After the global revolution and prior to the great destruction much of the internet was preserved by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST). Sounds and visions from planet Earth were cherished on long excursions aboard Laurasia. Especially as a sleep aid, but also for entertainment. This - is Toto.
Museum
Selections of art taken from Chris Lehrer's Lyceum under the heading: Window to the Past.
Listen to Soma FM streaming radio, a favorite of the space station Laurasia since the global revolution. You may or may not have to download the free Winamp or Real audio player.
Assyrian (Akkadian):parzillu (iron, symbolizing the era’s technological shift)
Phoenician:brzl (iron, reflecting trade and innovation)
English:The Iron Age Beginnings
With iron and word, the world is forged anew. - Assyrian royal inscription, c. 850 BCE (adapted from palace reliefs)
Between 1000 and 600 BCE, the Iron Age transformed human societies as iron tools and weapons, stronger and cheaper than bronze, revolutionized agriculture, warfare, and trade. In Mesopotamia, the Assyrian Empire rose, conquering vast territories with iron-armed armies, as seen in Nimrud’s reliefs. In Greece, city-states like Athens and Sparta emerged, laying foundations for democracy and philosophy. The Persian Empire’s roots formed in Iran, while Vedic India produced the Upanishads, shaping spiritual thought. In China, Zhou philosophers like Confucius and Laozi crafted ethical and mystical frameworks. Trade networks, driven by Phoenician ships, linked the Mediterranean to India, spreading iron technology and alphabets. Archaeological finds, like Assyrian palaces and Greek pottery, reveal a dynamic era of conquest, innovation, and ideas. Religious shifts, from Assyrian gods to early monotheism, reflected changing worldviews. This period marked a transition to more connected, complex societies, setting the stage for classical civilizations.
Iron’s Transformative Power
Iron technology and expanding trade reshaped economies and warfare, birthing new political systems.
Foundations of the Iron Age
Assyrian Empire’s conquests (c. 911–609 BCE).
Greek city-states and early democracy.
Persian tribal foundations.
Vedic Upanishads and Indian philosophy.
Confucius and Laozi in Zhou China.
Phoenician trade and alphabet spread.
A New Era
The Iron Age blended technological and intellectual advances, forging resilient societies.
The Assyrian Empire (911–609 BCE) became a dominant power, using iron weapons and siege tactics to conquer Mesopotamia, the Levant, and parts of Egypt. Kings like Ashurnasirpal II (883–859 BCE) built Nimrud’s palace, adorned with reliefs depicting victories and divine favor from Ashur. Cuneiform archives, like the 25,000 tablets from Nineveh’s library, detail taxes, treaties, and military campaigns. Iron plowshares boosted agriculture, supporting cities like Nineveh, with populations nearing 100,000. Trade with Phoenicia brought cedar and dyes, as seen in Kalhu’s artifacts. Assyrian brutality, including mass deportations (e.g., Israel’s “Lost Tribes”), ensured control but bred resentment. Religious practices, centered on Ashur and Ishtar, justified conquests through temple rituals. Archaeological finds, like Lachish’s siege reliefs, show advanced engineering, including battering rams. The empire’s overextension and rebellions led to its fall by about 609 BCE, but its administrative and military systems influenced later empires like Persia.
Military Might
Assyrian iron weapons and tactics enabled vast conquests, reshaping the Near East.
Assyrian Achievements
Iron-armed conquests (c. 911–609 BCE).
Nimrud and Nineveh palaces.
Nineveh’s cuneiform library.
Iron plowshares for agriculture.
Trade with Phoenicia (cedar, dyes).
Mass deportations for control.
Archaeological Evidence
Reliefs and tablets from Nimrud and Lachish reveal Assyrian power and administration.
Legacy and Collapse
Assyrian systems shaped later empires, but brutality led to its downfall.
From 800 BCE, Greek city-states (poleis) like Athens, Sparta, and Corinth emerged from the Dark Ages, fostering political and cultural innovation. Iron tools boosted agriculture, supporting urban growth, as seen in Attica’s olive groves. Athens laid early democratic roots with Solon’s reforms (630 BCE), balancing elite and citizen power, while Sparta developed a militaristic oligarchy. The Greek alphabet, adapted from Phoenician (800 BCE), spurred literacy, preserving Hesiod’s Works and Days. Trade with Egypt and Lydia brought gold and pottery, as found in Corinth’s ports. Religious festivals, like the Olympic Games (776 BCE), unified city-states, honoring Zeus. Archaeological sites, like Athens’ agora and Delphi’s oracle, reveal civic and spiritual life. Rivalries among poleis sparked innovation but also conflict, setting the stage for classical Greece. This era’s political experiments and cultural vibrancy shaped Western civilization’s foundations.
Political Innovation
City-states pioneered diverse governance, from Athens’ democracy to Sparta’s militarism.
Greek City-State Developments
Solon’s reforms in Athens (c. 630 BCE).
Spartan militaristic society.
Greek alphabet adoption (c. 800 BCE).
Olympic Games (c. 776 BCE).
Trade with Egypt and Lydia.
Agora and oracle civic centers.
Archaeological Insights
Delphi and Corinth remains show vibrant trade and religious life.
Cultural Foundations
Greek poleis laid roots for democracy, philosophy, and literature.
By 1000 BCE, Indo-Iranian tribes, including the Medes and Persians, settled Iran’s Zagros Mountains, laying foundations for the Persian Empire. Early Achaemenid ancestors, like Teispes (650 BCE), unified tribes under a proto-imperial system, as recorded in later inscriptions. Iron weapons strengthened their militias, while pastoralism and agriculture, centered on barley, supported settlements like Pasargadae. Trade with Elam and Mesopotamia brought silver and lapis lazuli, as seen in Susa’s artifacts. Zoroastrianism emerged, with Ahura Mazda worship influencing ethics, though evidence is sparse before 600 BCE. Archaeological finds, like early tombs in Fars, suggest modest but growing power. The Persians’ tribal cohesion and strategic location positioned them for later dominance under Cyrus (550 BCE). This period’s quiet consolidation built a cultural and military base, shaping one of history’s greatest empires and its legacy of tolerance and administration.
Tribal Unification
Persian tribes built strength through iron and trade, preparing for empire.
Persian Foundations
Indo-Iranian settlement (c. 1000 BCE).
Teispes’ tribal unification (c. 650 BCE).
Iron weapons and militias.
Trade with Elam and Mesopotamia.
Early Zoroastrianism (Ahura Mazda).
Settlements like Pasargadae.
Archaeological Evidence
Fars tombs and Susa artifacts reveal early Persian culture.
Imperial Roots
Tribal cohesion laid the groundwork for Achaemenid dominance.
From 1000–600 BCE, India’s Vedic period deepened with the composition of the Upanishads, philosophical texts exploring atman (soul) and brahman (universal reality). Building on Rigveda hymns, these texts, like the Brihadaranyaka (800 BCE), shaped early Hindu thought, emphasizing meditation and cosmic unity. Vedic society, centered along the Ganges, transitioned to settled agriculture, with rice and barley sustaining larger communities. The caste system solidified, with brahmins (priests) and kshatriyas (warriors) dominating, as described in Manusmriti precursors. Iron tools, like plows, boosted farming, as seen in Hastinapur’s remains. Trade with Central Asia brought horses, while local crafts produced pottery and iron weapons. Archaeological sites, like Kausambi’s fortifications, show urban growth. Vedic rituals, including fire sacrifices, unified communities but reinforced hierarchies. The Upanishads’ introspective philosophy influenced Buddhism and Jainism, leaving a lasting spiritual legacy that shaped India’s intellectual traditions.
Philosophical Depth
The Upanishads introduced profound spiritual ideas, reshaping Indian thought.
Vedic Developments
Upanishads composition (c. 800 BCE).
Settled agriculture (rice, barley).
Iron plows and tools.
Caste system solidification.
Trade with Central Asia (horses).
Urban growth (Kausambi, Hastinapur).
Archaeological Insights
Hastinapur and Kausambi reveal Vedic urban and agricultural advances.
Spiritual Legacy
Vedic philosophy influenced later Indian religions and global thought.
In China’s Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BCE), the period of about 1000–600 BCE saw the rise of philosophers like Confucius (551–479 BCE) and Laozi (traditional founder of Daoism, ~6th century BCE). Confucius’ teachings, later compiled in the Analects, emphasized ethics, family, and governance, promoting the Mandate of Heaven. Laozi’s Daodejing advocated harmony with nature and simplicity. Iron tools boosted agriculture in the Yellow River valley, supporting cities like Luoyang, with populations of about 50,000. Archaeological finds, like bronze inscriptions from Haojing, detail feudal hierarchies. Trade with nomadic tribes brought iron and horses, enhancing military strength. Zhou kings, weakened by regional lords, relied on ritual legitimacy, as seen in temple offerings. The Book of Songs captured cultural life, blending poetry and ritual. These philosophies, rooted in social order and balance, shaped Chinese culture, influencing governance and ethics for centuries, despite growing political fragmentation.
Philosophical Foundations
Confucius and Laozi laid intellectual groundwork for Chinese ethics and mysticism.
Zhou Philosophical Milestones
Confucius’ ethical teachings (c. 551–479 BCE).
Laozi’s Daodejing (c. 6th century BCE).
Iron tools for agriculture.
Trade with nomads (iron, horses).
Book of Songs and rituals.
Feudal hierarchies and weakening kingship.
Archaeological Evidence
Luoyang and Haojing bronzes reveal Zhou’s cultural and political systems.
Enduring Impact
Confucian and Daoist ideas shaped Chinese civilization’s ethical core.
Summary: Iron Age advances in technology and thought spurred progress but widened inequality. Elite-driven conquests and philosophies marginalized commoners, embedding systemic disparities.
Summary: Assyrian conquests, Greek poleis, and Zhou philosophies balanced innovation with order, forging dynamic societies. Hierarchies grew, but cultural legacies enriched global history.
Summary: Iron tools and philosophical systems established stable societies, preserving values through conquest and wisdom. This era reflects humanity’s pursuit of enduring order.
Lyceum
Welcome to Space Station Laurasia! All passengers and crew members receive a personal device called a Lyceum, which serves as a journal to record and share information with family and friends via neutrionic mobile or desktop devices back on Earth’s surface. This is the Lyceum of Raymond Sheen.
Animations: Dragonset, Matters of Grave Concern, The Pillars of Barad-Dur, Heart of Stone, Golden Leaves, Gravity, and Dragons in Moonlight, by Steven David Bennett
Quo Vadis? [Latin] - Where Are You Going?
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go. - Dr. Seuss
