THE ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN

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THE ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN

• EARLY STATE STRUCTURES

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THE PHOENICIANS

• The Phoenicians
• Lived between the Mediterranean and mountains of
  Lebanon
• Composed of city-states who were rivals Tyre,
  Sidon, Byblos
• Local government was led by king aristocratic
  oligarchies
• Turned to industry and trade because of their
  meager lands
• By 2500 B.C.E., dominated trade in the
  Mediterranean basin
• Established colonies in Cyprus, Sicily, Spain,
  north Africa
• Culturally they were part of the
  Mesopotamian/Cuneiform world
• Phoenicians were famous merchants
• Let the buyer beware was Greek phrase about the
  Phoenicians
• Specialized in purple dye, purple cloth, silver,
  gold
• Carried goods of other peoples to distant lands
• Carthage
• The chief Phoenician colony in North Africa was
  Carthage
• Eventually became chief Phoenician city due to
  trade
• An aristocratic republic run as an oligarchy.
• Wealth based on trade came to rule Spain,
  Sardinia
• Army was build of mercenaries navy was major war
  machine

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PHOENICIAN MEDITERRANEAN
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ETRUSCANS

• The Etruscans
• Probably migrated from Anatolia
• Conquered local peoples
• Formed ruling aristocracy
• Dominated Italy from 8th to 5th centuries B.C.E.
• Expanded into Po River and South to Greeks
• Created first local civilization in Italy
• Etruscan City-States
• 12 leading city-states
• Were constantly at war
• Politically similar to Greek society
• Favored kings with aristocratic oligarchy
• Etruscan Society
• Agriculture was very important
• Dominated trade in area traded with Greeks
• Women seem to have had some rights in society
• Borrowed Greek alphabet invented arch
• Religion was dark polytheism, superstitious

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ETRUSCAN WORLD
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EARLY ROMAN STATE

• The early kingdom of Rome 753 509 BCE
• A small state arose of the Tiber River
• Legendary founders Romulus and Remus
• People were Italics of the Latin tribe
• State was a kingdom with an Etruscan king
• Local Roman aristocracy resented Etruscan ruling
  style
• Expanded slowly and quietly for around 200 years
  
• Easy access to the Mediterranean
• Trade routes led through Rome
• Traded with Greeks, Etruscans, Carthaginians and
  Kelts
• Society
• Agriculture, warfare were typical
• Society dominated by aristocracy called
  patricians
• Religion borrowed heavily from Greeks, Etruscans

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EARLYROMANWORLD