AOS1 Ancient History

Mesopotamia

What features do historians and archaeologists commonly use to define a civilisation? (6)

Trade network, Agriculture, specialisation (arts and science), written language, social structure and an increasing size

How to distinguish a civilisation from a simple community?

through size, social structure and economic complexity.

Why are writing systems considered a key marker of civilisation?

writing is a form of specialisation, without agriculture and common knowledge it cannot be achieved.

How does social stratification indicate the presence of a developed civilisation?

there is enough of a population to need people at different levels of ‘control’.

What role does organised religion play in identifying early civilisations?

from different religious systems historians are able to identify the group that was living within the area

What factors contributed to the shift from nomadic lifestyles to settled societies?

unsure, predictions say increase in temperature, founding of agriculture or population increase.

relative dating

dating an object based on the layers surrounding it

absolute dating

specific date or timeline through carbon on the object

How have archaeologists used evidence from the “death pits” to understand social hierarchy?

“inequality unparalleled” crawford, sacrifices of servants

Oasis Theory

climate changes, near east dry out, pushing people to tigris

Oasis Theory issue

assumes people were wanting improvement

Nuclear zone theory

agriculture started in turkey in a ‘perfect spot’

Nuclear zone issue

explains where but not how

Population pressure theory

warming of climate increased population

population theory issue

how domesticating animals or farming came around

why was writing first created in Mesopotamia

To remind merchants of transactions

king quote

“centeralised authority” walton

Sargon summary

• humble beggining, overthrows king

• expanded control over meso

• shifted power to his family

• formed military

Sargon quote

“relentless expansion” (Oates)

decline of Akkad

• drought, famine, abandonment, overextension, invasion

third dynasty of Ur

brung back sumerian culture, declined due to droughts and invasion

How did the Tigris and Euphrates effect Meso?

drinking, irrigation, fertile land, fishing

Flat area means?

easy trade but easy attack, large farm area

climate of meso?

intense temperature changes, floods and droughts

Why did Mesopotamians create canals?

so they were no longer dependant on the random rainfall

how did irrigation lead to growth of settlements?

increase of food meant time for other activities

What were clay tokens?

represented objects for merchants

What were Pictographs?

drawing pictures for writing

What was Cuneiform?

first real writing system

How did the city-states evolve?

hunter gatherers - villages - social hierarchy - kings - citystates

What were the roles of king-priests?

protect, religious rituals, be a “shepherd” (sennacherib)

What was the Assembly?

a “democracy” (jacobsen) that advised rulers

What did Sargon of Akkad do?

created the first army, shut down rebellions, ruled for 56 years, “innovative” (VDM)