Transcript Kingship in the Ancient Near East

Kingship in the
Ancient Near East
Richard Adams
Thomas Maedke
Mark Erste
Timeline in Ancient Near East
All Dates B.C.
Writing
Fall of
Begins
Persia
3000
1600
900
351
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City-States
Territorial States
Empires
Abraham
Moses
David
Babylonian
Exile
3000
1850
1250
1000
587
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721
Assyrian Exile
The Two Rivers
Geography
of the Near East
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Mesopotamia
Most abundant documentation and so it dominates
the study of the Near East
 Geographical boundaries somewhat indeterminate
because when states expanded their territories they
drew other areas into Near Eastern history
 Egypt
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Has a unique and separate history
What do we know and how do we
know it?
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Region of fragmented power with relatively short-lived
periods of centralization under rulers
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We know the most about these short-lived periods because
writings and artifacts were left behind
Times of political strength are accentuated
Cuneiform writing on clay tablets
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Used by all Near Eastern cultures for different languages
Thousands of tablets are well preserved to provide
documentation of many aspects of Near Eastern life
Cuneiform Writing
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Epic of Gilgamesh
Wedges pressed into
clay with a reed
The City-State
3000 BC to 1600 BC
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The city-state provided the basic political structure
Historical record shows initially in southern
Mesopotamia but eventually developed elsewhere
In the earliest period an urban center controlled an area
with a radius of about 10 miles where people lived in
villages
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As the centuries unfolded, competition resulted in periods of
centralization as the result of war
Religion in the City-State
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Religion and cultic worship (certain rites and
ceremonies) was central to the culture of
Mesopotamia
Each city was considered the dwelling of a
particular god or goddess
Wars between city-states described as wars
between the gods of the cities
Kingship in the City-State
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King received divine power which came down
from heaven
The temple or the god’s household was the
dominant institution.
In times of war a military leader could be elected
king
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Primitive democracy
Two Sources of Power for Kingship
in the City-State
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Cultic – focused on a god and religious rites
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Military
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The temple was the dominant institution
Precipitated by competition with other city-states for
agricultural land
Successful military leader could seize power or be elected
The palace became a more influential institution
Merging the two
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A king could embrace both sources to various degrees.
Warrior and god
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Naram-Sin, a City-State
King from the third
millennium wearing the
insignia of royalty – bow,
arrow and battle axe. He
is also crowned with the
symbol of divinity, the
horned helmet.
The Role of the King
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Cultic position expressed ritually his position between the
city-god and people. He was a representative of the god.
Militarily
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Militarily to protect from aggressors or to expand territory when
agricultural land was needed
Shepherd and farmer
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Lawgiver and judge
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Had to be concerned with shepherding and farming to provide for his people
(e.g. irrigation projects)
Ensured inner stability
Father to son
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Passing on of kingship to a son was not presumed. On occasion a
brother would inherit the throne. Dynasties did occur and became more
common in the second millennium.
Time of Abraham
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Semi-nomads herded millions of sheep and
goats in the ancient Near East.
Sedentary in villages near the rivers during the
dry summers and nomadic during the winter
when vegetation was plentiful.
The kings of the city-states could exercise a
measure of control over the semi-nomads
depending on their proximity.
Territorial States
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The Great States were:
-Kassite Babylonia
-Hittite Anatolia
-Mesopotamia in the
North
-Mittani
-Assyria
-Elam
- Syria and Palestine
city-states
- Egypt
Western States of the Late Second
Millennium
Some of the unique factors of this time
period are:
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Three prominent states existed during this
time, Mittani, Htittie (New Kingdom) and
the Syro-Palestine states.
-The historical information has been
derived from many places at the same time.
-Local histories were determined by
interaction with others.
-Militarism was a major characteristic
of the period.
-Each state was located in a
distinctive ecological environment.
-The area was made up of different
populations who spoke a multitude of
languages.
-Cultures and religions/opinions
were very diverse.
Egypt the New Kingdom
(1610BC – 1085BC)
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This period comprises the Egyptian dynasties 18, 19 and 20. This
was the greatest period in ancient Egyptian history.
Many of the most famous examples of Egyptian art come from
the 18th and 19th dynasties. The Hebrew tradition of the
Exodus from Egypt to Cannan also falls within this time period.
Under Ramses II (1301 -1234) the 19th dynasty, the Egyptian’s
attempted to reassert Egyptian control over western Asia
Egypt extended its power under the 18th dynasty up the Nile
into Nubia and west to Libya.
This was during the time of Moses
Egypt the New Kingdom
(1610BC – 1085BC)
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Ramses III (1196-1165) won a great sea and land battle
against the Libyans and the sea peoples. This was the
last successful effort to Egypt to protect its imperial
possessions.
Under the 20th dynasty (1187 -1064) Egypt became an
entirely ineffective political force. It was also a period
of internal collapse. The king lost control of the nobles
resulting in a loss of control over the country.
Empires
Early First Millennium to 331 BC
Assyria
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Militaristic society
Rise to power begins in ninth century
Assurnasirpal II (883-59 and
Shalmaneser III (858-24)
Period of decline
Assyria
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Tig;ath-pileser III (744-27) and
Sargon II initiate internal structural
change
Expanded and extended Assyrian
control throughout the Near East
(even into Egypt)
640 BC – Assyria was at the height
of its power – controlled from
western Iran into Egypt
Soon after 610 Assyria no longer
existed
Medes and Babylonians
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In 612, the Medes and Babylonians
sacked Nineveh
The Medes controlled territory to
the east and north of Babylonia
Nabopolassar (626-05) – united all
of Babylon area by 616
Collapse of Assyria created a power
vacuum – Babylonia vs. Egypt
Nebuchadnezzer II (604-562) –
great military leader
Nabonidus (555-39)
Persia
553BC - 550BC? – Medes were defeated
539BC – Babylonia defeated
Its strength came from two sources:
1) Size of its military
2) Respect for the different cultures it governed
Greatest challenges:
1) Swift expansion and vast size – local rebellions
2) Competition for power in the royal house
331 BC – Alexander of Macedon defeated the Persians
Persian Empire
Kingship in the Near East
Different approaches in different locales
1) Egypt
2) Mesopotamia
3) Israel
Bibliography
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A History of the Ancient Near East, Marc Van De Mieroop, Blackwell
Publishing, 2004
Reading the Old Testament, Lawrence Baodt, Paulist Press, New York, 1984
Dictionary of the Bible, John L. McKenzie, SJ, MacMillan Publishing, Co.,
Inc. New York, 1965
The Face of the Orient, Sabatino Moscati, Quadrangle Books, Chicago, 1963
http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/History/madha/medes.htm
http://www.science.co.il/Maps-Near-East-Empires.asp