• Indo-Europeans • Nomadic tribes who migrated from the steppes (had horses, herd animals, chariots)

• Steppes • Dry grasslands north of the Caucasus (origin of

Caucasian)

• Indo-Europeans, for unknown reasons, begin to migrate outward in all directions between 1700 and 1200 B.C.

The migration of humans from the Steppes can be tracked by

the languages spoken.

http://

HITTITES• 1650 BCE -1200BCE• Lived in Anatolia- (Asia

Minor)• Conquered Babylon on the

Tigris/Euphrates• Blended their culture with

Mesopotamian culture• War Tech – iron and

chariots• Hittites and Egyptians

signed a peace treaty• Empire ended w/tribal

invasion

ARYANS• Moved into the Indus valley.• Counted wealth in cows• Culture blends with Ancient

Indian• Vedas

• sacred text, four collections of prayers and spells

• No written form existed for many years

• Caste system• social classes – skin color,

jobs, marriage, etc. – can’t change

• Struggled with one another over lands.• Mahabharata

• poem reflects the struggles of cultural blending due to migration.

Do we have this struggle today? How and where?

•Hinduism•Buddhism•Judaism

• Religion is seen as a way to liberate the soul from illusions, disappointments, mistakes of daily life

• Developed slowly over centuries – no single origin, collection of beliefs and traditions

• Caste System and Vedas both from Aryans• Reincarnation• Karma- Good or Bad deeds follow the soul- reinforced the caste system.• Dharma – do what you are meant to do (fulfill your karma – be a “good”

fire)• Upanishads – writings that attempt to interpret hidden meaning of Vedic

hymns• Moksha – liberation from desire and suffering, state of perfect

understaning – end of reincarnation cycle • Atman – individual soul, and Brahman – world soul, unites all souls• Hindus can worship no deity, or many• Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the protector), Shiva (the destroyer) –

Brahman’s three “personalities” • 3 paths to moksha – right thinking, right action, religious devotion• Jainism- small sub sect of Hinduism- every living thing has a soul,

believe we cannot know the whole truth – story of the six blind men describing the elephant

• Developed after the Hindus and Jains by founder Siddhartha Gautama. –

isolated prince who left palace to discover the nature of suffering and how to end it• Wandered and meditated, seeking Enlightenment (wisdom to understand the cause of suffering in the world)

Became “The Buddha” – enlightened one

• Rejected Caste system and many gods of Hinduism

By following the Eightfold path, one step at a time, often over many lifetimes, you can reach Nirvana – end of reincarnation cycle, end of selfishness and pain

Four Noble Truths:

1.Life is filled with suffering2.Cause of suffering is people’s selfish desire for temporary pleasure3.To end suffering, one must end desire4.To overcome desire and reach enlightenment, one must follow the Eightfold Path – the “Middle Way” between desire and self-denial

• Began in Canaan- (Palestine) the cultural crossroads of the ancient world.

• Torah – 1st five books of Hebrew Bible (also part of Christian Old Testament)(where we get most of the history of the Hebrews)• Abraham (lived in Ur) – chosen by God to be the

“father” of the Hebrews the “chosen people”• Monotheism- One God - Yahweh • Yahweh not a physical being, no images to be made of

him• watches over them and protects them in exchange for obedience to his will – this agreement called a covenant

• From Mesopotamia to Palestine in 1800 B.C.E. (God told them to) - Abraham’s descendents go to Egypt in 1650 BCE (drought)- eventually forced into slavery

• Freedom obtained by Moses – 1300-1200 BCE – Exodus – Passover • Moses brings ten commmandments down from Mt. Sinai – new covenant• Judaism places great emphasis on right conduct and worship – ethical

monotheism – major influence on human behavior for thousands of years

• Wandered around the desert until the death of Moses 40 years later – returned to Canaan (Palestine)

• Israel (Canaan/Palestine)- Jews united under kings Saul, David and Solomon. Built a great temple to house the Ark of the Covenant (holding tablets with Ten Commandments)

• Civil war after Solomon’s death split the country into Israel and Judah (South) weakening both countries. 922 BCE

• Assyria demanded tribute 738 BCE – eventual loss of independence to both Assyria and Babylon, then Persians, Greeks, Romans

• Turn to page 83 in your text book.• Read the primary source excerpts.

• Answer the 4 questions at the bottom of the page on your BCE.

• When you are finished share with a neighbor.

1. What were the first 3 early modern religions?

2. What is the caste system?3. Who developed the caste system?

What is being depicted in this artwork?

• Minoan• Island of Crete• Capital city – Knossos

• peaceful

• Produced some of the finest pottery, swords• Trade

• Artwork• No battles or war• Sports, sacrifice, fishing

• 1200 BCE Mysterious End

Minoan Art

• Phoenicians• After decline of Minoans• Consisted of several city-states• Advanced ships/navigators• Trades papyrus, red-purple dye, cedar• Greatest Legacy – phonetic alphabet

• One sign for one sound• Captured/taken over by Assyrians

• Mycenaean's• Greek mainland• Fortified, walled cities • Warrior kings• Horsepower & Chariots• Adapted Minoan form of writing – Linear B• Artwork Animals as food

• Burial in beehive tombs• Gold masks, tiaras, jeweled weapons

• 1100 BCE collapsed

Inside the tomb, showing its beehive-like structure. It is 44 feet high.

1.Who were the Mycenaean's?2.What were the Phoenicians

known for?3.Describe the Minoan culture.

Do you think Hammurabi’s laws were too strict? Explain your answer.

• Conditions for women in Mesopotamia• a. improved dramatically over the centuries.

• b. reached their high point during the time of the Assyrians.

• c. grew increasingly worse over time.• d. improved dramatically when women were allowed to do away with the veil.