Early 2nd Millennium BC #1

For this period, there are written sources dating back to the late 2nd millennium BC, primarily in the Middle East, which give a somewhat hazy and imperfect view of the early 2nd millennium BC. During the early 1st millennium BC, the Hebrew bible was being composed, which has information about earlier times. The Greek epics were being composed as well. During the early classical period, Greek and Roman sources and scholarship give a little information of the early 2nd millennium BC. This continued into the late classical period. In early medieval times, Christian scholars preserved a few records of earlier times. In the 16th and 17th century,students relied heavily on traditional accounts, but in the 18th century, there were the beginnings of archaeological investigations. In the 19th century, there were numerous discoveries of ancient ruins and sources, which brought long-lost contemporary accounts of the early 2nd millennium BC to light. In the 20th century, historical scholarship continued to develop. From the mid 20th century onward, I am considering South Asia. Although Western and Middle Eastern scholarship were better developed, I don’t yet have enough material from present day nations corresponding to the peoples of early interest. In the 21st century, I have connections to Egypt.

In Egypt, the Middle Kingdom of the 11th through 14th dynasties was succeeded by the 2nd intermediate period of the 15th through 17th dynasties and the New Kingdom of the 18th dynasty. Although Mesopotamian peoples were important, I still need to work details of Iraq from later periods. In Anatolia, Hattian, Hurrian, and Hittite peoples were present. I do not yet have details of Levantine, Arabian, or Persian peoples. It is thought that Indo-European speaking peoples appeared in India and Pakistan, as Harappan civilization declined. I do not yet have details of Oriental, Southeast Asian or Central Asian peoples. It is thought from linguistic evidence that Indo-European speakers from what are now Southern Russia and Central Asia began to migrate into Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia, but I don’t yet have the details.

The Minoan civilization was present in this period, but I do not yet have details of the rest of Europe. I am also still working on Eastern Africa, Western African, Southern Central African, and Central African peoples in later periods, and on Middle American and South American peoples.

I am still working on social mechanics, although agrarian developments and societies were predominant. Pagan religion was also the most important. Asian religion was beginning to become more distinct from pagan religion generally. I have also supposed that Abrahamic religion dates back to this period. I am proceeding with studies of Government, economics, education, and family, but these aren’t yet fully integrated with the peoples of the world.

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