ARKY FINAL EXAM FLASHCARDS ( Textbook Chapters 7-8, 14, 16-18 and Lecture Slides from near east and on)

Ancient Near East regions

Mesopotamia, Anatolia, the Levant, and Iran.

Earliest major cultural centers before 2000 BCE

Ur and Uruk in southern Mesopotamia.

Göbekli Tepe (Anatolia)

Pre-pottery ritual site (9500-8000 BCE) with massive stone enclosures.

Çatalhöyük (Anatolia)

Dense Neolithic settlement (7500-6400 BCE) with wall-entry homes.

Earliest major Levantine Neolithic sites

Jericho, Tell Aswad, Ain Ghazal.

Definition of an empire

Large political entity ruling diverse societies under one ruler.

Two major traits of empires

Vast size and provincial autonomy with tribute.

Earliest empires of Near East

Akkadian; 3rd dynasty of Ur (Ur III); Elam.

Major 1st millennium BCE empires

Assyrians, Neo-Babylonians, Persians.

Political fragmentation of Mesopotamia after 2000 BCE

Collapse of Ur III, Amorite rise, Hurrian migrations.

Alaca Höyük (Anatolia)

A large Anatolian mound with rich Early Bronze Age royal tombs.

Date of Alaca Höyük Royal Graves

2350-2150 BCE.

Royal grave structure type

Shaft tombs sealed with wooden beams.

Goods found in Royal Graves of Alaca Höyük

Gold, electrum, bronze weapons, figurines, standards.

Earliest iron in Anatolia

Gold-handled meteoritic iron dagger at Alaca Höyük.

Purpose of Bronze Standards

Ritual symbols (solar disks, bulls, deer) mounted on poles/wagons.

Kanesh (Kültepe)

Assyrian merchant colony and major trade hub.

Karum (in Kanesh)

Assyrian trading quarter exempt from local taxes.

Dates of Assyrian trade at Kanesh

1900-1750 BCE.

Trade from Assur to Kanesh

Tin and textiles.

Trade from Kanesh to Assur

Silver.

Importance of Kanesh tablets

23,000+ cuneiform tablets documenting business and daily life.

What Kanesh tablets reveal

Marriage, loans, contracts, inheritance, merchant letters.

Earliest Indo-European language evidence

Hittite loanwords in Kanesh tablets.

Conqueror of Kanesh in 1820 BCE

Anitta of Kussara.

Significance of Anitta's conquest

Begins Hittite royal tradition; curses Kültepe.

Who were the Amorites

Semitic migrants from Syria who settled southern Mesopotamia.

Who were the Hurrians

People likely from the Caucasus who settled northern Mesopotamia.

Isin-Larsa Period

Struggle for power in Mesopotamia (2025-1763 BCE).

Founder of Isin dynasty

Ishbi-Erra.

Importance of Ishbi-Erra

Expelled Elamites; reestablished southern power.

Decline of Isin

Lost access to water after canals were rerouted.

Rise of Larsa

Controlled trade routes; strengthened by Larsan King Gungunum.

Key rivalries in Isin-Larsa

Isin vs Larsa competing for canal access and trade.

Mashkan-Shapir

Canal-based city and secondary capital of Larsa.

Mashkan-Shapir layout

5 districts, canals instead of streets, 2 harbors.

Industries in Mashkan-Shapir

Copper workshops, pottery, temples with animal statues.

Decline of Mashkan-Shapir

Early 2nd millennium collapse of Gulf trade.

Dilmun importance

Key trading hub between Mesopotamia and Indus Valley.

Dilmun peak prosperity

2300-1700 BCE.

Dilmun trade monopoly

Copper from Oman.

Cultural links of Dilmun

Dilmun seals found in Kanesh and Indus Valley.

Hammurabi dominance

Hammurabi (1792-1750 BCE).

Hammurabi unification method

Mixed diplomacy and warfare.

Hammurabi's conquests

Isin, Larsa, Mari, Eshnunna.

Hammurabi's centralization policy

Took estates from elites; strengthened royal control.

Hammurabi stele location

Susa (Iran).

Top scene on Hammurabi stele

Hammurabi receiving laws from Shamash, sun god.

Topics in Hammurabi's Code

Contracts, inheritance, wages, slavery, crime, medicine.

Social classes in Hammurabi's Code

Aristocrats, commoners, slaves.

Women's rights in Hammurabi's Code

Hold property, divorce abusive husbands if 'virtuous'.

Mari

A powerful city-state on the Euphrates.

Preservation of Mari's archives

Destruction by Hammurabi.

Number of Mari tablets

20,000.

Revelations from Mari letters

Diplomacy, politics, marriage alliances, economy.

King of Mari

Zimri-Lim.

Iconic Mari fresco

Ishtar granting kingship to Zimri-Lim.

Hittite dynasty founder

Labarna (early king in Hittite history).

Hattusili I accomplishments

Conquered Hatti; made Hattusa capital.

Mursili I achievement

Sacked Babylon in 1595 BCE.

Hattusa significance

Capital with 10,000 clay tablets.

Hattusa archaeological importance

Massive fortifications, temples.

Mitanni culture

Hurrian-speaking; elite with Indo-Aryan names.

Mitanni dates

1500-1300 BCE.

Mitanni capital

Washukanni.

Powers competing around 1400 BCE

Egypt, Mitanni, Hittites.

Ahmose I major action

Drove out Hyksos; reclaimed Levant.

Thutmose I expansion

Reached Euphrates River.

Battle of Megiddo date

1457 BCE.

Battle of Megiddo winner

Thutmose III (Egypt).

Suppiluliuma I significance

Rebuilt Hittite Empire; defeated Mitanni.

Dakhamunzu letter

Egyptian queen asking for a Hittite prince.

Fate of the Hittite prince

Murdered en route to Egypt.

Amarna Letters date

1350-1332 BCE.

Language of Amarna letters

Akkadian.

Importance of Amarna letters

Reveal diplomacy and vassal politics.

Common themes in Amarna letters

Loyalty claims, betrayal, requests for troops.

Location of Qatna

Syria at crossroads of major routes.

Findings at Qatna

Rich royal tombs with jewelry and statues.

Destruction of Qatna

Hittites in 1340 BCE.

Who destroyed Qatna?

Hittites in 1340 BCE.

Uluburun date?

~1400 BCE.

Significance of shipwreck?

Evidence for international luxury trade.

Contents of Uluburun cargo?

Copper ingots, glass, ivory, ebony, gold jewelry.

Date of Hittite collapse?

Around 1200 BCE.

Causes of Hittite collapse?

Sea Peoples, famine, internal revolts.

What happened to Hattusa?

Abandoned and burned.

Neo-Hittite states?

Small Iron Age states in Syria/Anatolia.

Who were the Sea Peoples?

Aegean/Eastern Mediterranean raiders.

Egyptian king who fought them?

Ramesses III.

Impact of Sea Peoples?

Collapse of Hittites, destruction of coastal cities.

Philistines origin?

Likely Aegean; multiple origins confirmed.

Philistine settlement region?

Southern Levant coastal plain.

Philistine Pentapolis?

Gaza, Gath, Ekron, Ashkelon, Ashdod.

Philistine cultural traits?

Mycenaean pottery, Aegean rituals.

Philistine contributions to Levant?

Iron technology, new plants (opium poppy, cumin, sycamore).

Phoenician homeland?

Lebanon coast: Tyre, Sidon, Byblos.

Phoenician economic strengths?

Maritime trade, purple dye, ivory carving.

Tyrian purple source?

Murex snail.

Phoenician colonies?

Carthage, Cádiz, Mediterranean ports.