Ancient History has always been an increased interest not only professional researchers but also among ordinary citizens.It is not surprising, since the secrets hidden in the mists of time, not just tease the imagination, but also can give answers to many questions that torment and modern humans.
Sociologists and political scientists are still investigating polity Persian Empire, which lasted much longer than the Roman.But especially a lot of questions cause the ancient civilizations of the ancient East.If our ancestors, we know rather a lot, many of the remains - at best - only a vague mention in the pages of the works of ancient historians.
However, today we will talk about those cultures, which could leave quite a significant mark in history.What can be identified particular civilization of the ancient East, which have made possible the very emergence of the state structures?
Background of the first state formations
Around the 11th century BC, begin to emerge the first major public education.At the time, they appeared only after the conquest of one people by another.The rulers of the first states were often talented fighters, but rather average politicians.Their main desire was predatory expansion and keep the border, they had won only by force.Generally, the characteristics of the ancient civilizations of the East (most of them, anyway) clearly points to the dependence of the state economy on the success of conducting wars of conquest.
If the invasion was successful, then in the hands of the invaders found themselves thousands of slaves and vast territories, whose population immediately obkladyvayut exorbitant tribute.Appeared surpluses have allowed the kings scribes, scholars and artists, thanks to which we know something about those uneasy times.Gradually, the rulers of the improved form of government, recognized the need to build a large fortress.
conquered peoples, while staying within the framework of one state, it is better to know each other, there were new nation.Generally, if you highlight the key features of the civilization of the ancient East, it must be noted that many ethnic groups known for their desire for conquest, not yearned to destroy the culture, writing and language of the conquered peoples.
| categories | West | East |
| main occupations | Craft, agriculture and animal husbandry | Sailing, crafts, animal husbandry |
| Religion (before Christianity and Islam) | Paganism | Polytheism |
| social system | class division | class and caste division |
|
Polity | Feudalism | autocratic monarchy, tyranny |
| Culture | Mythology, science poorly developed | development: the emergence of the Arab (Indian) numbers, the development of astrology, richMythology |
That differed civilizations of the ancient East.Table gives it a fairly clear idea.
most important factors of the ancient states
appearance of really great powers contributed to two important factors.Firstly, from the North came the tribes who brought their domesticated horses.This was the real catalyst for war: now well-equipped armies could move quickly over long distances.There were powerful chariots that became terrify enemies.Thus, the development of civilizations of the ancient East went very impressive pace.
Finally, people have learned to smelt steel decent quality: iron agricultural tools enabled better to cultivate the land and grow more food, steel armor was incredibly durable, and easy to cut bronze swords armor and swords.Do not stand still and culture of the ancient civilizations of the East: there was a set of new trends in art, literature and developed a system of governance.
consequences of the emergence of the first great empires were quite diverse.Of course, the process of their formation was accompanied by an unprecedented outbreak of violence, but at the same time it contributed to the emergence of the rapid development of science and the social sphere.So what were the ancient civilizations of the ancient East?
Hittites
take that first developed empire organized Hittites.The people of this very mysterious, because ever since it took too much time, and therefore credible sources simply do not have.It is known that they belonged to the Indo-European ethnic group, and in Asia Minor came from somewhere in the north.In fact, initially the Hittites established several states, but in the XVIII century BC, they were united into one.However, this way of development passed almost all civilizations of the ancient East and antiquity.
Hittite capital of the state is located in Hattusa.Like many ancient peoples, they were engaged exclusively in farming and cattle breeding.However, extremely well, and they have mastered the mining business.So good that among historians is that the people considered to be a pioneer of technology of smelting iron.
What says school course about this ancient civilization of the East?10th grade at each school might know that the Hittites managed to establish between all the cultures of the conquered good trade and cultural ties.
Conquest
Hittites The Hittites were skilled and courageous soldiers, already in the XVII century BC they completely took over northern Syria.In 1595 BC, fell under the onslaught of the legendary Babylon.Along with the Persians, Hittites always distinguished by the fact that virtually no violence against the conquered peoples.As a rule, they do not require the adoption of his henchmen, preferring to maintain the legal authority of kings (provided that they fulfill some of their requirements).The first successful resistance to the Hittites had Egyptians.
war between them lasted very long, as an unambiguous success could not reach anyone.The prevailing wisdom, and among the nations finally peace was concluded.Hittites began receiving cheap bread from the Egyptian granaries, while the Egyptians themselves are very pleased supply of ores.In general, almost all the civilizations of the ancient East and antiquity had close economic, cultural and economic ties with each other.
death of Hittite civilization
Historians believe that the Hittites become so peaceful forced the Assyrians.While their power increased dramatically, and quite quickly warlike people came to the borders of the Hittite state.Of course, the latter are not too attracted by the prospect of war on two fronts.However, on the death of the Hittites is not saved.Historians around the world are still arguing about how this lost civilization of the ancient East.Egypt has nothing to do with it, as Pharaoh had warlike people were peace agreements.
Most likely, this was not without the intervention of "Sea Peoples."It may be that these mysterious groups of soldiers still managed to walk to Hattusa and destroy the city.By the way, Egypt is also faced with their invasion, but Ramses III was able to inflict a terrible defeat, after which the intensity of the attacks of "navigators" decreased significantly.Were the ancient civilizations of the ancient East?
Assyria and Urartu
first mentioned above Assyrians took relatively little land.Their capital was the city of Ashur is located on the Tigris River.They all chose the same class, they have been honored by the Hittites, but particularly excelled also in commercial matters.Oddly enough, but the people at first was not particularly belligerent, and so during the existence of the state it is often captured neighbors.
But in the XIV century BC, the Assyrians were able to capture the suffering of Babylon, and in the area of 9-10 Century themselves heavily battered nomadic tribes suffered by almost all civilizations of the ancient world.Ancient East are also constantly exposed to their incursions.
At the same time on the shores of Lake Van (in the Caucasus) lived quite mysterious people, which was called by the Assyrians, Urartu.Also in the 10th century BC are many fragmented their tribes merged, giving rise to a powerful state of Urartu."Helped" her neighbors the Assyrians, as their constant attacks have forced even the most hard-nosed of local fiefs recognize the need to merge.Dawn of the people of Urartu has to about the eighth century BC.Then the former oppressed themselves could wage wars of conquest against their oppressors.
Relations Urartu
During this period, the Assyrian kings have repeatedly suffered from the defeat of Urartu.Military failures do not increase their credibility among the people, and therefore often become flashing riots and conspiracies occur in the ruling elite.Around 750 BC came to power intelligent and cruel king Tiglath-Pileser III, who immediately took up the strengthening of the army.
It is fully rearmed his troops, providing them with first-class iron weapons, and made offensive war foundation of the state of the economy.He and his successors were able to attach to the Assyrian kingdom huge amount of new land that I owned before other civilizations of the ancient world.Ancient East has acquired a new dominant culture.
Barely 40 years after the initiated reforms Assyrians managed to rout Urartu.In addition, a multitude of peoples they conquered Palestine and Syria, seized a large part of Egypt and Babylon.For the first time in the history of this civilization extensively used method of forced relocation.They sought to assimilate the conquered peoples, to break them and forced to renounce their own faith and language.
In contrast to the Hittites and Persians, they are not famous for their indulgence to the conquered.Thus, it is considered the inventor of the Assyrian kings of the set of sophisticated methods of torture and most brutal executions.However, from the constant riots and rebellions they were not saved.But do not consider them as notorious villains: like all great civilizations of the ancient East, the people also sow "reasonable, good and eternal."
Achievements Assyrians
incredible wealth obtained as spoils of war and tributes, allowed the Assyrians to bring to his court many outstanding scientists, writers and philosophers of his time.It is thanks to these people, we have information about the books of the Sumerians and Babylonians, who were transferred to them.Thus, the texts of Mesopotamia, which are studied to this day, have been retained and supplemented it by Assyrian scholars.
In Nineveh, the capital of the new kingdom, was collected at the time the richest collection of books on clay tablets, containing all the knowledge that have accumulated civilization of the ancient East.In short, it was a real fount of wisdom, touch the pundits who come from all over the ancient world.
But while they were pumped state already: in the seventh century BC Assyrian enemies start to push on all sides.Against this backdrop, played a decisive role strengthens the contradictions within the ruling circles.In 626, the authority rejected the governor of Nineveh Babylon, proclaiming himself king.It was he who signed multiple military alliances with some Iranian peoples (especially with the state of Midia).Joint onslaught they literally swept off the face of the land of Assyria, and the last of its troops were killed in 609 BC.
Persians
After the fall of their worst enemies, the Assyrians, on the rise proved Midiiyskoe and Neo-Babylonian Empire.The latter founded the Chaldean Nabopolassar, who once organized active resistance to the invaders.His son, Nebuchadnezzar II, was able to conquer not only the remnants of Assyria, Palestine and Syria.When it reached Babylon incredible prosperity and power.Even one of the Wonders of the World, the Hanging Gardens, which the ancient Greeks wrongly attributed to Queen Semiramis, were created its engineers.
While in Iran live arias.Not surprisingly, those edges of their contemporaries called "Land of the Aryans", which by that time largely mixed with the nomadic tribes of the Indo-Europeans (though almost all ancient civilizations of the Middle East have had their blood).Over time, Iran was formed several new ethnic groups, the most powerful and quickly became the Persians.Officially, they were part of the kingdom of the Medes, but in fact they had their own ruler.
famous Persian King Cyrus I just did began with that rejected the authority of the sovereign Median proclaiming his people independent.Thus was born the Persian kingdom.The people of this fast-growing, and very soon their army came to India as well as the long-suffering invaded Syria with Palestine.But the main "acquisition" of the Persians was the Lydian kingdom, still famous for the fact that it was his mine produced almost 70% of all the gold, which had circulated in the Old World before the discovery of America.Simply put, the first civilizations of the ancient East provided the means of payment all mankind for several centuries to come.
In addition, the Persians quickly became sworn enemies of the Greeks, as captured virtually all those colonized land.Finally, in 539 BC, their army waited for their turn to capture Babylon.
Great Cyrus was killed during another expedition to Central Asia.Son conqueror Cambyses, managed to conquer Egypt.On the king made are unlikely to be stopped, but in the state of sudden turmoil broke out, and he died.However, Darius I, who came to power, has not given the internal turmoil to destroy the state.He harshly punish all violators of peace, finished the campaign of Cyrus in Central Asia and the Persian army re-conquered part of India.Failure befell the king only in the case of the Scythians, and the hike in Greece it is not too successful.
Distinctive features of this civilization
Persian Empire became the world's first state formation of such a huge size.The stability of the country ensured the separation of the field - satrapies, each with robust rules of governor (and often they become the kings of conquered countries).For the first time in the history of organized central government post, a reform of the monetary unit with the aim of maximum standardization.
In addition, it belongs to the Persians steadily formed the idea that without a properly developed road system will not be a strong country.These people just did was marked by the fact that even the most remote outskirts of each satrapy was laid a good way paved.Thus, even an approximate description of the ancient civilizations of the East indicates that they are highly developed.
Persians now undeservedly forgotten works and demonized by the wily Greeks.In fact, their culture virtually nothing inferior to the Hellenistic and Roman, and it lasted much longer.Thus, the ancient civilizations of the ancient East have given us a lot more than it is accepted to think: the system of governance, the importance of transport routes, the first collections of legislative laid and so on, which many consider the distinctive features of the modern world.
