Page 62 - Western Civilization A Brief History, Volume I To 1715 9th - Jackson J. Spielvogel

Statues of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel. After being driven out of Canaan and Syria by the Hittites, Egypt grew to power one final time under Ramesses II. He succeeded in reconquering Canaan but was unable to restore the boundaries of the previous empire. The massive Temple of Ramesses II, located at Abu Simbel, was carved out of a cliff of Nubian sandstone. The giant statues represent Ramesses II.
Hatshepsut’s reign was a prosperous one, as is espe- cially evident in her building activity. She is most fa- mous for the temple dedicated to herself at Deir el Bahri on the west bank of the Nile at Thebes. As phar- aoh, Hatshepsut sent out military expeditions, encour- aged mining, fostered agriculture, and sent a trading expedition up the Nile. Hatshepsut’s official statues sometimes show her clothed and bearded like a king. She was referred to as “His Majesty.” That Hatshepsut was aware of her unusual position is evident from an inscription she had placed on one of her temples. It read, “Now my heart turns to and fro, in thinking what will the people say, they who shall see my monument in after years, and shall speak of what I have done.”
Marriages were arranged by parents. The primary concerns were family and property, and clearly the chief purpose of marriage was to produce children, especially sons. From the New Kingdom came this piece of wisdom: “Take to yourself a wife while you are a youth, that she may produce a son for you.”12 Daugh- ters were not slighted, however. Numerous tomb paint- ings show the close and affectionate relationship parents had with both sons and daughters. Although marriages were arranged, some of the surviving love poems from ancient Egypt indicate an element of romance in some marriages. Marriages could and did end in divorce, which was allowed, apparently with compensation for the wife. Adultery, however, was strictly prohibited, and punishments were severe, espe- cially for women, who could have their noses cut off or be burned at the stake.
Chapter Summary
Humanlike creatures first emerged in Africa more than 3 to 4 million years ago. Over a long period of time, Paleolithic people learned how to create more sophisticated tools, to use fire, and to adapt to and even change their physical environment. Paleo- lithic people were primarily nomads, who hunted animals and gathered wild plants for survival. Nevertheless, they created a culture that included sophisticated cave paintings.
The agricultural revolution of the Neolithic Age, which began around 10,000 B.C.E., dramatically changed human patterns of living. The growing of food on a regular basis and the taming of animals made it possible for humans to stop their nomadic ways and settle in more permanent settlements.
Around 3000 B.C.E. these organized communities gradually gave rise to more complex human societies, which we call the first civilizations. In the river val-
leys of Mesopotamia, Egypt,
India, and China, an increase in food production led to a signifi- cant growth in human population and the rise of cities. Efforts to control the flow of water for farming also led to organized gov- ernments in these new urban civi- lizations.
24 Chapter 1 The Ancient Near East: The First Civilizations
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Bildarchiv Steffens/The Bridgeman Art Library