Ancient History Fridays

Every Friday I'll post about a civilization, kingdom, or empire from ages past. Not an historian but I play one on TV

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

Colchis was the earliest Georgian kingdom, rising in 13th century BCE. Said to have spoken 100 languages, Colchis produced gold, timber and other goods for trade with Greece. Various empires conquered it, including Rome, which rebranded it Lazica 131 CE. #Georgia #Caucasus

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

The Greek Archaic Period begins c800BCE after Greece emerges from its Dark age. Here Greeks settle across the Mediterranean and develop the urban Polis, and culture begins to flourish. 480BCE the Persians invade, and Greece transitions to Classical Period. #Greece #AncientGreece

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

The Tamil Chola Dynasty rose c300BCE under shadow of the Maurya, reigning for over millennium and half and even sending expeditions into Indonesia. Under them Tamil culture and architecture exploded. They would finally be overthrown 1279CE by Tamil Pandya dynasty. #India #Tamil

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

The Pagan Kingdom rose 849CE from Burmese people in the upper Irrawady Valley before expanding to dominate modern Myanmar, replacing the Pyu cities. It laid the foundations of Burmese culture and is considered the precursor to modern Myanmar. #Burma #Myanmar

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

Eastern Coast of Africa, or Zanj, emerged as a trading zone via mixing of Arab and Swahili c1st century CE. They exported ivory, gold, timber, and slaves throughout Indian Ocean. c1500CE Portuguese and later Arabs began conquering cities. #Swahili #BlackHistoryMonth

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

Kongo emerges as a matrilineal kingdom 1390CE from the Mpemba and Mbata kingdoms, was a fairly urbanized state, and converted to Catholicism under Portuguese influence. It would last as late as 1914CE, abolished by Portuguese and annexed to Angola. #Congo #BlackHistoryMonth

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

Kanem arose c700CE possibly from a fusion of Lake Chad Sao peoples and Sahel nomads. It controlled trade in ivory and slaves across Sahara, gained dominance with cavalry, and adopted Islam. Wars forced them to relocate to Bornu, founding that empire. #Chad #blackhistorymonth2023

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

Mali rose c1230CE when Mande people conquered the Niger River after Ghana's collapse. It became rich on gold and trade; its Mansa Musa is said to have been one of the richest men ever. After decline and contraction it collapse into rival chiefdoms 1672CE. #Mali #BlackHistoryMonth

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

Hohokam people rise c300CE around Gila River, building the most complex irrigation in Pre-Columbian America. Instead of Cliff dwellings, they built adobe structures, such as Casa Grande. After 1375CE they appear to steadily abandon their settlements. #UnitedStates #Oasisamerica

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

Goguryeo rose 37BCE in southern Manchuria, emerging from Buyeo and Yemaek peoples, ancestors of modern Koreans. It would conquer Han-controlled Korea by 4th century, reaching greatest extent before Tang China and southern Korean kingdoms defeated and divided its in 668CE. #Korea

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

Neo-Assyrian Empire rose 911BCE, conquered much of Near East including Egypt. Noted in Bible for destroying Israel, Assyria pioneered siege warfare, administration, and built a huge library. 609BCE Neo-Babylonian Empire conquered a diminished Assyria. #Assyria #Iraq #Mesopotamia

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

Atlantic Neolithic emerges from spread of agriculture into W. Europe c5000BCE, known for megaliths like Stonehenge. They were possibly ancestors of Basques. c2800BCE they are replaced by bronze-age Bell Beaker Culture, often linked with Indo-Europeans. #Europe #Neolithic #Basque

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

The Indo-Greek Kingdom emerged from Greek inroads from Bactria into India c200BCE, taking advantage of collapse of Maurya. Known from coinage, they sycretized Greek philosophy with Buddhism before fracturing and becoming conquered by Indo-Scythians c10CE. #India #HellenisticEra

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

Srivijaya was a Buddhist commercial empire rising c671CE in Sumatra. It fostered trade and Buddhist culture and art throughout the region, eventually building a strong navy. 1288CE it was eclipsed by the rise of neighboring Javanese rivals. #Sumatra #Indonesia #Srivijaya

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

The Han Dynasty arose 202BCE from the collapse of the Qin Dynasty. They made many scientific and technological advancements, expanded Chinese culture south and west, and experienced prosperity before collapsing spectacularly during the Three Kingdoms period 220CE. #Han #China

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

Assyria becomes independent from Mitanni c1363BCE, beginning the Middle Empire. It would conquer former Mitanni before taking advantage of collapse of its neighbors. After period of decline, rejuvenated Assyria began the Neo-Assyrian Empire c.912BCE. #Mesopotamia #Assyria #Iraq

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

The Etruscans rose c900BCE from Iron-Age Urnfield Italians. They laid the foundations of future Roman civilization in culture, law, and writing, but their language was completely different. The Romans completed the conquest of Etruscans by 264BCE. #Italy #Etruscans

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

The Wari Empire rose c600CE as the Moche declined, creating a strong local kingdom. They formed the basis for future Andean political and ideological formation. Collapsing c1100CE, the realm of Cusco would rise to take its place as Inca. #Peru #Wari #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

The Toltecs presumably arose from Teotihuacan culture c950CE. Somewhat mythical they were considered the Aztec's forbearers, pioneering future art and architecture, before declining c1150CE, replaced by other cultures. #Mexico #Toltecs #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth

[Ancient History Fridays @HistorySchmuck]

The farming Ancestral Pueblo or Anasazi of the Colorado Plateau arose c700CE, well-known for their cliff dwellings and old roads linking many settlements together by trade and war. c1300CE they seem to have largely abandoned their homes, migrating south. #Anasazi #UnitedStates