Home | Syllabus | Lecture Outlines | Reading Assignments | Essay Questions and Policies | Examinations | Maps for Geography Quizzes HISTORY 370: ANCIENT HISTORY: FROM EARLIEST TIMES TO 500 A.D.

LECTURE OUTLINES

• Lecture #1: Early Humanity
  • I. Introduction.
  • II. The Early Development of Humans.
    • A. Evolution.
    • B. The Hominids.
    • C. Neanderthals.
  • D. Cromagnons and Homo Sapiens.
  • III. Paleolithic Culture.
    • A. Lifestyles.
    • B. Dwellings.
    • C. Art.
  • IV. Mesolithic Culture.
  • V. Neolithic Culture.
    • A. Villages.
    • C. Agriculture and Livestock Breeding.
    • D. Spread of Neolithic Life-style.

• Lecture #2: Early Societies
  • I. Prehistoric Society.
  • II. Forms Of Social Organization
    • A. Extended Family.
    • B. Clan.
    • C. Tribe.
  • III. Origins of Law And Government.
    • A. Custom and Law.
    • B. Government.
  • IV. Religion and Culture.
    • A. Neolithic Religion.
    • B. Magic.
    • C. Megaliths.
  • V. Conclusions.

• Lecture #3: Sumeria.
  • I. Origins of Civilization in Mesopotamia.
    • A. Geography.
    • B. Technological Prerequisites.
  • II. Origins of Sumerian Civilization.
    • A. Ethnic Origins.
    • B. Nature of Early Sumeria.
    • C. Technological Innovation.
  • III. Early Sumerian Civilization, c. 2800-2300 B.C.
    • A. Society and Economy.
    • B. State Formation.
  • IV. Conclusion.

• Lecture #4: Akkadians To Babylonians.
  • I. Akkadian Rule, c. 2300-2150 B.C.
    • A. Sargon I.
    • B. Collapse of Akkadian Rule.
  • II. New Sumerian Civilization at Ur.
    • A. New Kingship..
    • B. Invasion.
    • C. Strife.
  • III. The Amorites/Babylonians.
    • A. Hammurabi.
    • B. Hammurabi's Code.
    • C. Hammurabi and Near Eastern Kingship.
  • IV. Mesopotamian Culture Under Babylon.
    • A. Literature.
    • B. Religion.
    • C. Mathematics.
    • D. Science. .
  • V. Disruption of Mesopotamian Civilization.
  • VI. Hittites, Hurrians, and Mitani.

• Lecture #5: Egypt--Political History.
  • I. Introduction.
  • II. Predynastic Egypt.
    • A. Upper and Lower Egypt.
    • B. Unification of Egypt.
  • III. The Old Kingdom.
    • A. The Pharaoh.
    • B. Pyramids.
    • C. End of the Old Kingdom.
  • IV. The First Intermediate Period.
  • V. The Middle Kingdom, c. 2050-1800 B.C.
    • A. The End of Pyramid Building.
    • B. The Hyksos Invasion.
  • VI. The New Kingdom Or Empire, c. 1570-1090 B.C.
    • A. Expulsion of the Hyksos and the establishment of an Empire.
    • B. Hatsheptsut.
    • C. Thutmose III.
    • D. Amenhotep III.
    • E. Akhenaton.
    • E. Return of Generals.
    • F. Ramses II.
  • VII. Era of Decline, 1090-332 B.C.
    • A. Libyan Dynasty, 940-740.
    • B. Nubian Dynasty, 740-671.
    • C. Assyrian Rule and Meroe, 671-663.
    • D. Brief Revival, 663-525.
    • E. Persian Rule.
  • VIII. Conclusions.

• Lecture #6: Egypt: Society, Economy & Culture.
  • I. Society.
    • A. Scribes.
    • B. Women.
    • C. Race.
  • II. Economy.
    • A. Internal Commerce.
    • B. External Trade.
  • III. Egyptian Culture.
    • A. Religion.
    • B. Writing And Literature.
    • C. Mathematics.
    • D. Science.
    • E. Architecture.
    • F. Art.
  • IV. Conclusions.

• Lecture #7: Egypt, Africa and World Civilization.
  • I. Egypt as a Cradle of Civilization.
    • A. For Africa.
    • B. For the Mediterranean and Europe.
    • C. The Issue of Borrowing or Stealing.
  • II. The Controversy.
    • A. Bernal and Company.
    • B. Lefkowitz and Company.
  • III. Egyptian Influence.
    • A. Greece and Rome.
    • B. Judaism, Islam and Christianity.
    • C. Nubia.
    • D. Ethiopia.
  • IV. Conclusions.

• Lecture #8: Hyksos--Hittites--Hurrians.
  • I. Disruptions of Civilization
  • II. The Hyksos.
  • III. The Hittites, c. 2000-1200 B.C.
    • A. Geography and Ethnography.
    • B. The Lure of the Middle East.
    • C. The Hittites (2000-1250 B.C.).
      • 1. The Growth of the Hittite Kingdom.
      • 2. The Apex of the Hittites.
      • 3. Hittite Contributions.
      • 4. The End of the Hittite Kingdom.
    • D. The Hittite Empire.
    • E. Hittite Civilization.
  • IV. Hurrians and Mitani..
    • A. Migrations into Mesopotamia.
    • B. Migrations in Asia Minor and elsewhere.
    • C. Who were the Hurrians and Mitanni?.
  • V. The Sea Peoples.
    • A. Who were the Sea Peoples?.
    • B. The Disruption of Near Eastern Civilization..
    • C. The Philistines..
    • D. Other migrations.

• Lecture #9: The Sea Peoples and other Movements.
  • I. Disruptions of Civilization
  • II. The Sea Peoples.
    • A. Who were the Sea Peoples?
    • B. The Disruption of Near Eastern Civilization..
    • C. The Philistines..
    • E. Mysterious Connections and Speculations.
  • III. Other migrations.
    • A. Phrygians and Lydians.
    • B. Exodus.
    • C. The Trojan War.
    • D. The Nostis.
    • E. The Dorians.
  • IV. Conclusions.

• Lecture #10: Migrations of Peoples and Disruptions of Civilization.
  • I. Nomads and Civilization.
  • A. Farming vs. Livestock-Breeding.
  • B. Domestication of Horses.
    • 1. Charioteers
    • 2. Cavalry.
  • C. Movments of Peoples.
    • 1. Ca. 2000-1500 B.C.
    • 2. Ca. 1200-700 B.C.
    • 3. Ca. 300-500 A.D.
  • II. The Peoples of the Steppe.
    • A. Indo-European and Ural-Altaic
    • B. Social Organization..
    • C. Economy.
    • E. Government.
    • F. Culture.
  • IV. Conclusions.

• Lecture #11: The Phoenicians and Aramaeans.
  • I. The Era Of Small States, 1200-700 B.C..
  • II. The Phoenicians.
    • A. Geography.
    • B. Political History.
    • A. The Seafaring and Trading Tradition.
    • B. Political Organization.
    • C. Economy.
    • D. Culture.
  • III. The Arameans.
    • A. Origins.
    • B. Political History.
    • C. Economy.
    • D. Contributions.
  • IV. Conclusions.

• Lecture #12: Hebrews, Ancient Israel and Judaism
  • I. Introduction.
  • II. The Israelites (Hebrews).
    • A. The Hebrew Scriptures.
    • B. The Creation of Israel and Judah.
    • C. From the Babylonian Captivity to the Diaspora.
  • II. The Hebrew Religion.
    • A. Stages in the Hebrew conception of God.
    • B. Pre-Mosaic (2000-1250 B.C.).
    • C. Henotheism or Period of National Monolatry.
    • D. Prophetic Stage (800-600 B.C).
    • E. Post-Exilic.
    • F. Judaism Under the Romans.
  • IV. The Hebrew Contributions to Civilization.
    • A. Law.
    • B. History.
    • C. Monotheism.

• Lecture # 13: Assyrians, Chaldians and Medes.
  • I. New Empires Of Western Asia, c. 700-500 B.C.
  • II. The Assyrians.
  • III. Assyrian Assets.
    • A. Army.
    • B. Administration.
  • IV. Assyrian Political History.
    • A. Early Disorganized Period (2600-1300 B.C.).
    • B. 1st Phase of Assyrian Empire (933-782 B.C.).
    • C. 2nd Phase of Assyrian Empire (745-625 B.C.).
  • V. Fall Of The Assyrian Empire.
  • VI. Assyrian Culture.
    • A. Art and Architecture.
    • B. Literature.
  • VII. Era of Rival Kingdoms.
    • A. Phrygia and Lydia.
    • B. The Medes.
    • C. The Chaldeans.

• Lecture #14: The Persian Empire.
  • I. The Achaemenid Persian Empire
    • A. Origins of the Persians.
    • B. Foundation and Expansion.
  • II. Persian Imperial Government.
    • A. The Imperial Post.
    • B. The Multicultural Empire.
  • III. Persian Culture.
    • A. Zoroastrianism
    • B. Ethical Religion.
    • C. Art.
    • IV. Conclusions on the Near East.

• Lecture #15: The Indian Parallel.
  • I. The Indus Valley Civilization (3500-1500 B.C.).
  • II. The Vedic India of the Aryans (2000-800 B.C.).
    • A. Indo-Europeans.
    • B. The Caste System.
    • C. The Vedas.
  • III. India During the Epic, or Heroic Age (1000-500 B.C.).
    • A. Hinduism.
    • B. Jainism.
    • C. Buddhism.
  • IV. The Mauryan Dynasty (322-184 B.C.).
    • A. The Decline of the Mauryan Empire (322-184 B.C.).
    • B. The Kushans:,
  • V. The Rise of Gupta India (320-550 A.D.).
    • A. The Apogee of Native Indian Civilization.
    • B. Achievements Under the Guptas.
    • C. The Fall of the Guptas.

• Lecture #16: The Chinese Parallel.
  • I. Ethnogenesis of the Chinese.
    • A. The Geographic Cradle.
    • B. Yang Shao (2500-2000 B.C.).
  • II. The Shang Dynasty (1766-1027 B.C.).
  • III. The Zhou Dynasty (1027-256 B.C.).
    • A. Confucius.
    • B. Lao-Tzu.
    • C. Legalists.
  • IV. The Period of the Warring States (481-256 B.C.).
  • V. The Ch'in Dynasty (221-206 B.C.).
  • VI. The Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-220 A.D.).
  • VI. . Han's End and The Age of Disunity (220-589 A.D.).
    • A. Internal problems.
    • B. External threats.
  • VIII. China's Continuity and Recurrent problems.
    • A. The Nomads.
    • B. The Bureaucracy.
    • C. The Landowners.
    • D. The Peasantry.
    • E. The Chinese Historical Cycle.

• Lecture #17: Minoan and Mycenean Civilizations.
  • I. Minoan And Mycenaean Phases.
  • II. The Minoans.
    • A. Economy and Society.
    • B. Material Culture.
    • C. Art.
  • III. The Mycenaeans.
    • A. Material Culture.
    • B. Political History.
    • C. Mycenean Script.
    • D. Written Evidence.
    • E. Troy and the Trojan War.
  • IV. The End of Mycenaean Civilization.

• Lecture 18: Early Development of Greece.
  • I. Introduction.
  • II. The Dark Ages of Greece.
    • A) The Dorian Invasions.
    • B) Life in the Dark Ages.
    • C) Greeks and the Sea.
  • III. Revival of Urban Life: The Polis.
    • A) Geographic Factors.
    • B) Security Factors.
    • C) Economic Factors.
    • D) Social Factors.
    • E) The Form & Size of a Polis.
  • IV. The Development of the Polis.
    • A) Economic Development.
    • B) Social Development.
    • C) Political Development.
  • V. The Phalanx, the Hoplite Revolution, and Democratization.
    • A) Weapons and Tactics.
    • B) Organization.
    • C) Political Significance.
  • VI. The Polis and the World.

• Lecture 19: Athens & Sparta.
  • I. The Role of Athens & Sparta in Greek Affairs.
    • A) The Defense of Greece.
    • B) Hegemony.
  • II. Athens.
    • A) Economic Development.
    • B) Social Structure.
    • C) Political Institutions.
  • III. Sparta.
    • A) Economic Development.
    • B) Social Structure.
    • C) Political Institutions.
  • IV. Athenian & Spartan Character & Style.

• Lecture 20: The Acme and Decline of the Polis: The Persian and Peloponnesian Wars.
  • I. The Persian Wars.
    • A) Ionian Revolt.
    • B) Invasion Under Darius I.
      • 1) Marathon
    • C) Invasion Under Xerxes I.
      • 1) Thermopylae
      • 2) Salamis
      • 3) Plateia
  • II. The Origins of the Peloponnesian War.
    • A) Athenian Hegemony.
    • B) Spartan Reaction.
    • C) Civil War.
  • III. The Course of the Peloponnesian War.
    • A) Phases.
    • B) Stalemate.
    • C) Outcome.
  • Conclusion.

• Lecture 21: The Rise of Macedonia and Alexander the Great.
  • I. The Polis After the Peloponnesian War.
  • A) Affects of the War.
  • B) Economic Changes.
  • C) Social Changes.
  • D) Political Changes.
  • E) Military Changes.
  • II. Macedonia and Greece.
    • A) How Macedonia Dominated Greece.
    • B) Philipp.
    • C) The Macedonian Military
  • III. Alexander.
    • A) Conqueror.
    • B) World Ruler and Visionary.
  • IV. The Successor States.
    • A) Successor Kingdoms.
    • B) Peripheral Areas

• Lecture #22: Hellenic Civilization.
  • I. The Term "Hellenic"
  • II. Hellenic Government and Society.
  • III. Hellenic Culture.
  • IV. Hellenic Religion.
    • A. Cults.
    • B. Fesitvals and Games.
  • V. Hellenic Philosophy
    • A. Pre-Socratic Philosophers.
    • B. Socrates.
    • C. Plato and Aristotle.
  • VI. Hellenic Literature
    • A. Poetry
    • B. Drama
    • C. History
    • D. Other Genres.
  • VII. Hellenic Art and Architecture
  • VIII. The Hellenic legacy

• Lecture #23: Hellenistic Civilization
  • I. The Term "Hellenistic"
  • II. Hellenistic Government and Society.
  • III. Hellenistic Culture.
  • IV. Hellenistic Philosophy
    • A. Epicureanism.
    • B. Stoicism.
    • C. Skepticism and Cynicism.
  • V. Hellenistic Science..
  • VI. Hellenistic Literature
  • VII. Hellenistic Art and Architecture
  • VIII. The Hellenistic legacy

• Lecture #24: The Etruscans.
  • I. Origins.
    • A. Migration Theory.
    • B. Autochthonous Theory.
    • C. Archaeological Evidence.
    • D. Linguistic Evidence.
  • II. Etruscan Civilization.
    • A. Economy
    • B. Society
    • C. Government
    • D. Culture.
  • III. Rivals
    • A. The Greeks.
    • B. The Carthaginians
    • C. The Italic Peoples
  • IV. Influences Upon Rome

• Lecture #25: Origins and Expansion of Rome
  • I. The Origins of Rome.
    • A. Geography.
    • B.Early Italian.
    • C. The Founding of Rome
    • D. Etruscans and the Greeks.
  • II. The Creation ol the Republic.
    • A. Early Roman Government.
    • B. Early Roman Society.
    • C. The Struggle of the Orders.
  • III. The Roman Republic's Early Expansion.
    • A. The Roman Conquest of Italy.
    • B. Military Strengths.
    • C. Diplomatic Strengths.
    • D. Chronology of Conquest.
  • IV. The Punic Wars (264-146 B.C.).
    • A. The First Punic War (264-241 B.C.).
    • B. The Second Punic War (215-201 B.C.).
    • C. The Third Punic War (149-146 B.C..).
  • V. From City-State to World Power.

• Lecture #26: Roman Expansion and the Decline of the Republic.
  • I. Expansion in the East (200-133 B.C.).
    • A) Pretexts for Expansion.
    • B) From Referee to Conqueror.
    • C) The Affects of Expansion Upon Rome.
  • II. The Decline of the Republic (133-30 B.C.).
    • A) Attempts at Reform (133-121 B.C.).
    • B) Parties and Strongmen (121-86 B.C.).
    • C) The Triumverates (86-30 B.C.).
  • III. The Roman Military and the Roman state.
    • A) Economic Impact.
    • B) Social Impact.
    • C) Political Impact.
  • IV. Conclusions.

• Lecture #27: Imperial Rome of the Principate.
  • I. The End of the Republic.
    • A. Struggle for the Control of Rome.
    • B. Octavian's Governmental Reform:.
    • C. The Principate of Augustus.
  • II. The Principate (14-200 A.D...
    • A. The Julian and Flavian Emperors.
    • B. The Five Good Emperors.
    • C. Government and Society Under the Principate.
  • III. The Roman Economy.
    • A. Commerce.
    • B. Agriculture.
    • C. Agricultural Decline.
    • D. Trade and Financial Crises.
  • IV. Roman Culture:
    • A. Roman Culture Under the Republic
    • B. Literature and Philosophy:
    • C. Religion:.
    • D. Culture Under the Principate.
    • E. Religion and Popular Entertainments
  • V. The Roman Accomplishment:

• Lecture #28: Roman Culture.
  • I. Roman Civilization.
  • II. Roman Law and Government.
    • A. Development of Jusiprudence.
    • B. Codification.
  • III. Roman Architecture and Engineering.
    • A. Roman Roads.
    • B. Roman Bridges and Aquaducts.
    • C. Roman Architecture.
  • IV. Roman Art.
    • A. Sculpture.
    • B. Painting.
  • V. Roman Literature.
    • A. Early Latin Works.
    • B. Literature of the Late Republic.
    • C. Literature of the Augustan Age.
    • D. Literature of the Principate.
    • E. Historiography.
  • VI. Roman Philosophy.
    • A. Epicureanism.
    • B. Stoicism
    • C. Neo-Platonism.
  • VII. Roman Science..
    • A. Roman Baths and Public Health.
    • B. Pliny the Elder.
    • C. Ptolemy .
    • D. Galen.
  • VIII. The Roman Legacy.

• Lecture #29: The Roman Empire and the Christians.
  • I. Monotheism in the Ancient World.
  • II. Judaism in Roman Palestine.
    • A. Movements and Trends.
    • B. Messianism.
  • III. Early Christianity.
    • A. Basic Beliefs.
    • B. Organization.
    • C. Expansion.
  • IV. The Roman State and the Christians.
    • A. Roman State Religion and Mystery Cults.
    • B. Toleration and Persecution.
  • V. The Christian Church in the Roman World to 300 A.D.
    • A. Church-State Relations.
    • B. Rivals.
    • C. Strengths and Weaknesses.
  • VI. Conclusions.

• Lecture 30: The Crisis of the Late Principate.
  • I. The Crisis of the Third Century.
    • A) Political Dimension.
    • B) Social & Economic Dimension.
    • C) Foreign Dimension.
    • D) Survival by Drastic Reform.
    • E) The Spiritual Crisis.
  • II. Constantine & Christianity.
    • A) The Succession Problem.
    • B) Constantine's Conversion.
    • C) Conversion or Politics?
    • D) Constantine's Achievements.

• Lecture 31: The Christian Roman Empire & the Era of Migrations.
  • I. The Roman Empire-Fall or Transformation?
    • A) Transformation of Government.
    • B) Transforamtion of Society & Economy.
    • C) Transformation of Culture.
  • II. The "Barbarian" Invasions.
    • A) How Disruptive Were They?
    • B) The Movement of the Steppe Peoples.
    • C) Christianization & Adaption.
    • D) Germanization of Roman State & Army
    • E) Germanic Kingdoms.
  • III. Survival of Eastern Empire.
    • A) Economic Factors.
    • B) Social Factors.
    • C) Political Factors.
  • IV. Rome's Successors.
  • V. The End of the Ancient World.

• Lecture 32: The Heritage of the Ancient World.
  • I. The Political Legacy.
    • A) Monarchy.
    • B) Democracy.
    • C) Republic.
  • II. The Cultural Legacy..
    • A) Art and Architecture.
    • B) Literature.
    • C) Drama.
    • D) Philosophy.
    • E) Religion.
  • III. History of the Legacy.
    • A) The Middle Ages.
      • A) Byzantium.
      • B) Islam.
      • C) Western Christendom.
    • B) Modern Times.
      • A) Renaissance.
      • B) Enlightenment.
      • C) Revivals.
      • D) Today.
  • IV, Conclusions.
    • C) Political Factors.
  • IV. Rome's Successors.
  • V. The End of the Ancient World.