Ancient Near East & Prehistory Notes

Preface to Module 1: Ancient Near East

  • Module 1 focuses on the Ancient Near East, which corresponds geographically to the modern Middle East.
  • The term "Middle East" gained prominence in the 20th century, but "Ancient Near East" remained customary.
  • The Ancient Near East includes Southwestern Asia and Egypt. Some definitions exclude Egypt, but these notes include it.
  • It is bounded by:
    • Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Caucasus Mountains, and Caspian Sea to the north.
    • Red Sea and Persian Gulf to the south.
    • Also includes Iran (especially western Iran) and the Arabian Peninsula (historically important shortly before AD 600).
  • Chronologically:
    • Began around 3500 BC.
    • Ended in 323 BC with the death of Alexander the Great, after which the area became part of the Hellenistic World.
    • The module's historical narrative ends in 486 BC with the death of Darius I, the third king of the Persian Empire.
    • The story of the Persian Empire will be continued in Module 3 on the Ancient Greek World.

Ancient Near Eastern Geographic Terms

  • "Anatolia" is the ancient name for modern-day Turkey, later known as Asia Minor.
  • The Turks entered Anatolia approximately 1,100 years ago.
  • The Levant is the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea between Anatolia and Egypt.
  • Canaan is the area south of Syria, including modern Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Jordan.
  • Fertile Crescent:
    • A crescent-shaped region in the Ancient Near East.
    • Spans modern-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Jordan.
    • Includes the southeastern region of Turkey and the western fringes of Iran.
  • Mesopotamia:
    • Located within the Fertile Crescent.
    • Means "land between the rivers," referring to the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, corresponding to modern-day Iraq.

What is History?

  • History is the study of the human past based on the examination and interpretation of written records.
  • Written records can be supplemented by archaeology, anthropology, economics, geography, historical linguistics, DNA studies, epigraphy, numismatics, and other disciplines.
  • "Events" in history encompass long-term developments (e.g., the rise of agriculture) and specific incidents (e.g., battles, rebellions, plagues, political struggles, inventions).
  • Events must have a significant impact on subsequent events to be considered historically important (e.g., President Franklin D. Roosevelt dying in 1945 was significant).

Significance in History

  • Example 1: Frederick II of Prussia seizing Silesia in 1740 led to:
    • The War of Austrian Succession (1740-48), where Frederick retained Silesia.
    • The Seven Years’ War (1756-1763), resulting in Frederick becoming Frederick the Great and Britain capturing Canada from France.
    • Britain's debt from the Seven Years’ War led to increased taxation of American colonists, sparking the American Revolution and American Independence.
    • France supported the American rebels, leading to the battle of Yorktown and American independence, but also to French bankruptcy, the French Revolution, and Napoleon.
  • Example 2: The assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC led to:
    • More rounds of civil war in Rome, ending with Augustus becoming the first Roman emperor.
    • Backward: Romans' hatred of kings and why the Roman Republic ended up in civil war.

Four Quotations About History

  • History is the register of crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind (Edward Gibbon).
  • History is a set of lies agreed upon (Napoleon Bonaparte).
  • Study things that are no more to understand and avoid them (Victor Hugo).
  • "We learn from history that we don't learn from history!" (Archbishop Desmond Tutu).
  • All four quotations highlight a degree of cynicism, which is considered appropriate due to human nature. People tend to lie, especially about themselves and their deeds.
  • The scientific study of history began in 19th-century Germany, aiming to write history "as it actually happened."

The Focus of Historical Study

  • Ordinary people generally want to live their lives without becoming historically significant, focusing on survival.
  • Leaders often have different ideas and drive historical events (e.g., Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine).
  • Leaders also react to the actions of other leaders, compelling subjects to erect grandiose edifices (e.g., the Great Pyramid ordered by King Khufu).
  • History is like an epic movie where the lead actor is also the director, which doesn't always work out well.
  • People make history, but leaders drive history; consequently, historical study concentrates on the actions of "the great and good."
  • Leaders and followers are influenced by geography, climate, economic forces, and natural disasters.

Historical Periods

  • History is divided into several long periods:
    • Prehistory: c120,000 to c3500 BC - The period before written history, from the rise of modern humans to the earliest evidence of writing in Mesopotamia.
    • Ancient History (the Ancient World): c3500 BC to AD 500 - From the rise of civilization in Mesopotamia to the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
    • Medieval History (the Middle Ages): AD 500 to 1500 - Includes most of the Renaissance (1350-1550). Mostly a European period relevant to the Islamic realm.
    • Modern History: 1500 onward - Subdivided into the Early Modern Period (1500-1789) and the Modern Period (1789 to present).