Western Civilization I
Outline #3
Professor Knight

The Spread of Civilization: 1700-1100BC

Second Millenium BC—intermittent periods of upheaval
Indus River Valley Civilization
Spread of Civilization—Interconnectedness of Cultures
Cycle of Conquest, Assimilation, Decadence
Limitations to Spread of Civilization
        Environmental—Agricultural surplus necessary
        Military—New strategies, technologies necessary to conquer
        Limitations overcome through innovation

I. The Agricultural Challenge
    Possibilities outside fertile river valleys:
        Subsistence agriculture
        Pastoral Nomadism
    The Plow--breaks cycle of subsistence agriculture
    Urban centers outside fertile river valleys:
        Assur, Ninevah, (Assyrians) Hattusas (Hittites)
    Emergence of society based on peasantry and aristocratic landlords

II. Military Changes
    The Chariot—mobile platform for archers
    1,600BC--influx of nomadic invaders using chariot
    Hyksos—occupy Egypt between Middle and New Kingdoms.
    Hittites and Kassites overrun Babylonia
    Indo-European Languages
    Egyptian Imperialism
        Treaty of Pharaoh Ramasses II with the Hittites (1269BC)
    Development of Iron (1400-1200BC)
    Decline of chariot warfare
    Rise of the mass infantry
    Period of Chaos (c1250-1150BC)
        "Sea People"

III. Later Mesopotamia Empires
    Assyrian Empire (746-612BC)
    Neo-Babylonian Empire (Chaldians) (612-539BC)
    Persian Empire (539-330BC)