Lesson 2: The Bronze Age and Umm An-Nar

Lesson 2: The Bronze Age and Umm An-Nar

• Around 5000 BCE, people in the region had a generally healthy diet.
• By 4000 BCE, the climate became drier, leading to less rainfall and harder living conditions. Evidence from skeletons shows this.
• The Indian Ocean Monsoon shifted southward, reducing rainfall in the area, similar to today's UAE climate.
• People still grew crops; evidence suggests they cultivated various crops, with dates a significant part of their diet and material use.
• Around 3000 BCE, people in the area needed fresh water more, and they began digging wells to bring water to their fields. They devised systems for moving and using water.
• By 3000 BCE, people were also hunting animals like gazelles, wild camels, and oryx.
• Pastoral nomads herded sheep, goats, and other livestock, trading with nearby settlements like Hili.
• Donkeys were used to carry goods along the coast and mountain edges.

Umm An-Nar and the Bronze Age

• The Umm An-Nar culture emerged around 2500 BCE, known for equality within their society.
• It was located near Abu Dhabi.
• The Bronze Age lasted from 3000 to 1200 BCE and involved mixing copper with other metals to create bronze.
• The region's mountains had plenty of copper ore.
• Mesopotamians (the strongest empire at the time) traded copper with the Umm An-Nar region.
• This culture was unique in its societal structure.

Lesson 3: Impact of the Falaj during the Iron Age

• Around 4000 BCE, the UAE received less rainfall, causing water levels to decrease underground.

• Fresh water became hard to find.

• People in the Umm An-Nar region developed methods for accessing groundwater.

• They created simple pulley-based systems to get water from wells.

• New types of wells provided access to water sources lying above salty water.

• By 1000 BCE, water became hard to access, leading people to establish settlements inland, near springs.

• The falaj system played a critical role in making water accessible to people.

• The falaj, an underground channel, carried water from mountains and springs to villages and towns.

• The Falaj allowed for communities to easily access water, which supported the growth of settlements in the inland areas around the Al-Hajar Mountains.

• The Iron Age began around 1200 BCE.

• Iron replaced bronze in tools and weapons.

• Iron from the UAE was traded with other civilizations.

• People continued to eat the same domesticated animal meats; sheep, goats, and cattle were common.

• People cultivated crops like sesame, basil, and other plants within their settlements.

Explore the pivotal changes in the Bronze Age, focusing on the Umm An-Nar culture. Discover how climate shifts influenced agriculture, water management, and trade in the region. This quiz will test your understanding of the lifestyle and innovations of people during this fascinating period.