Antiquity


Antiquity is divided approximately by millennia. Late prehistory, the 5th Millennium BC, is only accessible through archeological study. Protohistory, the 4th millennnium, is noted for the beginning of writing. During early antiquity, the 3rd millennium, written sources for history begin to appear, although these are fragmentary and incomplete. During middle antiquity, the 2nd millennium, many of the roots of the modern world were established. Late antiquity is the early First millennium BC, and is half the length of the earlier periods.	Sapience Home Site Map About Sapience History 5th Millennium BC 4th Millennium BC 3rd Millennium BC 2nd Millennium BC Early 1st Millennium BC

Antiquity is divided approximately by millennia. Late prehistory, the 5th Millennium BC, is only accessible through archeological study. Protohistory, the 4th millennnium, is noted for the beginning of writing. During early antiquity, the 3rd millennium, written sources for history begin to appear, although these are fragmentary and incomplete. During middle antiquity, the 2nd millennium, many of the roots of the modern world were established. Late antiquity is the early First millennium BC, and is half the length of the earlier periods.

History

Fifth Millennium BC (5000 - 4000 BC)

During this period, the Neolithic peoples of the Middle East were beginning to build larger-scale buildings and practice copper and bronze working.

Fourth Millennium BC (4000 - 3000 BC)

During this period, peoples of the Middle East were developing larger buildings and cities. Writing was introduced among Sumerian and Egyptioan peoples, and written history can be considered to begin late in this period.

Third Millennium BC (3000 - 2000 BC)

Bronze age civilizations of Mesopotamia, Iran, and Egypt arose, and historical events can be reconstructed from various inscriptions. The Harappan civilization of the Indus Valley flourished.

Second Millenium BC (2000 - 1000 BC)

Events from this period are not entirely clear, and few records remain. The origins of the Israelite people can be traced to this period. Civilization was largely concentrated in the Middle East, with Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Hittite peoples as the largest powers. A wave of invaders who spoke Indo-European languages came from somewhere in Central Asia and influenced India, the Middle East, and Europe as well.

Early First Millennium BC (1000 - 500 BC)

Generally speaking, much of the Old Testament (the books of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles) took place in this period, though the dating of the particular peoples and empires involved is not yet clear here. Events of the 10th century BC are not yet clear, nor of the 9th Century BC. In about the 8th century BC, Homer is credited with composing the "Illiad" and the "Odyssey". In the 7th century BC, Zoroaster, the founder of Zoroastrianism, lived and preached in Persia. The 6th Century BC is noted for the appearance of a number of religious and philosophical leaders, including Socrates in Greece, Gautama Buddha and Mahavira (founder of Jainism) in India, and Confucius and Lao-Tzu in China. Cyrus the Great established the Persian empire.


Science Physics and chemistry are not directly applicable. Astronomy can be used for dating of some events. Local astronomy and stellar astronomy are more useful than galactic astronomy or cosmology. Earth science including geology, hydrospheric science, atmospheric science, physical geography, and geohistory have some connections to antiquity. Biology is weakly connected. Molecular biology, cell biology, organism biology, and systematics, are a little bit less connected than ecology and biohistory. Biohistory has some connections, although the Precambrian, Paleozoic, and Mesozoic are not directly useful, Cenozoic life is the more important. Personal studies The human body including body systems, functions, diseases, life cycle, and form and apparance may find some applications. Psychology including behavioral elements, mind, behavior patterns, disorders, personality, and social psychology is difficult to apply due to limited information. Biography will also be important in this section. Major figures who lived in this period include: Buddha Confucius Moses Lao Tzu Anthropology Social foundations including social presentation, social interaction, social control, social group behavior, and group types will be highly significant. Demography including birth and fertility, migration, morbidity and mortality, population structure, and population change will be useful. During this period, world population is estimated to have grown from 5-20 million to about 100 million. Physical anthropology will also be useful. Human origins are not greatly useful, but racial variation and human dispersion are important themes of antiquity. Human ecology is best known for environmental impact on people, rather than human impact on the environment. Human geography including European, North American, African, South American, and Oceanic will be significant. Asian geography including Southwest Asian, South Asian, Central Asian, Southeast Asian, East Asian, and North Asian geography also matters. Particular groups will be significant.	Links to other sites: Wikipedia - Ancient history Internet Ancient History Sourcebook US Census Bureau - Historical Estimates of World Population HistoryWiz - The Ancient World WWW VL - Ancient History in general Timeline - 60,000 BC to 4000 BC Timeline - 4000 to 2001 BCE Timeline - 2000 to 1001 BCE Timeline - 1000 to 501 BCE Infoplease - Ancient History History Central - Major historical events 5500 BC to 0 BC (BC begins with 1, there is no 0 BC) Wikipedia - Mesolithic period Wikipedia - Neolithic period Timelines of History - 1 million BP to 3300 BC Timelines of History - 3300 BC to 1300 BC Timelines of History - 1300 BC to 500 BC
Culture The techniques of archeology are used in an attempt to examine history through material culture. Industrial technology advanced substantially, as metal tools began to replace stone. Fuels and machines developed, and there were beginnings of utilities. Building technology including materials, components, furnishings, completed structures, and outdoor structures developed substantially. Foodstuffs, clothing, transportation and communication devices, and other artifacts can also be examined. Materials related to conceptual culture are often lacking. Some elements from mathematics, and applied science can be identified. Language including linguistics, writing, and languages of the world are vital, since writing developed in this period. Graphic arts included principally drawing and painting: more advanced techniques had not yet developed. Literature including oral traditions, forms, types and genres, and works of literature began to develop. Mathematics including arithmetic and elements of algebra and geometry also began to develop in this period. Although philosophy as understood in a later sense had not developed, techniques related to metaphysics, aesthetics, ethics, epistemology, and schools and doctrines may be applicable. Behavioral culture may also be useful. Customs including vital customs, living and dwelling customs, dress and adornment customs, social interaction customs, and institutional customs will be significant. Occupations including food related occupations, building occupations, transportation occupations, communication occupations, industrial occupations, and service occupations are important. Recreation and entertainment such as music, dance, theater, games, and sports can be followed. and cultural events such as miscellaneous events, disaster, fairs, and cultural events will be significant. Institutions Families including marriage, parenting, kinship, and particular families can often be followed. Education included little research, but teaching was practiced. Cultural institutions seem to have not been developed. School organization and particular schools are somewhat difficult to identify. Economics including economic activity and industries was somewhat present. Few if any specific companies are known. Economic systems were simple compared to modern counterparts, and it is not clear at present how to apply firms, networks, types of systems, and system behavior to ancient economies. Government including law can be examined. Government structure including political parties, judicial systems, legislative systems, executive systems, government heads, and forms of government can be examined. Government activity including administration, succession, and interstate relations can also be examined. Particular governments can be examined. These include local governments, many of which were autonomous, and national governments, which were chiefly monarchies. International government was limited to traditional empires, the first of which arose during this period. Religion including beliefs and practice, can also be examined. Varieties of organization included unstructured, fragmented, and highly structured forms. Particular traditions can be identified.Abrahamic religion in the form of Israelite religion which formed the roots of Judaism developed. Asiatic religion also began to develop. Persian religion including Zoroastrianism, Indian religion including Hinduism, possibly Buddhism, and Oriental religion including possibly Confucianism, and possibly Taoism date to this period. Secularism may have been present to a limited extent. Most religions were tied to a particular people and were pagan. European, Asiatic, African, and Oriental versions can be examined. Sociology The most useful aid to study of antiquity is investigation of the social structure and changes, communities, and peoples of the world, The development of these through the period of antiquity is noticeable. Social structure and change is vital. social structure such as anthropological structure, cultural structure, institutional structure, class structure, and community and regional structure can be examined. Social types including hunting and gathering, horticultural, and agrarian societies can be identified. Social change is also vital. Some factors of change can be considered. Processes of change including innovation, transmission, adaptation, and extinction can also be considered. Particular movements are especially important. The agricultural revolution and beginnings of the Agrarian revolution are particularly important. Communities will be included. Cities that are thought to date to antiquity include Beijing, and Istanbul. Peoples of the world are vital for investigation of antiquity. Asiatic peoples were the best developed, but Western civilization also began to appear. There is some evidence of civilization among African peoples, and more among the American Indian peoples, but details about these is uncertain and must be determined without help from written records. What information there is about particular nations is indicated below under the particular peoples. The most recently connected ones include Algeria, Afghanistan, Peru, Nepal, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Venezuela, Malyasia, North Korea, Taiwan Ghana, Yemen, Romania, Australia, Sri Lanka, Mozambiques, Syria, Madagascar. Cote d'Ivorie, Cameroon, Netherlands, Chile, Kazakhstan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Ecuador Asiatic peoples are the best known and documented in this period. The Middle east are the best known and best developed. There were also civilizations in South Asia and the Orient, but these are not as well known. Comparatively little is known of Southeast Asia. Central asia was important, but many details are unknown. Morocco can be considered. Cities include Osaka. The Middle East had strong civilizations in Egypt, Turkey, Iran and includes the best known peoples. South Asia including nations of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh developed an important civilization. Central asia is included somewhat in studies of Russia and China, and is not well known in this period. The Orient including nations of China and Japan and (South) Korea acquired Bronze age culture. Southeast Asia including nations of Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar are comparatively little known in this period. Little information is available from Western civilization, although it began to develop during this period. Poland is one area of development. I have no details on Anglic peoples largely came from a later period, but some information is available for the United Kingdom. Some information from Latin peoples is available, including from France, Italy, and Spain. Northeast European peoples such as those of Russia and Ukraine are little known. Germanic peoples including those of Germany and Scandinavian peoples are also unknown. The primary focus is on development of the Balkan peoples. Little is generally known about African peoples as for instance those of Kenya. East African peoples such as those of Ethiopia, Sudan, and Tanzania can be connected. West African peoples including those of Nigeria can be connected. Central African people such as those of Congo. Southern African peoples such as those of South Africa can be connected. Little is also known of American Indian peoples, though this latter is somewhat studied in Canada. Meso-American peoples including those found in Mexico can be connected. South American peoples were found in what is now Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina. North American Indian peoples were found in what is now the United States. Other History Antiquity overlaps with prehistory at the early end, particularly late prehistory, and with classical and medieval history, particularly early classical, at the later end. During the modern period, attempts at reconstructing antiquity have begun. Although during the 16th century, 17th century, and 18th century, historical interpretation relied heavily on the Bible, in the 19th century archaeology began to be more useful. In the 20th century, studies have accelerated. I don't yet have specific discoveries or development, but there were developments in the early 20th century. In early-mid 20th century, excavations in what is now known as Sumer and in the Indus valley revealed some of these ancient civilizations. In the mid 20th century, late-mid 20th century, and late 20th century, knowledge of these ancient civilizations has increased, and more discoveries can be identified for the early 21st century, including the early 2000s and late 2000s. These studies should continue into the future.

Science

Physics and chemistry are not directly applicable. Astronomy can be used for dating of some events. Local astronomy and stellar astronomy are more useful than galactic astronomy or cosmology. Earth science including geology, hydrospheric science, atmospheric science, physical geography, and geohistory have some connections to antiquity. Biology is weakly connected. Molecular biology, cell biology, organism biology, and systematics, are a little bit less connected than ecology and biohistory. Biohistory has some connections, although the Precambrian, Paleozoic, and Mesozoic are not directly useful, Cenozoic life is the more important.

Personal studies

The human body including body systems, functions, diseases, life cycle, and form and apparance may find some applications. Psychology including behavioral elements, mind, behavior patterns, disorders, personality, and social psychology is difficult to apply due to limited information. Biography will also be important in this section. Major figures who lived in this period include:

Anthropology

Social foundations including social presentation, social interaction, social control, social group behavior, and group types will be highly significant. Demography including birth and fertility, migration, morbidity and mortality, population structure, and population change will be useful. During this period, world population is estimated to have grown from 5-20 million to about 100 million. Physical anthropology will also be useful. Human origins are not greatly useful, but racial variation and human dispersion are important themes of antiquity. Human ecology is best known for environmental impact on people, rather than human impact on the environment. Human geography including European, North American, African, South American, and Oceanic will be significant. Asian geography including Southwest Asian, South Asian, Central Asian, Southeast Asian, East Asian, and North Asian geography also matters. Particular groups will be significant.

Links to other sites:

Culture

The techniques of archeology are used in an attempt to examine history through material culture. Industrial technology advanced substantially, as metal tools began to replace stone. Fuels and machines developed, and there were beginnings of utilities. Building technology including materials, components, furnishings, completed structures, and outdoor structures developed substantially. Foodstuffs, clothing, transportation and communication devices, and other artifacts can also be examined.

Materials related to conceptual culture are often lacking. Some elements from mathematics, and applied science can be identified. Language including linguistics, writing, and languages of the world are vital, since writing developed in this period. Graphic arts included principally drawing and painting: more advanced techniques had not yet developed. Literature including oral traditions, forms, types and genres, and works of literature began to develop. Mathematics including arithmetic and elements of algebra and geometry also began to develop in this period. Although philosophy as understood in a later sense had not developed, techniques related to metaphysics, aesthetics, ethics, epistemology, and schools and doctrines may be applicable.

Behavioral culture may also be useful. Customs including vital customs, living and dwelling customs, dress and adornment customs, social interaction customs, and institutional customs will be significant. Occupations including food related occupations, building occupations, transportation occupations, communication occupations, industrial occupations, and service occupations are important. Recreation and entertainment such as music, dance, theater, games, and sports can be followed. and cultural events such as miscellaneous events, disaster, fairs, and cultural events will be significant.

Institutions

Families including marriage, parenting, kinship, and particular families can often be followed.

Education included little research, but teaching was practiced. Cultural institutions seem to have not been developed. School organization and particular schools are somewhat difficult to identify.

Economics including economic activity and industries was somewhat present. Few if any specific companies are known. Economic systems were simple compared to modern counterparts, and it is not clear at present how to apply firms, networks, types of systems, and system behavior to ancient economies.

Government including law can be examined. Government structure including political parties, judicial systems, legislative systems, executive systems, government heads, and forms of government can be examined. Government activity including administration, succession, and interstate relations can also be examined. Particular governments can be examined. These include local governments, many of which were autonomous, and national governments, which were chiefly monarchies. International government was limited to traditional empires, the first of which arose during this period.

Religion including beliefs and practice, can also be examined. Varieties of organization included unstructured, fragmented, and highly structured forms. Particular traditions can be identified.Abrahamic religion in the form of Israelite religion which formed the roots of Judaism developed. Asiatic religion also began to develop. Persian religion including Zoroastrianism, Indian religion including Hinduism, possibly Buddhism, and Oriental religion including possibly Confucianism, and possibly Taoism date to this period. Secularism may have been present to a limited extent. Most religions were tied to a particular people and were pagan. European, Asiatic, African, and Oriental versions can be examined.

Sociology

The most useful aid to study of antiquity is investigation of the social structure and changes, communities, and peoples of the world, The development of these through the period of antiquity is noticeable.

Social structure and change is vital. social structure such as anthropological structure, cultural structure, institutional structure, class structure, and community and regional structure can be examined. Social types including hunting and gathering, horticultural, and agrarian societies can be identified. Social change is also vital. Some factors of change can be considered. Processes of change including innovation, transmission, adaptation, and extinction can also be considered. Particular movements are especially important. The agricultural revolution and beginnings of the Agrarian revolution are particularly important.

Communities will be included. Cities that are thought to date to antiquity include Beijing, and Istanbul.

Peoples of the world are vital for investigation of antiquity. Asiatic peoples were the best developed, but Western civilization also began to appear. There is some evidence of civilization among African peoples, and more among the American Indian peoples, but details about these is uncertain and must be determined without help from written records. What information there is about particular nations is indicated below under the particular peoples. The most recently connected ones include Algeria, Afghanistan, Peru, Nepal, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Venezuela, Malyasia, North Korea, Taiwan Ghana, Yemen, Romania, Australia, Sri Lanka, Mozambiques, Syria, Madagascar. Cote d'Ivorie, Cameroon, Netherlands, Chile, Kazakhstan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Ecuador

Asiatic peoples are the best known and documented in this period. The Middle east are the best known and best developed. There were also civilizations in South Asia and the Orient, but these are not as well known. Comparatively little is known of Southeast Asia. Central asia was important, but many details are unknown. Morocco can be considered. Cities include Osaka.

The Middle East had strong civilizations in Egypt, Turkey, Iran and includes the best known peoples.

South Asia including nations of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh developed an important civilization.

Central asia is included somewhat in studies of Russia and China, and is not well known in this period.

The Orient including nations of China and Japan and (South) Korea acquired Bronze age culture.

Southeast Asia including nations of Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar are comparatively little known in this period.

Little information is available from Western civilization, although it began to develop during this period. Poland is one area of development. I have no details on Anglic peoples largely came from a later period, but some information is available for the United Kingdom. Some information from Latin peoples is available, including from France, Italy, and Spain. Northeast European peoples such as those of Russia and Ukraine are little known. Germanic peoples including those of Germany and Scandinavian peoples are also unknown. The primary focus is on development of the Balkan peoples.

Little is generally known about African peoples as for instance those of Kenya. East African peoples such as those of Ethiopia, Sudan, and Tanzania can be connected. West African peoples including those of Nigeria can be connected. Central African people such as those of Congo. Southern African peoples such as those of South Africa can be connected.

Little is also known of American Indian peoples, though this latter is somewhat studied in Canada. Meso-American peoples including those found in Mexico can be connected. South American peoples were found in what is now Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina. North American Indian peoples were found in what is now the United States.

Other History

Antiquity overlaps with prehistory at the early end, particularly late prehistory, and with classical and medieval history, particularly early classical, at the later end. During the modern period, attempts at reconstructing antiquity have begun. Although during the 16th century, 17th century, and 18th century, historical interpretation relied heavily on the Bible, in the 19th century archaeology began to be more useful. In the 20th century, studies have accelerated. I don't yet have specific discoveries or development, but there were developments in the early 20th century. In early-mid 20th century, excavations in what is now known as Sumer and in the Indus valley revealed some of these ancient civilizations. In the mid 20th century, late-mid 20th century, and late 20th century, knowledge of these ancient civilizations has increased, and more discoveries can be identified for the early 21st century, including the early 2000s and late 2000s. These studies should continue into the future.

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