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| | | | | The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History, Second Edition
Richard W. Bulliet, Pamela Kyle Crossley, Daniel R. Headrick, Steven W. Hirsch, Lyman L. Johnson, David Northrup
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Chapter 3: The Late Bronze Age in the
Eastern Hemisphere, 2200-500
B.C.E.
Maps
Physical
Map
of Asia
Contemporary Political and Physical Map of Asia
China:
A
View From Above
Physical
Map
of China
Contemporary
Physical
Map of China
Agricultural
Regions
of China
Shang
Civilization, 1200
B.C.E.
Zhou
Dynasty
Contemporary
Political
and Physical Map of Mediterranean Basin
Mediterranean
Region:
A View From Above
Contemporary
Political
and Physical Map of the Middle East
Eastern
Mediterranean:
Resources
Akhenaten's
World:
Maps
Contemporary
Physical
Map of Greece
Images
Artifacts
from
Shang Dynasty Tombs
At this comprehensive site,
explore the elaborate burial ritual
for notable individuals of
the
Shang Dynasty.
Chinese
Bronzes
of the Shang Dynasty
This site offers detailed description
of
how this form of artwork was developed and what it signified to
the
people of the Shang Dynasty.
Henan
Museum:
Bronzes
Most of these artifacts are from the Shang
Dynasty
period. Be sure to allow the site to load fully before
exploring.
Zhou
Dynasty
This site offers four examples of artwork from the
Zhou
period in Chinese History.
Oracle
Bones
Click
on the numbers to see numerous examples of these
artifacts used for
divination.
Shang
Dynasty
Oracle Bones
Two good images of this ancient form
of
Chinese divination.
Ancient
Egypt
This site provides numerous images of
artifacts
and artwork from the new kingdom.
Ancient
Nile
Valley: Kingdoms of Kerma and Punt
Use these images to
explore
the influence of Egyptian civilization on the people to its
south.
Pharaohs
of
the Sun
This site explores the life of the controversial
ruler
during the new kindgom period--Akhenaten.
Deir
el-Bahari
This
site offers numerous images of the tombs of several
New Kingdom
Egyptian Pharaohs.
Nubia
Click
on the links to the left for various images of this African
civilization
that was strongly influenced by the
Egyptians.
Ancient
Art of the
Aegean: Crete and the Cycladic Islands
Especially
useful
at this site is its link to images from the famous Palace of
Knossos
built during the Minoan Period.
Images
from
the Palace of Knossos
This spectacular site offers
multiple
clear and vibrant images of this archaeological discovery
from the Minoan
Period.
Minos
Another
excellent site exploring the Palace of Knossos and other
Minoan
ruins.
Mycenae
Numerous
images of Mycenaean ruins can be found here. Click "Death
Mask"
for an image of the Mask of Agamemnon.
MYCENAEAN
(ACHAEAN)
CIVILIZATION (1500-1000 BC)
Along with many images
of
Mycenaean ruins, this site provides a link to more images of the
Mask
of Agamemnon (at the bottom of the
page).
Activity One:
Chapter 3, "The Late Bronze Age in the
Eastern
Hemisphere, 2200-500 B.C.E.," explores the expansion of
civilization in
China, the Middle East, and the Eastern
Mediterranean. To reinforce
your geographical knowledge of this
material, analyze Physical
Map
of Asia and Contemporary
Political
and Physical Map of the Middle East. Make sure that
you can
locate where the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, Egypt, Nubia,
Mesopotamia,
Anatolia, Crete, and Greece, as covered in this chapter,
were located.
You may need to refer to the Maps in your
textbook or use the
Maps provided on this web site. For
practice, print out this Outline
Map
of the Eastern Hemisphere and label these areas. Once
you
are familiar with these locations, review Physical
Map
of Asia and Contemporary Political
and Physical Map of the Middle East. Which civilizations covered in these chapters were most likely to develop extensive contact with each other? Which were isolated from other centers of civilization? What geographical features encouraged or discouraged extensive contact? You should now be able to use these Maps to demonstrate why the civilizations of the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean developed greater exchanges with each other during this time period, while
kingdoms in China remained fairly isolated.
Activity Two:
As the title of this chapter suggests, bronze was important to all of the civilizations in the Eastern Hemisphere between 2200 and 500 B.C.E. Bronze is a metal alloy made by combining copper and tin. This desire to manufacture bronze created strong trade networks in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean. Go to Eastern Mediterranean: Resources. Where was there an abundance of tin and copper? Which civilizations controlled these areas between 2200 and 500 B.C.E.? According to this map, what other items might they have exchanged with each other? As these civilizations in Anatolia, Mesopotamia, and Egypt began to develop
elaborate trade routes and protocol with each other, they began to borrow and share each others' culture as well. They also sought out other sources of precious materials. One outgrowth of this
development was cross-cultural exchange between Egypt and its neighbor to the south, Nubia. Explore the site Nubia
and read "The Land and its People" (be sure to click on "Next" until you complete the essay). While reading the essay and studying the images, pay special attention to the extensive contact between Egypt and Nubia. What products did they trade? How did they organize this economic activity? List and explain three
major ways that extended contact with each other influenced Egypt and Nubia. Which culture had the most influence on the other? Why do you think this was so? What does this episode
tell us about trade and the spread of civilization?
Activity Three:
Another area that experienced strong Egyptian
influence during this time period was the Levant, or the Eastern coast of the Meditteranean. To reference this area, go to Akhenatan's World : Maps, Near East. Today, the countries of Israel, Lebanon, and Syria occupy this territory. From 1500 to 1200
B.C.E. it was controlled by the New Kingdom in Egypt. Archaeologists have learned much about Egyptian rule in the Levant through the discovery of the Amarna Letters. Review "Society and Culture: The Amana Letters," on page 67 of The Earth and Its Peoples (Second Edition). How has the study of the Amarna Letters increased our knowledge of the Levant area during this time period? To read translations of some of these letters, go to The Lab'aya Affair as seen in the el-Amarna letters. Using this material, explain why the Egyptians wanted to control this region and how they exerted their control. Did they favor direct or indirect rule? Which groups did their policies favor?
Activity Four:
The Shang and Zhou Dynasties in China remained
distant from the cosmopolitan Middle East during the late Bronze Age. This allowed the Chinese to develop manyimportant traditions that remained strong throughout Chinese history, even during periods of sustained contact with other cultures and civilizations. One of these traditions was
the Mandate of Heaven or T'ien Ming. Review this concept at T'ien Ming: The Mandate of Heaven. How did this belief help the Zhou dynasty enforce its rule during the late Bronze Age in China? How did it promote stability and continuity in China's political system? You might also want to review "The Zhou Period" on pages 61-64 of The Earth and Its Peoples (Second
Edition).
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