Revision as of 17:19, 19 October 2011

The Ghassoulians

History 8

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Where?

The Ghassoulians lived in the Jordan Valley around 6,000 years ago. This place was called Ghassoul, and it was the birthplace of a new age. Ghassoul was placed on a major trade rout that interconnected the powerful people of the Egyptians and Somarians.

Products and Trade

The trade that went on in Ghassoul was the first example we see of complex stone age trade and an industry.

Olive Oil

Olive Oil was the biggest industry of the Ghassoulians. Olives were mass produced in groves many kilometers wide. The olives were then pressed and the oil filled huge vats that would be sold. The Ghassoulians were the first great horticulturists and the first tree farmers, producing surplus resources for sale. This trade went on for 1,000 years.

Olive oil was the "liquid gold" of this time, used for lamps, cooking, and a variety of other things. The need to store this valuable substance gave way to a new technological advancement. Clay pots were dried, some exceeding a meter and a half tall. These vats stored the olive oil made to sell. ^[2]

Salt

The "white gold" of the world happened to be in the dead sea, a vast wasteland be nevertheless full of tons of one of the most valuable substances. Salt was used not only for spice but for preservation of food. The ability to preserve food allowed meat to be transported over long distances, opening a new market for trade. This market of trade needed some way in which vendors could keep track of their resources. This led to a form of money.

http://img4.sunset.com/i/2008/07/salt-word-m.jpg?300:300

Money

The "money" of that time was not really money. The merchants still did not have a standard system and did not keep records. Instead they used clay counters, stamped and sealed, with different objects inside to represent the items which were owed to the merchant. When the debt was paid, the ball would be cracked open.

Other Products

The height of sophistication existed in this city. Goods from Yemen and Afghanistan were imported to the center of trade. Lapis lazuli and perfume were being sold to those who could afford it. This created classes and a way for more wealthy people to show their power through their outer appearance. Olives, lentils, and salt were the main trade items.

Sheep were also of high value, their wool was woven, allowing the upper class to show their power through the way they dress. The wool clothing also called for dyes and different colors. The rich were now finding more ways for them to distinguish themselves by fashion and individual possessions.

Irrigation

The Ghassoulians lived in a desert, but how did they get water? History and the placement of cities have always been based on water sources since then. The Ghassoulians pioneered irrigation, one of the first examples of people changing the environment to suit themselves.

The irrigation system followed the slope the hills and required kilometers of canals.

Organization

In order for the irrigation system to be built, a certain degree of organization was required for this large project. Archaeologists found a star on a family shrine, leading them to believe that religion and a single, unifying figure allowed them to work together and build the irrigation system.

Sources

End of the Stone Age Video

For a good summary of the Ghassoulians: http://www.marcom.com.au/product_details.php?prod=5ABSFS3

Manual for the Cultural Foundations of Civilization
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