In What Ways and to What Extent Did Trade, Military Activity and the Environment Affect the Development of Any Two of the Following Civilizations, Prior to 500 Bce

Rylan Lech

World History and Cultures

Honors

History LAQ

In what ways and to what extent did trade, military activity and the environment affect the development of  any TWO of the following civilizations, prior to 500 BCE.

--Mesopotamia                        --Phoenicia                        --Egypt

When the early civilizations of nomads looked for a place to settle and put down their roots, they looked for areas that will provide them with abandoned natural resources. Fresh water, fertile land, close proximity to rivers or oceans, mountains full of timber and stones, game animals and birds, all were critical for the change from nomadic lifestyle to settling in villages to happen. With the settlement came need for growth and expansion. Cities expanded and grew, the need for security against threats increased, and need for more land and resources became priority. For some early civilization their location and environment was key to their development, for others with less natural resources but desirable physical location trading became crucial in surviving and developing further and expanding. Two of the civilizations that experienced immense development prior to 500 BC as a result of environmental assets and trade were Mesopotamia and Phoenicia.  

Mesopotamia is located in what now is known as the Middle East, a region which stretched from Iraq, Kuwait, to Turkey. Mesopotamia benefited from its location and climate was said to be the birthplace of civilization. The name Mesopotamia comes from Greek word “mesos” meaning in the middle, and “potamos” meaning river, therefore the translation means a “county between two rivers”. The two rivers that helped early civilization grow and flourish were Tigris and Euphrates, and provided fertile lands for the developing agriculture. Located at the intersection of Egyptian and Indus Valley civilizations, Mesopotamia was also the center of multiculturalism and trade, and showed great accomplishments in technology, laws, philosophy, architecture, and religion. Close to Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf, with Zagros Mountains in the east and Caucasus Mountains in the north, and located between two rivers, Mesopotamia had exceptionally fertile soil which allowed people to settle there and farm. Although the rainfall was less than 10 inches a year, the runoff from mountains deposited necessary nutrients into the soil, and construction of irrigation systems, drains, reservoirs, aqueducts, canals and dams allowed Mesopotamians farmers to extend the water reach deep into the land.  The river also provided mud, clay and reeds for city construction. Because of the irrigation system, there was an abundance of fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, which Mesopotamians were excited to trade.

        Due to its centralized location in Asia, the neighbor Egyptian and Indus Valley Civilizations and the rivers, the trade in Mesopotamia was flourishing. Also other traders had to cross Mesopotamia to travel from busy seaports in Mediterranean Sea to seaports of Persian Gulf, or from Europe in the North, to North Africa in the South. Trade routes were established along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, east into the Zagros Mountains, west to Taurus mountains, south into Egypt and north into European territory. The reading routes which went in all directions gave Mesopotamia access to timber and precious metals which were not native to them, and they needed to trade for. Some of the items that had to be brought in were Arabian copper, Persian tin, Egyptian gold, Indian ivory, pearls, Anatolian silver, and other luxury items for the nobles. Items that were traded and exported included cooking oils, grains, dates, flax, and craftsmen in Mesopotamia also created jewelry, religious figurines, ivory carvings, leather goods, baskets, pottery and textiles. Trade was absolutely critical to Mesopotamia which was poor in natural resources. Traders travel long distances from one city-state to another. Ox carts and river boats were helpful with transportation, but to get to plains and mountains where wheel carts could not go, donkeys and pack animals were still used to carry the merchandise. Trade was absolutely critical to development of Mesopotamian civilization before 500 BCE.    

The region in where Mesopotamia was located was mostly flat with few mountains and very little natural protection against invaders. All three of the Mesopotamian civilizations had impressive armies, created new weapons and military tactics. The city-states would mostly go to war with each other over land and water, they didn’t care about greatness, they only fought for what was vital to their survival. Agriculture was critical to the in Mesopotamians. It wasn’t until the Assyrians who instead of farming and trading tried to base their economy on conquering all of Mesopotamia, Elam, Egypt, Syria, Anatolia and finally Urartu. After conquering new city, they demanded payments of either slaves, ivory, silk, gems or precious metals. They were able to accomplish that due to military advances such as chariots with iron wheel protectors, blades on the hug of the wheels, calvary equipped with bows, arrows and lances. Assyrians also used camels to carry heavy loads, and psychological warfare. When faced with city that would not surrender, they used fear and terror by torturing and killing prisoners, impaling them on poles in from of the city gates. Cities surrendered because people living there were afraid, and Assyrians who were called ruthless and barbaric would obtained wealth and treasures from captured cities.