Western Civilization I: The Late Bronze Age International System (c. 1500-1100 BCE)

A set of flashcards covering key concepts from the Late Bronze Age International System focusing on trade, diplomacy, migrations, and the eventual collapse of this historical period.

What event marked the beginning of the Late Bronze Age International System?

A new international system of trade and diplomacy emerged around 1500 BCE.

What characterized the Late Bronze Age International System in terms of conflict?

States engaged in conflict but were constrained by the international system.

Who argued that the Late Bronze Age was a 'Golden Age' of internationalism and globalization?

Scholar Eric Cline.

Approximately how long did the Late Bronze Age International System last?

Roughly three centuries.

What major historical event occurred around 1200 BCE?

The collapse of the Late Bronze Age International System.

Which two major powers survived the Late Bronze Age collapse?

Egypt and Assyria.

What significant migrations occurred during the early second millennia BCE?

Indo-European peoples migrated, notably the Mycenaeans and Hittites.

Where did the Mycenaeans settle?

In and around modern-day Greece.

What region did the Hittites inhabit?

Asia Minor, known today as Turkey.

Which people settled along the Levant?

Semitic groups, including the Hebrews, Canaanites, Assyrians, and Phoenicians.

What was notable about the Assyrians during the Late Bronze Age?

They established a centralized state and became an influential economic power.

What major trade advantage did the Assyrians have?

Assyria's location between resource-rich Anatolia and resource-poor southern Mesopotamia.

What technological advancements did the Hittites acquire through trade?

New weapons and technologies necessary for expansion.

Who was Mursilis I?

A notable Hittite king who expanded the empire and conquered Babylon.

What did the Kassites help transform in the region?

They unified various city states into a single powerful state.

What innovations did the Mitanni bring to the battlefield?

Better horses and lightweight chariots.

What was a significant characteristic of the Minoan civilization?

Technologically advanced with a redistributive palace economy.

What famous palace was located in Minoan Crete?

The palace at Knossos.

What script did the Mycenaeans develop?

Linear B.

What did the Bronze Age diplomatic system aim to achieve?

To reduce conflict and maintain stability among Great Powers.

What significant battle exemplifies the Late Bronze Age diplomatic system?

The Battle of Kadesh.

What document is considered the oldest extant peace treaty?

The Silver Treaty.

What primary components drove trade during the Late Bronze Age?

The stability provided by diplomacy and diverse regional resources.

What was the extent of trade according to Eric Cline?

Trade during the Bronze Age was on a scale many times larger than previously thought.

What evidence illustrates the scale of trade during this period?

The Uluburun shipwreck, which contained goods from multiple regions.

During what time frame did the Late Bronze Age collapse occur?

Between 1200 and 1150 BCE.

What evidence supports the rapid collapse during this period?

Destruction of significant cities and palaces across the eastern Mediterranean.

What factor did Ramses III identify as a threat to Egypt around 1177 BCE?

The invasion of the 'sea peoples'.

What was the main cause theorized by Rhys Carpenter for the collapse?

Prolonged drought leading to starvation and societal breakdown.

According to Eric Cline, what contributed to the systems collapse of the LBA?

A combination of invasions, earthquakes, drought, and other factors.

What agricultural and cultural changes followed the collapse of the LBA?

The emergence of ironworking and intellectual developments.

What primary economic shift characterized the transition from the LBA to the Iron Age?

Iron became a more abundant and stronger resource than bronze.

What was a unique feature of the Bronze Age city states after the collapse?

Many became trade-oriented small city states.

What significant society vanished due to the collapse of the LBA?

The Mycenaean civilization.

What role did the Egyptians play during the collapse?

They managed to survive due to military leadership and strategy.

How did trade evolve due to the LBA diplomatic balance?

It flourished and became essential for revenue and cultural exchange.