Exam 4: New Civilizations Outside the West Asian Core Area

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During the Shang dynasty (1766-1045 BCE), rulers relied on a technique of divination using oracle bones to contact their ancestors. Holes were drilled into either an ox bone or a turtle shell, and then a hot pointed stick made cracks that were "read" by skilled interpreters. Divination was important because ancestor spirits were believed able to intercede on behalf of humans with the supreme god Di, and the hierarchy of spirits in the heavenly realm mirrored the social hierarchy of humans on earth. A powerful ruler could therefore call on powerful ancestors and use them to protect his people, and this helped legitimize the Shang leader's authoritarian rule.

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Students should demonstrate an understanding of the differences in the relationship during the two time periods. During the Middle Kingdom (2020-1640 BCE), Egypt adopted a more aggressive stance toward Nubia, moving from simply conducting trade missions to erecting a series of mud-brick forts in the area south of the Second Cataract. However, relations between the Egyptian garrisons and the indigenous population seem to have been mostly peaceful, with little interaction. That changed during the New Kingdom, when Egypt introduced a policy of aggressive expansion. They destroyed Kush and its capital, and a high-ranking Egyptian official ruled Egypt from a new administrative capital at Napata. Egypt claimed Nubia's gold mines and imposed Egyptian culture on the native population, bringing children from elite families to the royal court to indoctrinate them in Egyptian customs (as well as ensure good behavior from their families).