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The Geography of Hurrimontania
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Of the various elements contributing to the cultural distinctness of a particular ethnic group, geography plays a substantial role. It ultimately effects the technological sophistication and cultural developments of a given region of the world. Further, It defines the rate at which civilization develops, along with the introduction to agriculture, domestication of animals, migratory patterns of human populations, technological advances such as metal work, the wheel, and many others. The advent of agriculture, animal domestication, and metallurgy helped usher in the exponentially developing technological and cultural explosion of the modern world. We have flourished as a species, due in large part to the geographic serendipity of certain population centers, and our highly evolved social networking skills. The complex ability of human beings to continually reinvent their world, and constantly struggle to improve their condition is a milestone in the history of our species. Knowing that modern human beings have been around for 200,000 years, it wasn't until 50,000 years ago that a cultural awakening took place, in which human development and imagination flourished. Some liken it to a reorganization of the brain that may have lead to an increasingly sophisticated linguistic ability. Regardless of the biological shifts, archaeological records indicate that explosions in artistic expression and cultural relevance occurred that has increased in momentum for every progressive generation. It was at this junction in time that we may consider ourselves as having arrived as modern humans. Yet, all the trappings of our success were still thousands of years away. The agricultural revolution had to wait for the end of the last ice age, when global temperatures uncharacteristically stabilized enough for our expansive growth.
Through luck and circumstance, the land eventually called Armenia was located in a geographically fortuitous zone for rapid cultural growth. The available wild grains, that were soon domesticated, the wild sheep and goats, that were also quickly domesticated, and the surface deposits of copper, tin, and iron truly providing metallurgical richness were all factors in determining one of the world's first centers of sedentary life and the eventual development of civilization. In essence, the lands of Armenia possessed all the latent characteristics to help plant the seeds of modern civilization. Although ancestral populations to the Armenians were slowly discovering ways to tame nature and shape their world, the resource-rich land was highly mountanous and provided many challenges to hospitable life. The extremely unstable continental climate, raging rivers, earthquakes, volcanoes, and constant human migration through the area were all obstacles to a comfortable life. As is common amongst all humans though, these progenitors were adept at using their mental and physical tools to tame even the most difficult environments. Having a thorough understanding of the rugged terrain, their awareness payed off in ways that effected the technological revolution.
As is often the case with geography, maps will provide frames of reference to visually simplify the topics discussed and the areas in question. Generally, the Republic of Armenia today is but a small portion of the eastern end of historic Armenia. There is no simple name for this contentuous area of the world. It is a zone divided by many various names, but none that specifically address the region that was the technological and innovative cradle of civilization. The ancestral lands of the various people that contributed to the ethnogenesis of the Armenians can be further localized. To simplify the nomenclature, I have invented a term for this rugged land; Hurromontania. It will become obvious as we proceed through history that at some point in the late Bronze Age, a people known as the Hurrians culturally dominated this region of the world. Their influence was felt from surrounding empires that developed long after the Hurrian's assimilation and demise. The Hittites, Assyrians, Medians, Phoenecians, and even Egyptians all had their cultures influenced, whether directly or indirectly through contact with the Hurrians.
The geography of Hurrimontania, therefore, is of prime importance in understanding the Ethnogenesis of the Armenian people. Before proceeding into any historical or archeological context, we must familiarize ourselves with the stage in which this history is set. To simplify the geographic concepts, I have provided many relevant maps, some of which may be somewhat difficult to decipher. Yet, they are all critical in our exploration of a people and culture. -
Relief maps of Hurrimontania with modern day political boundaries
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The maps above represent the modern political boundaries, as well as the geographic relief of the region I call Hurrimontania. The reason for the need to create a new geographic designation is that as of today, there is no cohesive name for this region of the world. The Northeast part is called the Caucases and Transcaucasia, while the Western part, entirely encompassed by Turkey is known from the ancient Greek designation as Anatolia. The Northwestern part of Iran, within the Zagros Mountains is also known as the Northwestern Iranian Plateau. As for the elevated regions of central Turkey, the geographic designation is known as the Anatolian Plateau. The central region East of the Anatolian Pleateau, where the Lakes of Van, Urmia, and Sevan are located is also known as the Armenian Highlands, or Armenian Plateau. Beyond the detailed geographic descriptions, the area has also been called the Near East, the Middle East, and West Asia (although it's only a small part of those regions). Yet, The Caucasus, although politically and historically tied to the history of the Northern Middle East is left out.
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Boundaries of Hurrimontania
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In this map, I have illustrated the approximate geographic boundaries of Hurrimontania. The reason for the nomenclature of Hurrimontania will become apparent when we examine the history of the region. In short however, the area in red represents the extent that the people known as Hurrians spread their influence (before the establishment of the Hurrian State of Mitanni in orange). Thus, in Latin, Hurrimontania means "mountains of the Hurrians". The outline in orange represents the only known Hurrian state that spoke the Hurrian Language. However, the people of Hurrian stock eventually came to speak many widely divergent languages, and the boundries represent those facts.
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Significant Mountain Ranges of Hurrimontania
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In this map, the many prominent mountain ranges that make up and generally outline the peripheral area of Hurrimontania are crudely color coded. There are numerous mountain ranges, plateaus, valleys, and other landmarks that are within the boundaries of the above map. Of the ranges that form the boundaries, the Caucausus to the Northeast (North border of Georgia and Azerbaijan) in dark blue, the Zagros in the Southwest (in Northern Iran) in green, the Taurus mountains to the Southwest in brown, and the Pontic mountains (labelled as Dogukaradenis) in the Northwest in orange, the West ranges have generally been within what's called Anatolia. Other ranges that are within the boundaries include the Lesser Caucasus in light blue, and the anti-Taurus in red. Since most of these ranges lie in east-west geographic lines, people's migratory patterns will naturally occur between the corresponding ranges. This east-west migration of people could very well account for the spread of the indo-European group once agriculture was established in Hurrimontania. Further, having an east-west association allows for migrants to take their agricultural discoveries to completely different locations still within the same latitude. Since even Southern Mesopotamia occurs within similar latitudes, crops were transferred rather easily. There was no need to allow generations of acclimatization for certain crops to thrive.
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Significant Waterways of Hurrimontania
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This map highlights the historically important waterways that have effected the development of the region. The area between the lakes of Van, Sevan, and Urmia, and the northern reaches of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is called the Armenian Highlands and is probably within the ancestral boundaries of the Hurrian people. The Arax and Kura Rivers which must also be included in this map are significant to the ethnogenesis of the Hurrian's Bronze Age Ancestors.
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Plate Techtonics and the Geographic Development of Hurrimontania
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Having highlighted the modern geography of the region, it would be incomplete without an explanation as to the reason for the extremely rugged terrain and the high elevations that produce the snows which rivers and mountains are dependent on for aquatic nourishment.
The following two maps show the active fault lines and the movement of the crust in relation to the Hurrimontania region. In general, the theory of Plate Technotics dictates that the top layer of the Earth, known as the Crust is composed of many large plates that move against each other. As the continents and sea floors spread and crash together, new lands are created, and others destroyed. This constant movement of the crust is fueled by the warmth that's trapped within the Earth. The internal heat in the deeper layers provides the energy with which these massive areas move. Hurrimontania is situated in a very active techtonic region.
From the map below, the two most significant plate movements are the Arabian Plate that's slowly moving Northward in relation to the Anatolian Plate, and the Anatolian Plate moving Westward in relation to the Eastward moving Eurasian plate. These techtonic movements produce fault lines, which can indicate the location of these plate movements. The North Anatolian Fault is the boundary between the Anatolian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. This is a very active seismic area, because as the crust slowly moves, usually about the same rate as a fingernail, pressures build and when they're released, large and damaging earthquakes can occur. This whole region, due to the boundary between so many plates is highly susceptible to earthquakes, and in the recent past, was home to many active volcanoes. In fact, there are many volcanoes that are currently dormant, where the potential for a future explosive episode is almost certain. The most recent active volcano is found on the Eastern shore of Lake Van, known as Nemrut Dagh. In fact, this region was known to the locals as the land of Fire and Ice, due to the mountains, and the active volcanoes.
The East Anatolian fault, which starts as the Southern boundary of the Anatolian plate is a result of the pressure from the Arabian plate. In addition, the Segment of the Eurasian plate that lies in the Caucasus (Northeast area) is slowly moving south, compressing the Armenian highlands even further, producing the Greater and Lesser Caucasus thrust and fold belts. The region, centered between the lakes of Van, Urmia, and Sevan is known geographically as the East Anatolian Collision Zone. It is in this part of the world where the ancestral stock of the Hurrians developed and spread. The northern boundary of the East Anatolian Collision Zone is where the devastating 1988 Spitak Armenian earthquake occurred.
With an understanding of the present day geographic appearance of Hurrimontania, we can extrapolate the composition of the landform in the past, as well as what it may look like in the future. We know that the whole Mediterranean, as well Hurrimontania, Central Asia, and the Himalayas where once, hundreds of millions of years in the past, a large ocean basin. This was called the Tethys sea, and over time, as the plates pressed together, the land between was squeezed into mountain ranges (the third map illustrates the continents of the world as of 95 million years ago, and the red hash marks indicate the part of the Tethys Sea that eventually collided to form Hurrimontania). The Himalayas, being the most elevated mountains in the world were created when most of India, which was once an island, collided with Asia. In the case of Hurrimontania, the Arabian plate collided with the Eurasian plate, creating the central Anatolian micro-plate (since compared to other plates that can be the size of continents and even oceans is much smaller), and a region of rubble and elevated tortuous land that is called the East Anatolian Collision Zone, entirely within the boundaries of the Armenian Highlands. This then is the heart of ethnographic heart of Hurrimontanea. As will become apparent, the Hurrians initial origins are thought to have occurred within the East Anatolian Collision Zone. .
The future of Hurrmintania will look even more dramatic as the Arabian plate continues to push North and squeeze the mountains to greater and greater elevations. In addition, as the African plate also moves North, it will shrink the Eastern Mediterranean ocean, until mountain ranges are formed where the Mediterranean once exited. Ultimately, most of what we know as the Middle East will be a highly elevated region like the Himalayas, with Hurromontania (since it's already well elevated) at its peak. -
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Three Years
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1 comment:
Amazing blog. Brilliant content management!
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