The Bronze AgeGreece, India, China, and Mesoamerica

Part I

Greece in the Bronze Age

Geography› sea

fishing, trade› proximity to Fertile

Crescent & Egypt cultural crossroad

› rocky, mountainous mainland small fertile river

valleys› islands

Minoan Civilization, 2900-1150 bce

Crete result of cultural diffusion

technology, art, & architecture

› elaborate palaces› art – frescoes› writing system› complex govt.

Minoan Culture, c. 1700-1400

Cultural expansion› north to Greek islands

& mainland› not conquest – trade

Decline› Initial causes unclear› series of natural

disasters volcanic eruptions

tidal waves› followed by invasions

from north Mycenaeans

Mycenaean Migration, 1900-1400 bce

Indo-European migrants from north, c. 1900-1700› same migration as

Hittites warlike, tribal herdsmen moved south

through mainland› then across islands

Mycenaean Civilization, 1700-1150 BCE

herdsmen gradually picked up Minoan culture› including agriculture

villages small city-states signs of frequent warfare

› also the idea of writing developed own system

“Linear B”

Mycenaean Collapse c. 1250-1150:

“Dorian” migrations› further wave of

Indo-European migrants?

› part of chaos that disrupted entire region Hittites,

Egyptians

Mycenaean culture collapsed› ushered in “Dark Age”/”Homeric

Age”› writing was lost for about 400

years

The Indus Valley c. 7,000 BCE:

agriculture present

c. 5,500 : Neolithic villages

Harappan Civilization, c. 3000-1700 BCE

Urban society› many small

cities, and several large ones

› grid pattern› advanced water

technology irrigation/dams reservoirs sewer systems running water

Harappan Civilization unknown date: writing c. 2500: bronze metallurgy

› increased production increased population expansion of cities, culture

c. 2300-1700: regular, large-scale trade with Mesopotamia

Harappan Collapse, c. 1900-1700

Competing theories› natural disasters› manmade disasters› overpopulation desertification

By 1900, the civilization was in serious decline› cities being deserted

c. 1750: Indo-Aryan migration from the Iranian Plateau› ushered in a “dark age” – the Vedic Age

c. 1700-800 BCE

The Vedic Age, c. 1700-800 bce

c. 1700-1000: struggle for control of the Indus Valley› Aryans gradually conquer Harappan people

adopt agriculture, but not cities form small villages small to medium city-states

most aspects of Harappan civilization lost language, writing, religious beliefs, government, etc.

› new society revolves around warfare Aryan vs. Harappan; among tribes/city-states

› after about 1200, Vedic society expands east into the Ganges Valley

The Vedic Age By 1000 BCE, a new culture had emerged

› government: city-states, governed by kings constant warfare

› society: rigid hierarchy 1. nobility (warriors & priests), 2. peasants, 3.

Dasas Dasas: descendants of Harappans, darker skinned

› religion: polytheistic, based on the Vedas Vedas: “wisdom”; hymns, prayers, rituals, &

stories composed c. 1500-500 – not written until c. 700 most important was the Rig Veda (c. 1500-1200)

Vedic Age ended with introduction of iron metallurgy (c. 1000) and writing (c. 800)