From Göbekli Tepe to Ur
Unlock the mysteries of the world’s first complex societies with this fascinating online course. Journey back in time to the cradle of civilization, where humanity took its first monumental steps towards organized society, innovation, and empire-building. This course spans thousands of years, beginning with the earliest settlements of the Epipaleolithic period and culminating in the rise of the world’s first empires, the Akkadian Empire and the First Dynasty of Ur.
History You Didn't Learn in School
As you traverse this fascinating historical landscape, you’ll witness the incredible transformation of small hunter-gatherer villages into sprawling states and powerful empires. Explore the invention of agriculture, which set the foundation for settled life, and follow the revolutionary developments that followed—the creation of the wheel, the advent of bronze metallurgy, and the birth of writing and literature. Discover how these innovations fueled the growth of early societies and led to the establishment of complex religious practices, governmental structures, and economic systems.
This course offers an in-depth exploration of the unique features of ancient Near Eastern societies by examining material remains, primary source documents, and artistic achievements. You’ll engage with the evidence left behind by our ancestors—examining ancient tools, monumental architecture, and early texts that reveal the beliefs, values, and daily lives of these pioneering people. Through this evidence, we’ll uncover how the Near East became the birthplace of cities, social hierarchies, and centralized power.
An Amazing Journey
Each module delves into a specific aspect of this incredible transformation. You’ll begin with the Epipaleolithic period, where the seeds of civilization were sown among small, mobile groups. From there, you’ll explore the Neolithic Revolution, when agriculture emerged and humanity’s relationship with the land and each other changed forever. You’ll trace the development of the wheel, a groundbreaking innovation that revolutionized transportation and trade, and bronze metallurgy, which sparked a new era of tools and weapons.
The course also delves into the world’s first writing system—cuneiform—that not only preserved transactions and laws but also gave rise to some of the earliest literature. You’ll read excerpts from ancient texts, exploring what these documents tells us about the culture. Additionally, we’ll examine the rise of religious practices and the emergence of structured governments, understanding how they provided stability and order in rapidly growing societies.
Finally, you’ll investigate the rise of the Akkadian Empire and the First Dynasty of Ur, where the consolidation of power and territory led to the world’s first empires. These remarkable developments marked a turning point in human history, laying the foundation for the civilizations that would follow.
Help History Not Be Forgotten
Join us on this thrilling journey into the past and discover how the ancient Near East shaped the world we live in today. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a student, or simply curious about the origins of civilization, this course offers a captivating and comprehensive look at the birth of our world’s first complex societies.
Example Curriculum
About the Instructor
David Miano is a historian of the ancient world. He studied Ancient History at the State University of New York at Buffalo (B.A. 1999) and the University of California, San Diego (M.A. 2003; Ph.D. 2006). He has taught courses at many colleges over the last 20 years. Miano’s chief research interests are in the history of the Near East and Eastern Mediterranean in antiquity, ancient methods of time keeping, the chronology of the ancient world, the literary and intellectual history of ancient cultures, and comparative world history. He is the proprietor of the World of Antiquity YouTube channel, which has thousands of fans from around the globe.
Other Courses by Dr. Miano
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