Isolates

Languages spoken in only one location and whose words and grammar were not related to other languages are called 'language isolates'.

SUMER
Sumer [2850]. The Sumerians farmed along banks of the Euphrates River and dug irrigation canals to bring water to their crops. Sumerians valued their independence and their cities rarely worked together.
• Ziggurat. Sumerian temples included a tall building known as a ziggurat [2900]. The top of the ziggurat contained a statue of the temple's god and an altar for sacrifices. Priests owned land, kept grain in storehouses on the temple grounds, and distributed the food.
• Cuneiform Writing. Sumerians first began to write [about 3100] by drawing pictorial images in wet clay. Later [2700] they replaced the pictorial images with triangle-shaped [cuneiform] marks by pressing the end of a stick into wet clay. Different combinations of marks represented different words. Students paid tuition to attend school to learn to be scribes.
Sumer under Akkad [2360]. Akkad, whose rulers spoke a Semitic language, conquered Sumer and ruled it for nearly 200 years [2360/2180]. Akkadian replaced Sumerian as the spoken language. Cuneiform continued to be used for writing.
Sumer under Iranians [2180]. Rebellions and drought weakened Akkad. The Guti, whose language is not conquered the area and treated the Akkadians and Sumerians harshly.
Sumer revival [2082]. Sumer rebelled and enjoyed a 130 year revival [2082/1952].
Sumer end [1952]. Sumer ended when Semite-speaking Amorite raiders attacked farms causing starvation. The Sumerian civilization was forgotten until 150 years ago [1869] when cuneiform tablets were deciphered.

CRETE
Crete palace cities [1700]. Cities developed near large palaces on the Mediterranean island of Crete. Knossos became the strongest city [1600] by building ships, establishing trading posts on the mainland and other islands, and developing sea trade. Women held strong social roles and priestesses led a matriarchal religion that worshipped a 'Mother Earth' goddess.
• Palace at Knossos. The palace at Knossos [1600] contained living quarters for the ruling family, offices for administrators, and had flushing toilets and a sewer system. Athletes competed in the palace courtyard. Some jumped over the horns of a charging bull and performed a somersault before landing.
• Minotaur, Icarus, Theseus. Many legends involve the palace at Knossos and its king, Minos. Food was stored in the basement [Labyrinth] of the palace that had a confusing layout of many rooms. We use the word 'labyrinth' to describe something which is intricate and complicated. The half man, half bull Minotaur lived in labyrinth. Theseus, son of the king of Athens, killed the Minotaur and claimed Crete as a possession of Athens. Daedalus and his son Icarus escaped from the palace by making wings. Icarus died when he flew too close to the sun and his wings melted.
Crete under Mycenae [1450]. The city of Mycenae on the Greek mainland destroyed Knossos and controlled Crete [1450]. Minoan culture and art declined.
Crete dark age [1100]. Raiders attacked and destroyed Crete. People fled to the mountains. Writing, no longer important, was forgotten and a Dark Age began. When Crete emerged from the Dark Age 300 years later, its people learned to write again. They used the Greek alphabet, not their earlier form of writing.

ETRUSCANS
Etruscans [900]. The Etruscans said that they came to Italy from Asia Minor. Their writing used an alphabet adapted from Greek.
• Fasces. The Etruscan symbol of power was a bundle of rods [fasces] tied around the handle of an ax. We use the word, fascism, to describe a powerful, dictatorial government.
• 'Italy'. The Etruscans worshipped a bull god. The name Italy, comes from 'vitulli', the Etruscan word for young bulls.
Etruscans rule Rome [612]. The Etruscans ruled Rome for 100 years [612/506]. The Romans used Etruscan characters as a model for their alphabet.
Etruscans decline [506]. The Romans expelled their Etruscan king [509] and absorbed the Etruscans.
Copyright © 2002-2011 Francis E Lodge
All Rights Reserved • atlasofworldhistory.com