Hour 5 | 800 - 575 BCE
Bantu Expansion · Iron Working in Central and Southern Africa · Fall of Assyria · Ashurbanipal’s Library · Babylon · Siege of Jerusalem · Babylonian Captivity · Phoenicians · Carthage Founded · Invention of the Alphabet · Kingdom of Kush · 25th Dynasty of Egypt · Jomon Culture
In our last episode we covered the eerie collapse of The Bronze Age and the subsequent rise of the Assyrians, we examined the origins of the Isrealites in Canaan, the Vedic Culture in India, and finally the Olmecs in Mesoamerica.
In this episode we cover the years from 800 to 575 BCE. This episode will also follow the expansion of the Bantu people throughout central and southern Africa. In the intersection of EurAsia, the Neo-Assyrian Empire will fall and the Babylonians take their place, conquering many peoples and famously taking the Israelites captive. We will discuss the invention and proliferation of the idea of an alphabet. We will see the rise of the kingdom of Kush and finally look at the 10 thousand year old Joman culture in Japan.
Bantu Expansion
In this podcast interview Luke Pepera laments the lack of written Bantu records.
The Bantu language family.
We too often think of people’s movements as simple lines on a map
Iron working and agriculture spread across Africa with the Bantu people, eventually reaching as far as South Africa.
Fall of Assyria
Ashurbanipal in the garden note the head of the conquered King Teumman of Elam hanging from the tree.
Very cool book by Assyriologist, Stephanie Dalley, explaining the confusion between Babylon as an actual physical place, and Babylon as an idea. Especially when misinterpreted by the Greeks and Romans. Because of this confusion, it’s possible that the “Hanging Gardens of Babylon” are actually in Nineveh, the capitol of the Assyrian Empire.
Here she is explaining the “Archimedes' screw” likely used to water the hanging gardens.
Babylon
Babylon allies with the Medes to defeat Assyria.
The massive walls of Babylon were considered one of the seven wonders of the world by some ancient writers.
The story of the Babylonian Captivity is still extremely important to peoples around the world. Symbolizing the violence of being help captive away from your home. The story, and specifically the psalm which recounts it, has been made into songs many times including this classic.
Phoenicians
Tyrian Purple dye made the Phoenicians rich.
Here, Mouhamad Ghassen Nouira, a Tunisian historian revives the ancient craft.
As the Phoenicians explored the mediterranean they began building more and more settlements along the coasts. Including, most famously, the settlement that grew into the city of Carthage in northern Tunisia.
Shell middens are found accross the world: South Africa, Japan, Maine, Australia, Saudi Arabia, India.
History of the alphabet.
Jomon culture in Japan
Jomon pottery is possibly the oldest pottery in the world. example, example, example, example.
Food storage pits.
Aside from its beauty, the jade art is evidence exchange of goods over long distances. Example, example.
Jomon art includes many figurines which are referred to as symbols of fertility. This does not strike me as a pregnant woman, but see what you think.
Small clusters of stone that seem to be sundials are also common across Jomon Japan. Frequently they are associated with burial sites. example, example, example.
Yayoi Period came after the Jomon.
Kingdom of Kush
A cool summary of Nubian Kingdoms that also illustrates the confusing naming practices.
Amun. Egypt and Nubia, like so many others, were increasingly monotheistic.
The temple at Gebel Barkal was rebuilt during the Napatan Period.
Example, example of Nubian Gold work from this period, as well as other types of art.
Nubian archers depicted with their arrows in their hands.
The Nubian pyramids varied over time and space, some being smaller and steeper than others.
An explanation of the dynasties of Egypt. The Nubian pharaohs make up the 25 dynasty.
The 25 dynasty of Egypt was ruled by Nubian kings.
Later in the Napatan Period, the kingdom of Kush also centered around the city of Meroe.
Dive Deeper
Browse the main books, articles, lectures, and interviews we relied on to make this episode.
The Journal of African History “Moving Histories: Bantu Language Expansions, Eclectic Economies, and Mobilities”
Smithsonian Institution, “Scientists Overhaul Corn Domestication Story With Multidisciplinary Analysis ”
Nature, “The genetic legacy of the expansion of Bantu-speaking peoples in Africa”
The Ancients: The Bantu Expansion
Interview with historian Luke Pepera about this under-studied, major event in world history.
Tides of History “Kathryn de Luna on Africa Bantu and Historical Linguistics”
Cambridge Archaeology, “Prof Junko Habu - Historical ecology and changes in Jomon landscape practice: examples from NE Japan”
The Met, Simon Kaner - Flaming Pots and the Precocious Foragers of Ancient Japan
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Episodes
- Jan 24, 2023 Hour 1 | 3,300,000 - 4000 BCE
- Jan 23, 2023 Hour 2 | 4000 - 1700 BCE
- Jan 22, 2023 Hour 3 | 1700 - 1200 BCE
- Jan 21, 2023 Hour 4 | 1200 - 800 BCE
- Jan 20, 2023 Hour 5 | 800 - 575 BCE
- Jan 19, 2023 Hour 6 | 575 - 480 BCE
- Jan 1, 2023 Season 2
