Stone Age Overview

Stone Age Overview

• Paleolithic Period (Old Stone Age): Early humans were hunters and gatherers, living in caves or simple shelters, using basic tools for hunting, such as spears and stone knives.
• Cooking methods included roasting mammoths and gathering berries; this period also saw the first creation of art.
• The end of the Paleolithic coincided with the last Ice Age, causing massive extinctions, rising sea levels, and human migrations.

Mesolithic Period

• Timeframe: Approximately 10,000 B.C. to 8,000 B.C.
• Humans began using polished stone tools for weapons like spears and arrows.
• Nomadic lifestyles were prevalent, primarily near water sources; this period introduced agriculture leading to permanent village settlements.

Neolithic Period

• Timeframe: 8,000 B.C. to 3,000 B.C.
• Transition to agriculture with the domestication of animals and cultivation of crops.
• Utilization of advanced tools like hand axes and adzes for farming; significant developments in art, construction, pottery, sewing, and weaving occurred.

Epic of Gilgamesh

• One of the first literary works, composed of epic poems about Gilgamesh, the King of Uruk, who reigned around 2800 to 2500 B.C.
• Reflects on themes of life and mortality, exemplified in Gilgamesh's quote about searching for eternal life.

Babylon and Assyria

• Babylon: Flourished under Hammurabi (1792 B.C.), who expanded its domain; notable for the Code of Hammurabi, one of the earliest written legal codes.

• After Hammurabi's death (1750 B.C.), Babylon faced decline due to aggression from neighboring cultures including Hittites and Assyrians.

• Assyria: Emerged from the city-state of Assur, becoming a dominant power by 671 B.C., with significant military conquests, including Egypt.

Archaeological Sites

• Ziggurat of Ur: A prominent Sumerian architectural site built around 2100 B.C., now in southern Iraq.
• Babylon: An ancient city founded around 5,000 years ago on the Euphrates River, renowned as a cultural and political center.
• Hattusha: An important Hittite site in Turkey preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Persepolis: Ancient city in Iran known for its magnificent Persian architecture.

Ancient Mesopotamian Architecture

• Influenced by sociopolitical organization, religion, and natural environment; predominantly built using brick.
• Notable structures include the Ziggurat of Ur, showcasing advanced construction methods and religious significance.

Minoan and Mycenaean Architecture

• Palace of Knossos: A key Minoan complex with intricate layouts, constructed around 2000–1700 B.C., reflecting advanced urban planning.
• Mycenaean Civilization (c. 1700-1100 B.C.): Known for monumental palaces, fortified citadels, and tholos tombs, heavily influenced by earlier Minoan culture.

Parthian Empire

• Emerged around 247 B.C. following the fall of the Seleucid Empire, competing with Rome for dominance in various regions.
• Concluded around 224 C.E., paving the way for the Sasanian Empire; known for combining classical and indigenous architectural styles.

Hittites

• Occupied modern Turkey before 1700 B.C., building a powerful empire that contested Egyptian influence.
• Notable for their monumental architecture featuring cyclopean masonry and sculpture-laden gateways. Significant sites include Boğazköy.