Nomads & Crisis,
2000-1200 BCE
I. Climate Change Crisis, 2000 BCE
II. Nomad Invasions
III. Formation of Territorial States
IDs: Vedic Age, 1500-500BCE, Shang Dynasty,
territorial state, oracle bones, Hammurabi,
Hammurabi, r. 1792-1750 BCE
Argument
Climate change around 2000 BCE caused crisis
which caused the breakdown of riverine
civilizations and triggered nomadic invasions.
After the crisis, nomads emerged as the rulers
of territorial states, which were more
militaristic than the cultures they succeeded.
3500-2000 BCE: 3 Types of Cultures
Village
Agriculture
Pastoral Nomads
Riverine
Cultures/
Civilizations
I. 2000 BCE: Climate change  disaster
• Drought
• Food shortage
• Drier climate
A. Indus River Culture destroyed
B. Disintegration of order in Egypt &
Mesopotamia
C. Migration for next 1000 years
II. Nomads invade riverine cultures, 20001600 BCE
A. Nomad Technologies
Horse
Chariot
Iron (1000 BCE)
B. South Asia: Vedic Nomads Invade, ca.
1500 BCE
• Indo-Europeans
• Aryans
Vedic Age, 1500500 BCE
1. Vedic People
•
•
•
•
Horses
Chariots
Iron tools & weapons
Pastoral  agricultural
economy
2. Conquest  North/South Division of
South Asia
Aryan
Dravidian
II. Formation of Territorial States (1600)
A. Characteristics
• Ruled by charioteer
(nomad) elites
• More warlike
• Expansive
• Definite borders
B. A State has:
Large territory
Definite borders
Dynastic kingship
Army (charioteer
elites)
Government
bureaucracy
Shang State (Dynasty): ca. 1600-1045 BCE
Ruling dynasty
• Army with horses &
chariots
• Tombs
• Palaces
Royal Projects
• Bronze Metallurgy
Religious Authority
• Shang state was a
patrimonial theocracy.
• Divination
• Oracle bones
• Control of diviners & scribes
• Ancestor worship
• Di (High God, founding
ancestor of Shang family)
D. Building the State
Problems:
1. Control of
Conquered
People
2. Control of Army & Regions
•
•
•
•
Hittites
Anatolia
Hattusilis I
Babylon
E. State Projects
1. Centralized rule in
king’s hands
2. Collect taxes or tribute
Hammurabi, r. 1792-1750
BCE
Exaction of Tribute
• Service from elites (bureaucracy or army
• Agricultural produce & labor from commoners
Argument
Climate change around 2000 BCE caused crisis
which caused the breakdown of riverine
civilizations and triggered nomadic invasions.
After the crisis, nomads emerged as the rulers
of territorial states, which were more
militaristic than the cultures they succeeded.