Book 1, Chapter 2, Set 4 Flashcards
What was noteworthy about the gods of the Minoan civilization? (page 77)
All of them were female and thus goddesses, not gods.
Who were the Mycenaeans? (page 77)
They were a late Bronze-Age people from mainland Greece who arrived on Crete during the decline of the Minoan civilization by 1500 BCE. They came to dominate Crete by 1400 BCE.
What were some possible causes for the decline of Minoan civilization? (page 77)
The Thera eruption in 1600 BCE may have resulted in the loss of the Cretan fleet, making the Minoans vulnerable to outside powers and crippling their trade network. Also, an earthquake on Crete in the 1400s may have also brought down their civilization.
Who were the Greek Dorian people? (page 77)
They arrived c. 1200 BCE in Crete and took over the island from the Mycenaen-Minoan culture already on the island. Their possession of iron tools and weapons may have contributed to the decline of Bronze Age culture on Crete.
Who were the major kingdoms of the Late Bronze Age in Europe and Asia? (page 79)
Babylonia, Mittani, Elam, Egypt, Mycenae, Alashiya, and the Hittite Empire.
Why were there no attempts made by the major powers of the Late Bronze Age to conquer the interior of each others’ regions? (page 79)
The need for supplies of copper and tin to make bronze guaranteed relative peace and stability between these different civilizations. Copper was easily found, but tin was only available in Afghanistan. This made long-distance trade a necessity, and, thus, also diplomatic exchanges and alliances involving exchanges of gifts, intermarriages, and intensive correspondence.
What were some of the causes of the collapse of the Bronze Age that began c. 1200 BCE? (page 79)
Mycenaean citadels in Greece were destroyed, probably by northern invaders. This event was followed by a long period of mass migrations, disruption, and destruction. Around 1180 BCE, the Hittite Empire disappeared from history, probably as a result of encroachment by displaced Mycenaeans. This, in turn, may have led to Egypt’s battles with the “Sea Peoples”, whom Egypt blamed for the Hittite Empire’s collapse, but who seem to have been former, displaced Hittites. Babylon’s wars with Assyria and Elam eventually forced their Kassite dynasty to dissolve in 1154 BCE, and Elam disappeared from history again due to these wars a few decades later when the Elamite capital of Susa was sacked. Assyria’s records indicate a long period of endless skirmishes against mass migrations of “Arameans” and “Mushki” before Assyria’s records went silent by 1050 BCE for a century.
Why was the period from 1054 BCE to 934 BCE termed a “dark age”? (page 79)
A “dark age”, by a strict definition, refers merely to a time when the elite of a country or region stop producing monuments and written records. Thus, life for the average person in this period probably wouldn’t have changed much.
Who were the Assyrians and when did their power reach its height? (page 79)
The Assyrians were a Semitic people based in northern Mesopotamia who reached the height of their power during the Neo-Assyrian period in the 800s and 700s BCE.
What were some of the Neo-Assyrians notable achievements and what was one key reason they became so powerful? (page 80)
During the Neo-Assyrian period, Assyria commanded great resources, built large monuments, improved agriculture and irrigation, and established an effective administration of their Iron Age empire. Much of their success is based on their ability as warriors and their effective adoption of Iron Age technology. Their army included chariots, infantry, and cavalry. It was the first army to use cavalry, and this gave the Assyrians a huge advantage over less advanced militaries. The military was a mix of a large standing army supplemented by locally mustered contingents.
What does the term “Semitic” mean? (page 80)
It refers to a language group that includes Hebrew and Arabic, and also to Middle Easterners who trace their ancestry to biblical Noah and Shem. Included in these people are Jew and Arabs.
Why were the Assyrians known for their ruthlessness in dealing with enemies? (page 80)
The Assyrians used impalement, mass execution, and mass “deportation” of conquered peoples in order to maintain their empire (although such methods were also used by other powers in the Middle East).
What happened to the “Ten Lost Tribes of Israel”? (page 80)
They are the most famous example of a group of people who were conquered by the Assyrians and then deported en masse to the Upper Habur area of northern Mesopotamia and the Zagros mountains of southwest Iran.
What was the intended goal of Assyrian resettlement? (page 80)
It was designed to create a uniform population, although “it created some hotbeds of dissent”.
What were some factors that led to the stability of the Neo-Assyrian empire? (pages 80 - 81)
Firstly, the royal bloodline was considered sacred, allowing nobody outside of the bloodline to become ruler. Secondly, a successor was chosen as soon as a new king took power so an orderly transition between rulers was assured. Thirdly, the governors of conquered provinces were also neither chosen from the previous local rulers nor from the royal family. Instead, eunuchs who could not possibly produce heirs and thus claimants to leadership were chosen as governors.
