Late Bronze Age: New Civilizations (Hittites, Mittanians, Kassites, Elamites, Phoenicians, Hebrews/Israelites, Aramaeans, Assyrians)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and people from the late Bronze Age lecture notes.

Hittites

Indo-European-speaking kingdom based in Anatolia; mastered chariot warfare and long-range archery; influenced by Mesopotamian culture; iron weapons by ~1400 BCE.

Hattusas

Capital of the Hittite empire, established by Hattusilus I around 1650 BCE.

Hattusilus I

First Hittite ruler mentioned; considered a founder of the Hittite empire.

chariot warfare

Military system centered on horse-drawn chariots, a key Hittite strength with mass archery.

long-range bows

Bow type used by Hittite forces in mass attacks from chariots.

iron weapons

Iron weapons used by the Hittites by ~1400 BCE; kept secret until after their empire fell (~1100 BCE).

Mittanians

Hegemonic power in the northern Fertile Crescent after Amorite Babylon; 1500–1300 BCE; later overrun by Hittites and then Assyrians; used Akkadian in cuneiform.

Dur-Kurigalzu

Capital built by Kassite king Kurigalzu I in Babylonian territory.

kudurru

Boundary stone invented by the Kassites recording land grants.

Kassites

Originated in the Zagros; moved into Babylon (~1800 BCE); united Babylonians; empire lasted until ~1155 BCE.

Zagros Mountains

Origin region of the Kassites.

Elamites

Ancient civilization in Elam; wrote their own language in cuneiform.

Phoenicians

Semitic traders along the eastern Mediterranean coast; confederation of city-states; major commercial power.

Byblos

Phoenician city-state that traded papyrus with Egypt; basis for words like book, Bible, library.

Tyre

Phoenician city-state that founded the colony of Carthage.

Ugarit

Phoenician city-state; development of the Phoenician alphabet from cuneiform.

Carthage

Phoenician colony in the western Mediterranean; major power until overtaken by Rome.

Phoenician alphabet

Alphabet developed from Phoenician writing; later adopted by the Greeks.

purple dye

Phoenician wealth from purple dye production.

cedar

Phoenician wealth from cedar timber trade.

Hebrews/Israelites

Semitic people; monotheistic worship of Yahweh; origins include Merneptah Stele; Mosaic Covenant; Promised Land; early kings Saul, David, Solomon; split into Israel and Judah after Solomon; conquered by Assyrians and Babylonians.

Merneptah Stele

Egyptian stele recording Israel as a people in Canaan (earliest known reference to Hebrews/Israelites).

Hapiru

Nomadic raiders; possibly the Hebrews; evidence is inconclusive.

Yahweh

Hebrew God; monotheistic worship.

Mosaic Covenant

Biblical contract between God and Israelites; obedience to the Ten Commandments grants protection and provision.

Promised Land

Land promised by God to the Israelites; already inhabited by others when the Israelites sought control.

Saul

First king of Israel; later replaced by David.

David

Second king of Israel; united and expanded the kingdom; father of Solomon.

Solomon

King renowned for wisdom; his reign precedes the division of Israel and Judah.

Israel

Northern Kingdom after Solomon’s reign; conquered by Assyria in 722 BCE.

Judah

Southern Kingdom after Solomon’s reign; conquered by Babylonians in 586 BCE.

Assyrians

Powerful northern Mesopotamian empire; famous for terror tactics, tribute system, and rapid expansion; capital moved to Nineveh.

Tukulti-Ninurta I

Assyrian king (1243–1207 BCE); defeated Hittites and Kassites; captured Babylon and looted Marduk’s statue; murdered by his son.

Tiglath-Pileser I

Assyrian king (1115–1076 BCE); expanded empire into Syria and Babylonia; cultivated fear to control subjects.

Ashurnasirpal II

Assyrian king (884–859 BCE); ruled by terror; built Kalhu; exacted tribute from cities; beheaded enemies.

Shalmaneser III

Replaced Ashurnasirpal II; continued tribute system; faced a revolt by 12 kings.

Tiglath-Pileser III

Assyrian king (745–727 BCE); expanded empire via annexation and siege warfare; resettled conquered peoples (Israelites) to prevent uprisings; captured Babylon.

Sargon II

Assyrian king (722–705 BCE); defeated Israelites; built Dur-Sharrukin (Dur-Sharrukin) as new capital.

Sennacherib

Assyrian king (705–681 BCE); brutal campaigns; destroyed rebellious Babylonians; moved capital to Nineveh; besieged Judah; killed by his sons.

Hezekiah

King of Judah who resisted Sennacherib’s siege with a ransom; later reinforced monotheism.

Nineveh

Assyrian capital after capital moves under Sennacherib; major center of power.

Dur-Sharrukin

Capital city constructed by Sargon II; abandoned after his death.

Esarhaddon

Assyrian king (681–669 BCE); favored vassal kings; rebuilt Babylon; defeated Kushite Egypt; proclaimed himself liberator of Egypt.

Taharka

Kushite king of Egypt defeated by Esarhaddon; his victory helped Esarhaddon claim influence in Egypt.

Ashurbanipal

Assyrian king (669–631 BCE); built one of the era’s great libraries (over 22,000 clay tablets); enforced royal power and suppressed rebellions.

Kalhu

Ancient Assyrian city; site of palace for Ashurnasirpal II; also called Nimrud.

Nineveh (city)

Key Assyrian capital and center of imperial administration; site of the royal library tradition.