Bronze Age In Greece - Book Report/Review Example

 QUESTION 1 The Minoan civilization The Minoan civilization on the Island of Crete was heavily influenced by the civilization that had taken place in Egypt, Syria and Mesopotamia. By 2000 B.C.E, Crete had a complex political and social structure and was among the first region to have European civilization (Bulliet 80). The Cyclades Islands provided a natural stepping stone for the movement of people and civilized ideas from Greece and the Middle East. The Minoan art was heavily influenced by the Egyptian architecture. The columns used by the Minoans were similar to the ones used by the Egyptians. Moreover, the Minoans copied the Egyptian art of showing people in profiles rather than frontally (Bulliet 75). They perfected the art with their own fine touches making their own art look more natural than the Egyptians; which looked more like still figures (Flowofhistory.com). Moreover, Crete’s geographical position was also a positive factor for its progress in civilization. The island was isolated (Bulliet 77) and thus there were little or no external threats to its security from its enemies. The peace and stability that the region enjoyed gave the inhabitants an ample time to work on their projects without fear of attack. Kingdoms that were always taking part in wars with their neighbors had little time for their own development; hence a slow civilization progress. However, the geography of the Minoas also led to their downfall. A huge volcanic eruption sank the Island of Thera, 80 miles North-east of Crete. The eruption left a crater, assumed to be 4 times that of Krakatoa of 1883. The eruption caused a shock wave those flattened Crete’s cities. Moreover, the tidal wave destroyed the naval fleet and the volcanic ash destroyed the Island’s crops and vegetation. The three factors left a huge dent in the Island, leading slowly to its collapse (Flowofhistory.com). Pharaonic Egypt The climate of Egypt was unfavorable to the civilizing process. The area lies in a desert and most of parts of the kingdom did not receive any rain throughout the year. The lack of reliable water sources forced the people adopt irrigation from River Nile. The Nile delta, made of the Blue Nile and White Nile, flows through Egypt from Khartoum into the Mediterranean Sea. Most of the population lived along the Nile, where agriculture could be practiced. Agriculture was a key factor during the civilization period (Bulliet 25). The river also provided a means of travel and communication for the inhabitants through use of canoes and boats. The Nile River used to cause flooding and the river banks could break, making the surrounding places prone to destruction. The level of the flooding determined the abundance of the harvest. The people used “nilometers" and stone staircases to determine the amount of flooding. High flood levels destroyed the dikes that protected the inhabited areas. Low floods meant that less land could be cultivated and thus the kingdom experienced famine and hunger (Bulliet 25). Egypt was also endowed with lots of natural resources and was thus more independent than other regions. They had papyrus reeds in marshy regions that they used to make sails and ropes. They also had a variety of food sources: wild animals and birds in the marshy regions and desert edges, fish from the Nile. The Egyptians also had access to building stones that were quarried at the South. The abundant resources eased the process of civilization for the Egyptians. QUESTION 3 The Indus valley civilization The people of Indus valley had a widespread network of trading contacts. They used their contacts to strengthen their place in the early trade market. The people had direct access to precious stones and metals of Afghanistan and Eastern Iran. In India, they had access to building stones and timber in the Western parts of the kingdom. The inhabitants moved the goods on rivers, using boats and canoes, within the zones of Indus Valley culture (Bulliet 32). Seal stones have also been found in the Tigris and Euphrates valley indicating that they used to be middlemen in long distance trade. The industrial waste from archaeological explorations bore marks that resemble saws used in their age. Artifacts collected indicate that the civilization process highly depended on trade and hence, the people continually attempted to improve and create better products for them to be competitive in the market. For example, the “cotton-rush” created by the Indus people, was an economic boom due to the high demand of their cotton. The cotton was originally grown in the Indus Valley before finally spreading to the Eurasian continent (Kuthiala). Trade played a great part in the expansion of culture in the Indus Valley. By coming into contact with the people from other areas, the people on Indus Valley were exposed to new ways of living. The Harappa people explored the culture of their partners in the Harappa civilization. The exchange of cultural ideas enabled the people get new a better ideas on ways of improving their technology (Kuthiala). The Mauryan Empire, 324-184 B.C.E The kingdom of Magadha was rich in agriculture produces and iron ores. Moreover, the kingdom was strategic and played an important role as a trade route of the eastern Ganges Basin (Bulliet 183). The kingdom had a clear network of towns and roads that boosted lively trade and commerce within the kingdom and its neighbors. India was the main hub for the international sea and land routes that linked Central Asia, East Africa, the Middle East, China and the Mediterranean (Bulliet 184). Trade in the region fostered the growth of crafts which, included cloth making, metal work, stones, terracotta sculpture and jewelry. Moreover, the use of coins increased in the kingdom as the currency of the kingdom. The development of both long distance and short distance commerce enhanced the growth and expansion of urban centers (Bulliet 184). The rise of guilds of merchants and the absence of a central authority gave the merchants the opportunity to become powerful politically. The political and military security enabled a common economic structure which boosted the commerce of the kingdom. The small kingdoms and regional chieftains formed a central authority. The central authority eliminated the burden of collecting crop tax. Chandragupta Maurya introduced a single currency that was used all over India. Through revenue collection, funds were available for waterways and public works. Unity in the kingdom enhanced the growth of trade in the kingdom and with its neighbors. Question 4 The Hittites Empire The Hittites invented “iron-craft”. They came up with the method of heating the ore until it became soft for shaping. They then pounded it to remove impurities; the ore was then dipped into cold water for it to harden. The technology was kept secret due to its economic and military advantages (Bulliet 72). Iron tools were harder and sharper than those of copper and bronze. With the use of iron tools, the Hittites were able to develop stronger and more lethal weapons compared to her neighbors. Their military strength ensured that they were able to protect their kingdom from external attacks that could have stalled their civilization progress. Better tools also enabled the Hittites boost their agricultural produce: the products were used for both direct consumptions and as a trade item. The Olmec civilization The shamans used to observe the stars and produce a calendar for their ritual and agricultural activities. The Shamans were individuals that had the ability to make direct contact with supernatural powers. They laid ceremonial centers in alignment with the paths of certain particular star (Bulliet 61). Their ability to know and understand dates and the calendar was a crucial aspect because they could plan their agricultural schedules early. The Olmec were then able to know which type of crops to grow according to the appropriate season. The system was advantageous because it gave them an advantage over their neighbors in agricultural produce. The huge production, as a result of prior planning, ensured the Olmec had an unlimited stock for sale. The Shang dynasty The Shang had a complex writing system. Several characters were originally pictures of objects, but they were simplified over time, so that each character represented a one syllable word for an idea (Bulliet 42). The writings have been found on cattle bones, tortoise shells and on bronze equipment. The writing system was in use over 35,000 years. The writings kept a historical evidence of the occurrence in the kingdom, including the king’s prediction on weather and harvests and the dynasties that ruled the kingdom. Having a record for the activities of the kingdom was the best way for eliminating any confusion that may arise. Moreover, it ensured any important deal or agreement was accurately documented. Conclusion Among all the technological inventions, the use iron tools by the Hittites were the greatest among all them. Iron tools were the foundation of civilization because they were stronger and sharper than other metals. The Hittites were able to melt the iron and shape it into any shape that they wanted. Bibliography Flowofhistory.com,. 'FC17: Bronze Age Greece: The Minoans & Mycenaeans (C.2500-1100 BCE) - The Flow of History' N.p, 2014. Web. 5 Oct. 2014. Kuthiala, Puneet. 'Indus Valley Civilization - Culture And Trade'. Thoughtdots.... N.p., 2014. Web. 5 Oct. 2014. Bulliet, Richard W. The Earth And Its Peoples. 5th Ed. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2011. Print. Read More