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.


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. During the 16th century, and 17th century historical interpretation relied heavily on the Bible and and on Greek and Roman classics, at least in Western Civilization. In the 18th century, historical interpretation relied heavily on the Bible and the Classics, although developments can be followed through the early 18th century, early-mid 18th century, mid 18th century, late-mid 18th century, and late 18th century. In the 19th century archaeology began to be more useful and interpretion of antiquity began to shift, during the early 19th century, early mid 19th entury, mid 19th century, late-mid 19th century, and late 19th century. 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. Sociology The most useful aid to study of antiquity is investigation of the peoples of the world, communities, and social structure and changes. The development of these through the period of antiquity is noticeable. Institutions Religion can be examined. Particular traditions can be identified. Most religions were tied to a particular people and were pagan. European, Asiatic, African, and Oriental versions can be examined. 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. Varieties of organization included unstructured, fragmented, and highly structured forms. Religious practice and belief can be considered.	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
Government Particular governments can be examined. International government was limited to traditional empires, the first of which arose during this period. These include national government, which were chiefly monarchies, and local governments, many of which were autonomous. Government activity including administration, succession, and interstate relations can also be examined. Government structure including political parties, judicial systems, legislative systems, executive systems, government heads, and forms of government can be examined. Law can be examined. Economics 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. Industry can be considered but few if any specific companies are known. Economic activity can be considered. Education Particular schools and school organization are somewhat difficult to identify. Cultural institutions seem to have not been developed. Teaching was practiced, but there seems to have been little organized research during this period. Families including particular families, kinship, parenting, and marriage can often be followed. Culture Behavioral culture may also be useful. Cultural events such as miscellaneous events, disaster, fairs, and cultural events will be significant. Recreation and entertainment such as music, dance, theater, games, and sports can be followed. Occupations including food related occupations, building occupations, transportation occupations, communication occupations, industrial occupations, and service occupations are important. Customs including vital customs, living and dwelling customs, dress and adornment customs, social interaction customs, and institutional customs will be significant. Materials related to conceptual culture are often lacking. 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. Some elements from applied science can be identified. Mathematics including arithmetic and elements of algebra and geometry also began to develop in this period. Literature including oral traditions, forms, types and genres, and works of literature began to develop. Graphic arts included principally drawing and painting: more advanced techniques had not yet developed. Language including linguistics, writing, and languages of the world are vital, since writing developed in this period. The techniques of archeology are used in an attempt to examine history through material culture. Miscellaneous artifacts can be examined. Communication devices, and transportation technology developed substantially. Clothing and foodstuffs can be connected. Building technology including materials, components, furnishings, completed structures, and outdoor structures developed substantially. Industrial technology advanced substantially, as metal tools began to replace stone. Fuels and machines developed, and there were beginnings of utilities. Anthropology Particular groups will be significant. 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. Human ecology makes little use of human impact on the environment, but has some connection to other life forms. Environmental effects on people sem to be more important. Physical anthropology will also be useful. Human origins are not greatly useful, but racial variation and human dispersion are important themes of antiquity. 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. Social foundations including social presentation, social interaction, social control, social group behavior, and group types will be highly significant. Personal studies Biography will also be important in this section. Major figures who lived in this period include: Lao Tzu Cyrus Zoroaster Menes Homer Mahavira Khufu Psychology including behavioral elements, mind, behavior patterns, disorders, personality, and social psychology is difficult to apply due to limited information. The human body including body systems, functions, diseases, life cycle, and form and apparance may find some applications. Science Biology is weakly connected. Biohistory has some connections, although the Precambrian, Paleozoic, and Mesozoic are not directly useful, Cenozoic life is the more important. Ecology is a little bit more connected than systematics, organism biology, cell biology, and molecular biology. Earth science including geohistory, physical geography, atmospheric science, hydrospheric science, and geology have some connections to antiquity. Astronomy can be used for dating of some events. Local astronomy and stellar astronomy are more useful than galactic astronomy or cosmology. Chemistry and physics are not directly applicable.

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. During the 16th century, and 17th century historical interpretation relied heavily on the Bible and and on Greek and Roman classics, at least in Western Civilization. In the 18th century, historical interpretation relied heavily on the Bible and the Classics, although developments can be followed through the early 18th century, early-mid 18th century, mid 18th century, late-mid 18th century, and late 18th century. In the 19th century archaeology began to be more useful and interpretion of antiquity began to shift, during the early 19th century, early mid 19th entury, mid 19th century, late-mid 19th century, and late 19th century. 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.

Sociology

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

Institutions

Religion can be examined. Particular traditions can be identified. Most religions were tied to a particular people and were pagan. European, Asiatic, African, and Oriental versions can be examined. 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. Varieties of organization included unstructured, fragmented, and highly structured forms. Religious practice and belief can be considered.

Links to other sites:

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

Economics 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. Industry can be considered but few if any specific companies are known. Economic activity can be considered.

Education Particular schools and school organization are somewhat difficult to identify. Cultural institutions seem to have not been developed. Teaching was practiced, but there seems to have been little organized research during this period.

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

Culture

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

Materials related to conceptual culture are often lacking. 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. Some elements from applied science can be identified. Mathematics including arithmetic and elements of algebra and geometry also began to develop in this period. Literature including oral traditions, forms, types and genres, and works of literature began to develop. Graphic arts included principally drawing and painting: more advanced techniques had not yet developed. Language including linguistics, writing, and languages of the world are vital, since writing developed in this period.

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

Anthropology

Particular groups will be significant. 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. Human ecology makes little use of human impact on the environment, but has some connection to other life forms. Environmental effects on people sem to be more important. Physical anthropology will also be useful. Human origins are not greatly useful, but racial variation and human dispersion are important themes of antiquity. 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. Social foundations including social presentation, social interaction, social control, social group behavior, and group types will be highly significant.

Personal studies

Biography will also be important in this section. Major figures who lived in this period include:

Psychology including behavioral elements, mind, behavior patterns, disorders, personality, and social psychology is difficult to apply due to limited information. The human body including body systems, functions, diseases, life cycle, and form and apparance may find some applications.

Science

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

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