First we follow the expansion of the Bantu people throughout central and southern Africa. Then, we move to the intersection of EurAsia, where the Neo-Assyrian Empire falls and the Babylonians take their place. The Babylonians famously take the Israelites captive.  We will discuss the invention and proliferation of the idea of an alphabet. We will see the rise of the kingdom of Kush and the 10 thousand year old Joman culture in Japan.

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Note: Visit our site if you're after official episode sources. Links below are to peruse and to compliment the episode for more depth.

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Bantu Expansion 

• In this podcast interview Luke Pepera laments the lack of written Bantu records.
• The Bantu language family.
• We too often think of people’s movements as simple lines on a map
• Iron working and agriculture spread across Africa with the Bantu people, eventually reaching as far as South Africa.

Fall of Assyria 

• Ashurbanipal in the garden note the head of the conquered King Teumman of Elam hanging from the tree.
• Ashurbanipal’s Library.
• Very cool book by Assyriologist, Stephanie Dalley, explaining the confusion between Babylon as an actual physical place, and Babylon as an idea. Especially when misinterpreted by the Greeks and Romans. Because of this confusion, it’s possible that the “Hanging Gardens of Babylon” are actually in Nineveh, the capitol of the Assyrian Empire.
• Here, she is explaining the “Archimedes' screw” likely used to water the hanging gardens.

Babylon 

• Hittites, Kassites, and Elamites all invade Babylon.
• Babylon allies with the Medes to defeat Assyria.
• Rastafari.
• The massive walls of Babylon were considered one of the seven wonders of the world by some ancient writers.
• Gate of Ishtar
• On the subject of the world’s precious artifact’s being housed in European museums.
• Tower of Babel - endlessly imagined by artists.
• The story of the Babylonian Captivity is still extremely important to peoples around the world. Symbolizing the violence of being help captive away from your home. The story, and specifically the psalm which recounts it, has been made into songs many times including this classic.

Phoenicians 

• Tyrian Purple dye made the Phoenicians rich.
• Here, Mouhamad Ghassen Nouira, a Tunisian historian, revives the ancient craft.
• As the Phoenicians explored the mediterranean they began building more and more settlements along the coasts. Including, most famously, the settlement that grew into the city of Carthage in northern Tunisia.
• Shell middens are found across the world: South Africa, Japan, Maine, Australia, Saudi Arabia, India.
• History of the alphabet.

Jomon culture in Japan

• Jomon time periods.
• Jomon pottery is possibly the oldest pottery in the world.  Example, example, example, example.
• The Jomon.
• Food storage pits.
• Aside from its beauty, the jade art is evidence exchange of goods over long distances. Example, example.
• Jomon art includes many figurines which are referred to as symbols of fertility. This does not strike me as a pregnant woman, but see what you think.
• Stone Circles, Oyu Stone Circles, another article.
• Small clusters of stone that seem to be sundials are also common across Jomon Japan. Example, example, example. Frequently they are associated with burial sites.
• Yayoi Period came after the Jomon.

Kingdom of Kush 

• A cool summary of Nubian Kingdoms that also illustrates the confusing naming practices.
• Amun. Egypt and Nubia, like so many others, were increasingly monotheistic.
• The temple at Gebel Barkal was rebuilt during the Napatan Period.
• Nubian Gold work from this period. Example, example. As well as other types of art.
• Nubian archers depicted with their arrows in their hands.
• The Nubian pyramids varied over time and space, some being smaller and steeper than others.
• An explanation of the dynasties of Egypt. The Nubian pharaohs make up the 25 dynasty.  
• The