Lecture 4: Climate & Identity: Amorites, Migration, and Social Change, 2500-1800 BC

Flashcards covering the emergence of group identities, the Akkadian Empire, Amorite migrations, paleoclimatic aridification, and the Ur III administrative and legal structures.

In the context of third-millennium B.C. Syria and Upper Mesopotamia, how was the "Zone of Uncertainty" defined in terms of climate and subsistence?

It was a marginal zone characterized by agricultural exploitation at greater than $200\,mm$ of annual rainfall, combined with grazing lands for sheep and goats, and hunting or capturing migratory animals like onagers and gazelles.

When did the settlement pattern of agropastoral communities in the marginal zone peak, and what population did it sustain?

It peaked ca. $2500\text{--}2200\text{ B.C.}$, supporting more than $300{,}000$ people inhabiting sites of ca. $5\text{--}60\text{ hectares}$, before ending abruptly ca. $2200\text{ B.C.}$

Which site's planned circular town layout in the Syrian steppe is revealed in this geomagnetic imagery, and what was its economic niche?

Al-Rawda, Syria; its economic niche included wool production, hunting gazelle, and capturing donkeys.

What was "The Great Revolt" against Naram-Sin in $2213\text{ B.C.}$?

An uprising where all four quarters of the world revolted against Naram-Sin simultaneously; he defeated them in nine battles within a single year.

Following his victory in the Great Revolt, what unprecedented divine status did the citizens of Agade request for Naram-Sin?

They requested from the gods that Naram-Sin be made the god of their city and built a temple dedicated to him within Agade.

Which Akkadian royal monument dating to c. $2250\text{ B.C.}$ is shown here commemorating a mountain victory?

The Stele of Naram-Sin.

According to inscription RIME 2.1.4.2, what occurred during Naram-Sin's campaign at Mount Bashar?

Naram-Sin crossed the Euphrates to Mount Bashar (the Amorite mountain), defeated Apishal by the verdict of Ishtar, struck down $9\text{ chiefs}$ and $4{,}325\text{ men}$, and captured the king of Apishal.

What Sumerian term was used to denote "westerners" before and during the Akkadian Empire, corresponding to Akkadian Amurru?

MAR.TU.

What primary roles did Amorites occupy during the Ur III Dynasty ($2100\text{--}2000\text{ B.C.}$)?

They served as mercenaries and civil servants to the state, and their language began appearing in administrative and bilingual references.

What climatic event began around $2200\text{ B.C.}$ ($4200\text{ BP}$), and what was its impact on the Zone of Uncertainty?

A major aridification event ($4.2\text{ kya BP}$ event or Meghalayan) that had a gradual onset but catastrophic consequences, forcing large-scale migration out of the Zone of Uncertainty.

Where did the more than $300{,}000$ displaced individuals from the Zone of Uncertainty migrate after $2200\text{ B.C.}$?

They migrated into Southern Mesopotamia and the Northern Levant, leading to substantial settlement expansion in those regions.

Which two neighborhood names in Sippar attest to the resettlement of Amorite groups in Southern Mesopotamia?

Sippar-Amnanum and Sippar-Yaḫrurum.

According to the Sumerian King List, which group ended the hegemony of Uruk following the decline of Akkad?

The Gutian hordes.

Who is depicted in this diorite statue holding an overflowing water vessel, and when did he rule?

Gudea of Lagash, who ruled ca. $2150\text{--}2100\text{ B.C.}$

At which rock-relief site in Iraq was this Akkadian-style monumental depiction of a victorious ruler carved into a cliff face?

Darban-i-Gawar, Iraq.

How was tax liability structured between the core provinces and the peripheral regions in the Ur III Empire?

Core provinces paid the $bala$ tax, while peripheral regions paid the $gun\text{ }mada$ tax.

In what chronological sequence did the five rulers of the Third Dynasty of Ur reign?

Ur-Nammu ($2112\text{--}2095\text{ B.C.}$), Shulgi ($2094\text{--}2047\text{ B.C.}$), Amar-Sin ($2046\text{--}2038\text{ B.C.}$), Shu-Sin ($2037\text{--}2029\text{ B.C.}$), and Ibbi-Sin ($2028\text{--}2004\text{ B.C.}$).

What monumental religious structure at Ur, built by Ur-Nammu c. $2100\text{ B.C.}$, is shown here?

The Ziggurat of Ur (E-temen-ni-gur of Ur-Nammu).

Under §13 of the Laws of Ur-Nammu, what was the penalty if an accuser brought a man to the divine River Ordeal and the accused was cleared?

The accuser was required to weigh and deliver $3\text{ shekels}$ of silver.

What defensive walls were constructed by Ur III kings to hold back Amorite migration?

Šulgi began building "The Wall of the Land" in $2058\text{ B.C.}$ (year 37), and Šu-Sin built "That which Keeps Tidnum at a Distance" (Muriq-Tidnum) in $2034\text{ B.C.}$

What was Tidnum in the context of the Ur III defense wall Muriq-Tidnum?

Tidnum was an Amorite tribe.

In letter CKU 21, what crisis did Ishbi-Erra report to King Ibbi-Sin regarding the Amorites?

He reported that the Amorites had invaded the homeland, seized all the great storehouses one by one, and prevented grain from being threshed or transported because they were too strong.

Who was Naplanum, and what was his historical significance?

An Amorite civil servant marked as $mar\text{-}t\acute{u}$ who was documented in 90 Ur III administrative texts, owned northern estates, donated to the temple at Drehem, and founded the Amorite dynasty at Larsa (r. $2025\text{--}2005\text{ B.C.}$).