Spread of literacy

  22. Indo-European Migrations • Common roots of many languages of Europe, southwest Asia, India • Implies influence of a single Indo-European people • Probable original homeland: modern-day Ukraine and Russia, 4500-2500 BCE • Domestication of horses, use of Sumerian weaponry allowed them to spread widely

  23. Indo-European migrations 3000-1000 BCE

  24. Implications of Indo-European Migration • Hittites migrate to central Anatolia, c. 1900 BCE, later dominate Babylonia • Influence on trade • Horses, chariots with spoked wheels • Iron • Migrations to western China, Greece, Italy also significant

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