REL 328: History and Culture of the Ancient Near East. Review for Final Exam. RJDKnauth
The first half of the exam (1 hour) will be the same form as the midterm, covering material since then:
Late Bronze–Iron Age: 1600-330 BCE. Kuhrt ch. 4-7, 9, 11-13; Arnold 7,19-20,23-24,39-43,47-51,54-56,59-60,73,78,83;
Judg, 2Sam 5, 2Ki, Dan 1-6, Ezra 1-7, Esth; Biblical History handout, Egypt handouts, quizzes, period outlines, short assignments.
History of Late Bronze and Iron Age Mesopotamia 1600-330, esp. Neo-Assyrian, Neo-Babylonian and Persian Empires.
History of Late Bronze and Iron Age Egypt: 1550-1069 New Kingdom; 1069-330 3rd Intermediate, Saite and Persian Periods.
LB-Iron Age Anatolia, Syria-Palestine 1600-330: Hittites, Hurrians, Israel, Philistia, Phoenicia, Aram, Edom, Moab, Medes...
Keep in mind: The major sources, the nature of the sources, general political dynamics, religion, different people groups
(Amorites, Hurrians, Hittites, Libyans, Nubians, Sea Peoples (Philistines), Assyrians, Babylonians, Israelites, Persians…)
“New Kingdom” (Late Bronze Age):
Dyn. 18 (1550-1293) Thebes: Ahmose founds; Queen Hatshepsut; Thutmose, Amunhotep campaigns in Syr-Pal.; luxury.
Amunhotep IV=Akhenaten >replaces Amun cult w/ Aten (sun-disc) cult, capital at Akhetaten (Amarna). Diplomacy.
Smenkhkare. Tutankhamun changes name, restores Amun cult, capital back at Thebes, famous burial. Ay (too old).
Horemheb (military officer) reaction against Aten cult, destruction of temples, delete heretics from record.
Ramesside Dynasties 19-20, end of New Kingdom (background of Israelite Exodus? – Exodus 1-15)
Ramesside Dyn. 19 (1293-1185): Rameses I (former vizier, 2 yrs), Seti I (campaigns in Syr-Pal., incl. Canaanite Ashkelon)
Rameses II (67 yrs) Pharaoh of Exodus? Moved capital to Delta, extensive building projects, Hittite treaty (Kadesh)
Merneptah (13 yrs) repels attacks of Libyans and Sea Peoples, “Israel” stella re campaigns in Syr-Pal.).
Queen Tawosre/Twosret/Tausert (1 yr) faiance juglet defines Bronze/Iron Age transition; confusion of land. Sethnakhte.
Ramesside Dyn. 20 (1185-1070): Rameses III (campaigns in Palestine, inscriptions, Papyrus Harris), Rameses IV-XI.
3rd Intermediate period: weakness, Libyan incursions, foreign rule, chaos, splintering of power, concurrent dynasties:
Dyn. 21 (1075-945) Tanis: Siamun (daughter=Solomon’s wife); Amenemopet; Ben-Hadad’s refuge. Vs Theban Priests.
Dyn. 22 (945-715) Libyan (settled Herakleopolis [west Delta], Egyptianized 5 gens>Bubastis): Sheshonq/Shishak, Osorkon
Good relations with god’s state of Amun at Thebes; 924 sacked Jerusalem, invaded Judah (as in Bible).
Dyn. 23 (818-715) Libyan (Herakleopolis>Bubastis>Tanis): Takelot II – civil war; Osorkon III - major flood
Dyn. 24 (720-715) Libyan (Sais in Delta - cf Saite Dyn.): Tefnakht conquered all but Herakleopolis; Bakenrenef/Bochoris.
Dyn. 25 (772-656) Kushite: 715 Piankhy (Piye) of Sudan conquers all Egypt (stela: “Libyan anarchy”=20 kings!).
Shabaka (Pi’s brother) reconquers Egypt. Taharqa/Tirhaqa in Bible re Sennacherib invasion. Pyramids in Sudan!
Kushites routed by Assyrians (Esarhaddon, Assurbanipal) who conquer Memphis and Thebes, appoint vassal Neko.
Saite Dynasty 26 (664-525) Sais: Renaissance. Psamtik. Neko/Necho (kill Josiah; canal). Apries>Amasis (Greek merchant colony)
Persian Period: Dyn. 27 (525-330) Cambyses conquers Egypt. Darius, Xerxes, Artaxerxes. Aramaic; Laws codified; canal.
[332 Alexander the Great conquers Egypt & Persian Empire, Ptolemaic Period: Ptolemy I-XII, Cleopatra VII.]
SYRIA-PALESTINE – Late Bronze Egyptian domination of Syria Palestine, challenged by Hittites. Iron Age biblical history.
1550 BCE: Late Bronze Age - Israelite enslavement in Egypt following expulsion of Hyksos.
Trade routes between great powers Egypt/Mesopotamia. Major Cities: Ugarit, Byblos, Ebla, Megiddo, Hazor, Shechem, Jericho…
Hurrian state of Mitanni gains significant influence in this area, dominating over Yamhad, Alalah/Aleppo, etc.
Major Canaanite gods/goddesses: El, Baal, Anat, Yam, Mot, Asherah, Astarte…
Israelite “Exodus” from 400 yr enslavement in Egypt under Rameses II at beginning of Iron Age.
Iron Age major portion of biblical history- “Conquest Judges: United, a temple; Divided, North Falls. Judah alone to Exile, Restore!”
1200 Israelite Conquest/Settlement of Canaan, beginning of Iron Age. 1175 Invasion of “Sea Peoples”/Philistines.
1200-1000 Tribal League/Judges. “When the cats are away…”
Period of weakness in Egypt & Mesopotamia allows Israel to develop.
1000-925 United Monarchy: Saul, David, Solomon. Jerusalem made capital, Temple built.
925-721 Divided Monarchy: Jeroboam rebellion; Shishak invades. Assyria defeats Samaria (N. capital).
721-587 Judah Alone: Hezekiah (Assyrian vassal, rebellion, invasion), “evil” Manasseh, good Josiah (killed by Necho).
587-539 Nebuchadnezar defeats Judah, destroys Jerusalem (incl. Temple), Babylonian Exile.
538-330 Persian Period, Cyrus edict: restoration, building of 2nd Temple in Jerusalem.
MESOPOTAMIA 3000 Sumer, Akkad, Gut, Ur III;
2000 Isin/Larsa, O.Ass, O.B.;
1600 Hittite, Kassite, N.Ass, N.B.,
538 Persian, Alex in 333!
1677 Damiq-Ilishu of Sealand gains pre-eminent power over Babylon, Old Babylonian dynasty of Hammurabi weakens.
1600 Late Bronze Splintering of power, chaotic interlude - “Dark Ages.” Begins with Hittite sack of Babylon.
Hittite raid conquers Babylon (ends Hammurabi dynasty), but disappear when Mursili assassinated.
Contemporary Sealand Dynasty (Damiq-ilishu, Gulkishar) and Kassites continue.
Kassites (Agum) seize Babylon from Sealand, make it the religious capital, and reign 400 more years. Stagnation.
Hurrians (Mitanni) in “Habur triangle,” independent state since after Sargon; impact on Hittites. Mariannu charioteers.
Ugarit, Alalah and other Syrian states entwined in power struggle between Egypt, Hittites, and Hurrians. Elam classical p.
Hittites regain power, become major rivals of Egypt; battle of Kadesh ends in draw: Hattusilis III treaty w/ Rameses II.
1200 Assyria emerging, but fall of Troy, Sea People invade, major destruction > weakness: begin Iron Age. Isin, Arameans.
1100 Neo-Assyrian Empire: Tiglath-pileser I, Ashurnasirpal II regular campaigns; Shalmaneser III (853 battle of Qarqar);
841-630 Assyrian power: Tiglath-pileser III campaigns, Shalmaneser V/Sargon II, Sennarcherib, Esarhaddon, Assurbanipal.
612 Neo-Babylonian Empire conquers Nineveh. 605 Battle of Carchemish: Nebuchadnezar II defeats Egypt, Judah.
539 Persian Cyrus defeats Babylonian “heretic” Nabonidus - bloodless conquest, hailed as deliverer by Marduk priests (?)
525 Persian Cambyses conquers Egypt. Darius, Xerxes, Artaxerxes.
330 Alexander the Great of Macedonia takes over the Persian Empire for the Greeks.
The second half of the exam (1 hour) will be essay questions on the general themes of the course.
You will have some choice of questions. Below are some examples of the sorts of questions you can expect.
Comment on Egyptian Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom burial practices.
Comment on the nature of our sources for Dynastic Transitions in this period.
Comment on one of the following and its significance:
The Battle of Kadesh, the Battle of Carchemish, the Battle of Qarqar, Sennacherib’s invasion of Judah.
Describe the Hurrians and their impact in Late Bronze Age Mesopotamia and Syria-Palestine.
Comment on the scholarly dilemmas over reconstructing/categorizing “Pre-Dynastic” Egyptian history (e.g. Narmer/Menes).
Comment on the factors leading to the emergence of cities at the beginning of the Early Bronze Age.
Comment on the origin and development of writing and its significance.
Comment on the nature of Mesopotamian scribal schools.
Comment on the nature of our sources for Egyptian history and how their biases may affect our understanding. Use examples.
Comment on the role of the Vizier in Egyptian society.
Comment on the sad fate of Ibbi-sin.
Comment on the life/accomplishments/activities of one of the following: Amunemhet, Rameses II, Snefru.
Comment on the life/accomplishments/activities of one of the following: Piankhy, Hatshepsut, Neferti, Amasis, Horemheb.
Comment on the life/accomplishments/activities of one of the following: Ur-nammu, Shulgi, Hammurabi.
Comment on the life/accomplishments/activities of one of the following: Tiglath-Pileser, Essarhaddon, Assurbanipal.
Comment on the life/accomplishments/activities of one of the following: Nebuchadnezar, Cyrus, Darius.
Comment on the political dynamics of the ANE in the early Iron Age.
Comment on the early tax-reforms and law codes of Mesopotamia.
Comment on Gudea of Lagash and the “Gutian Hordes.”
Comment on the religious policies of Akhenaten and his absence from the king lists.
Comment on the nature/contribution of the Shattiwaza treaty, Telepinu Edict, Idrimi Inscription, or Behistun Relief.
Comment on the circumstances of Cyrus’ “easy” take-over of Babylon.
Comment on the Kushite Dynasty of Piankhy and their takeover of Egypt.
Comment on the significance of finding Pyramids in Sudan.
Comment on the Libyan take-over of Egypt in the 3rd Intermediate Period.
Comment on the Hittite raid on Babylon and its aftermath.
Comment on the political machinations of Amasis’ takeover of Egypt from Apries.
Comment on the politics of succession in the Persian period.
Comment on the nature of “apology” literature – use specific examples.
Comment on the contributions of the Greek Historian Herodotus to our understanding of ANE history.
Comment on the role of Naram-sin in the fall of Agade in the literature and in history, and its significance.
Comment on the Epic of Gilgamesh’s inclusion of traditions about the flood.
Comment on Gilgamesh’s role in history and in the epic, and his search for immortality.
Comment on one of the following: Enuma Elish, Inanna and Dumuzi, The Descent of Inanna, The Legend of Sargon…
Comment on one of the following ancient texts, and what it reveals about ancient Near Eastern history:
The Misadventures of Wen-amun, Story of Sinuhe, Amarna Letters, Deliverance of Mankind from Destruction,
Adoption Stele of Nitocris, Petition of Petiese, Memphite Theology, or Prophesy of Nefer-Rohu (Neferti).
Comment on the LB Egyptian-Hittite rivalry and its result, or on the Persian-Greek wars and their result.