Hist 1A Midterm 1

Flashcards for UCLA Hist 1A Midterm 1 with David D. Phillips

Neolithic Revolution

• ca. 10,000 BC

• Plant agriculture and animal domestication allowed for the creation of basic communities, which eventually turned into larger villages.

Fertile Crescent

• ca. 3500 BC

• A region in the Middle East known for its rich soils and favorable climate, crucial for the development of early agriculture and the rise of the first civilizations. Region where Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt rose.

Ur

• 2112 - 2004 BC

• Period of bureaucratic and centralized rule in which Sumer was unified by ruler Ur-Nammu, who created the Ziggurat of Ur, a massive step pyramid dedicated to the moon god, Nanna.

Ut-Napishtim

• ca. 2900 BC (check)

• An immortal man in the Epic of Gilgamesh who was favored by the gods and spared from Enlil’s (the god of Storms) flood, who was tired of human beings. He was secretly told about the flood by Enki (god of Wisdom and Life), and built a boat to prepare. Referred to as “Babylonian Noah” (bible), though he came first.

Gilgamesh

• r. ca. 2700 BC

• Mythical and arrogant King of Uruk in the Sumerian myth Epic of Gilgamesh, 2/3 god, 1/3 mortal. He created the fortified walls around Uruk, fought alongside Enkidu, and defeated the heavenly bull and Humbaba the demon. He went on a quest for immortality but failed to eat a plant due to a snake eating it first, then decided that his achievements while living were more impactful than living forever, becoming a better ruler.

Enkidu

• ca. 2700 BC

• Sent down by the gods as a beast to rival Gilgamesh, but was humanized by the priestess of Ishtar, Shamhat. They fight but eventually become friends, defeating Humbaba and the heavenly bull, sent by Ishtar, which causes the gods to curse Enkidu, killing him with an illness.

Sargon of Akkad

• Akkad r. 2340 - 2284 BC, Sargon Period 2340 - 2159 BC

• Abandoned as a gardener and then became king by favor of Ishtar. He goes south and conquers Sumer, creating the royal dynasty and the Sargon Period. He unites Southern and Northern Mesopotamia for the first time.

Hammurabi

• Babylon r. 1792 - 1750 BC, Old Babylonian Period 2003 - 1595 BC

• Babylonian King who made the a set of laws with direct punishments for various actions, called the Code of Hammurabi. Code focused on theft, marital laws, violence, and animal cases. Most famous for lex talionis (“eye for an eye”). Punishments heavily influenced by social class. Was carved into stone and the first set of laws to have a presumption of innocence.

Rosetta Stone

• Created in 196 BC, Discovered in 1799, Deciphered in 1822

• Large stone slab with hieroglyphs, Ancient Greek, and demotic Egyptian writing, discovered by Napoleon’s men. Deciphered by French Scholar Champollion by comparing the other two scripts to Greek text.

Narmer-Menes

• Ruled ca. 3100 BC, Proto-dyanastic period 3100 - 2685 BC

• First to unify upper and lower Egypt, wearing a Lower Red - Upper White crown to signify unification. Began the proto-dynastic period. Regarded later on as first “pharaoh” of Egypt

Manetho

• 323 - 245 BC

• Egyptian priest and historian who devised the Dynasty System for Egypt, also claimed that Hyksos meant “King Shepherds”.

Zoser

• ca. 2685 BC, Old Dynasty 2685 - 2180 BC

• Ruler in 3rd Dynasty Egypt who built large step pyramids using stone instead of mud clay bricks.

Imhotep (check)

• ca. 2650 BC, Old Dynasty 2685 - 2180 BC

• Priest of Ra and architect to Zoser, helping him build the step pyramids

Great Pyramids of Giza (check)

• 4th Dynasty

• 3 massive smooth pyramids: Khufu (largest), Chephren (Sphinx), and Menkaure

Ra/Amon-Ra (check)

• 5th Dyasty (Ra) Old Kingdom 2685 - 2180 BC, 12th Dynasty (Amon-Ra) Middle Kingdom 2040 - 1785 BC

• Ra was the sun god and became the “King of Gods” after the 5th dynasty. One of the names of the pharaohs, who were considered the sons of Ra. Amon, the Ram god of Thebes, was worshipped in the 12th dynasty and combined with Ra, forming Amon-Ra. Symbolizes shifting political landscape.

maat (check)

• 5th Dynasty Old Kingdom 2685 - 2180 BC, 1490 - 1469 BC

• Goddess of justice, the pharaohs ruled by her and the commoners lived by her. Associated with new religious concepts, where her feather would be used on the Day of Judgement to determine an Egyptian’s afterlife. Returned to prominence when Hatshepsut ruled.

Amenemhat I/ Ammenemes (check)

• 12th Dynasty, r. 1991 - 1962 BC

• Former vizier who seized control over Egypt in the Middle Kingdom, re-establishes centralized power, founding the 12th Dynasty, and defeats the Nubians to expand southwards. Gets assassinated in 1962, passing full leadership to his son, Sesostris I.

Sinuhe

• 12th Dynasty, in Exile ca. 1962 - 1945

• In the fictional Story of Sinuhe, he is a high ranking court official during Amenemhat I’s rule. Upon hearing about the assassination of the king, flees Northeast to the Asiatics, where he marries the daughter of a king and becomes a powerful millitary commander. Begins to worry about his place in the afterlife, and returns to Egypt after Sesostris calls for him, where he is provided riches and his former role, as well as his own tomb. Shows the strong cultural values Egyptians had regarding the afterlife.

“Asiatics” / Aamw (check)

• r. 1648 - 1540 BC

• Ancient Egyptian name for the land Northeast in the Levant. The name Aamw was written in hieroglyphics. The people from the Asiatics immigrated to the Nile Delta and had various occupations. Influence led to eventual seize of Egypt by the Hyksos.

Nubia

• New Kingdom 1560 - 1085 BC

• Land directly south of Egypt along the Nile River, conquered numerous times by various pharaohs. Sesostris III, who ruled Egypt and Nubia from 1878 - 1841 BC, used the region as an essential source of gold and labor to grow the Egyptian empire. Reclaimed by Ahmose in the New Kingdom later on.

Sesostris III

• Egypt and Nubia r. 1878 - 1841 BC, 12th Dynasty Middle Kingdom 2040 - 1785 BC

• Ruled during the Middle Kingdom and extracted valuable gold and labor from Nubia, as well as establishing strong trade relations with Crete, an island north of Egypt, which helped Egypt prosper economically during this period.

Hyksos

• r 1648 - 1540 BC, Second Intermediate period, 1785 - 1560 BC

• Asiatic Invaders who took advantage of their proximity and integration into Egyptian society and ended the Middle Kingdom, sending Egypt into the second intermediate period. Introduced significant inventions to Egypt, such as the horse and chariot, which eventually allowed Egyptians to use those against them to reclaim the land. Various translations of their names exist, like Manethos’ “King Shepherds” and Josephus’ “Captive Shepherds”

Ahmos I

• r. 1552 - 1527, New Kingdom 1560 - 1085 BC

• Wages war and liberates Egypt from Hyksos rule, and brings Egypt out of the second intermediate period, beginning the New Kingdom with the 18th Dynasty.

Hatshepsut

• r. 1491 - 1469 BC, New Kingdom 1560 - 1085 BC

• Female pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty. Wife of Tuthmosis II who decided to rule Egypt herself instead of passing down power to her stepson, Tuthmosis III. She was considered a widely successful leader with successful millitary campaigns and fair policies. Claimed to rule once again with the cosmic power of maat, and greatly criticised Hyksos rule. Adopted masculine iconography to be more well aligned with traditional Egyptian male pharaohs. Suddenly dissapeared in 1469, most likely having something to do with Tuthmosis III.

Tuthmosis III

• r. 1469 - 1436, New Kingdom 1560 - 1085 BC

• Son of Tuthmosis II and ruler in the 18th Dynasty, after his aunt, Hatshepsut. Made an effort to replace all of her accomplishments with his own, essentially attempting to erase her public legacy. Very successful militarily, where he launched a campaign against the King of Kadesh in the battle of Megido in 1469 BC, and expanded Egypt’s territory.

Ahmenhotep IV / Akhenaten

• r. 1364 - 1347, New Kingdom 1560 - 1085 BC

• Ruler in the 18th dynasty who tries to revolutionize Egyptian religion, by enforcing state-wide monotheism. He claims that there is only one god, Aten, the literal sun. He changes his name from Amenhotep IV to Akhenaten, as well as his wives’ and childrens’ names. He claims only the royal family can communicate with Aten, and moves the Egyptian capital from Thebes to his own new city, Akhetaten, as well as changing past pharaoh names and scriptures to replace Amon-Ra.

Sea Peoples

• Attacked in ca. 1220 BC during Merenptah’s rule and again during the early 12th century during Ramses III’s rule

• Various groups of people from the Mediterranean who joined forces with the Libyans to try and invade Egypt, but were unsuccessful each time. They eventually became the Philistines.

Abraham

• Patriarch of the Hebrews, who was born in the Mesopotamian city of Ur and discovered his god, Yahweh, in Haran, located in Northern Mesopotamia.

• Began the Patriarchal Age (ca. 2000 - 1750 BC), which is the early foundations of Hebrew history.

Ten Commandments

• Set of commandments that detailed the expectations of Yahweh to the Israelite people, inscribed on one of the tablets given to the Israelite people on mount Sinai. They are strict expectations that Yahweh has, with a couple making it clear that he is the only god the Israelites should worship.

Covenant Code

• A set of rules laid out by Yahweh that the people had to follow, similar to the Code of Hammurabi, but was focused on fairness towards all with less violent punishments.

Moses

• Hebrew Prophet who led the Israelites out of slavery from Egypt into the Sinai desert, wandering for 40 years. Yahweh parts the Red Sea so the Israelites can cross. Eventually, Yahweh appeared to Moses on mount Sinai, and gives him 2 stone tablets inscribed with the 10 commandments and the Sinai Covenant.

Philistines

• Among the Sea Peoples who attacked Egypt. Arrived in Canaan and occupied the southern coast. More organized and had iron weapons, which the Israelites couldn’t deal with. Subjected the Israelites to slavery again.

Saul

• Saul was appointed as the King of the Israelites by Judge Samuel and led military conquests against the philistines.

David

• r. 1000 - 970 BC

• Rose from a simple armor bearer to rival Saul, and defeats goliath. Runs due to fearing Saul, becomes a Mercenary for the Philistines. Comes back when Saul dies, appointed as the second king of Israel. Defeated the philistines and commanded them to pay tribute. Expands Israel and creates the holy city of Jerusalem.

Solomon

• r. 970 - 930 BC

• Successor and son of David. Built the Great Temple of Jerusalem for the Ark of the Covenant (built 967 - 960 BC). Fortified Israel using dynastic marriages, including a daughter from an Egyptian Pharaoh. Has many wives of different religions. Allows non Jewish wives to worship their own gods, even building temples for them. Israelite economy went under significant growth with foreign trade, all allowing for his building projects. Forced labor and taxes on Israelite people. Infringements of their rights caused unrest during his reign.

Ark of the Covenant

• 
  

• A wooden chest in which the Sinai Covenent and the 10 Commandments given by Yahweh to Moses on Mount Sinai was placed, and was carried around by Israelites in wagons. Currently lost in the modern day, though there are rumors that it is located in Ethiopia.

Josiah’s Purge

Babylonian Captivity

Ashur

Shamshi-adad I

Tikulti-ninurta

Ashurbanipal