Levantine Protoculture

The Levantine Protoculture was a protoculture that existed from 90,000 BCE to 75,000 BCE. It occupied large parts of the Levant and Cyprus. The protoculture formed after they formed a new religion called Ehyehism based on Krahia and a mutation that caused the peoples in the area to have green eyes. It collapsed following the Toba Catastrophe, which wiped out a significant portion of its population.

Government
The Levantines are not united under one government. Rather, they are made up of several tribes that live in relative isolation. These tribes seasonally meet up near the Basalt Rock Circles to discuss trade and relations. There are also priests, though the power that they hold is unknown. They have a caste system, with warriors at the top, and neanderthals at the bottom.

Religion
Main article: Ehyehism

The Levantines are mostly Ehyehist, believing themselves to be "sons of Ehyeh". They look down upon the neanderthals and those who do not practice Ehyehism. This has led to conflict with the Nile Alkabists several times. Some Levantine warriors also journey across the Caucasus Mountains to hunt neanderthals. Ehyehism is very ritualistic, so there is an emphasis on rituals in the Levantine society.

Characteristics
A series of genetic mutations have made the Levantines different from most humans. While they are still Homo sapiens, they have green eyes, tall slender bodies, and lighter skin. This makes them appear evil to other races. Bone beads and necklaces are important cultural and religious symbols. They were one of the most technologically advanced protocultures of the world, having domesticated the Egyptian Fruit Bat and acquired a good grasp of the medicinal properties of the opium poppy. Hafting is used, leading to the invention of the bow and arrow. They were also developing proto-agriculture, with trees planted at the Basalt Rock Circles seasonally.

Trade with the rest of the Middle East is quite common, though they have cut off relations with some groups. Hunting and warfare are done in the night. They believed in a "growth requires pain" mindset due to the teachings of Ehyehism, which encourages further advancement in technology. They were one of the most populous protocultures that existed.

Before Formation
The Levantines began diverging from the main human group around 100,000 BCE. Their religion became increasingly monolatristic and ritualized. Tribes began gathering seasonally at hilltops. After a few thousand years, the Basalt Rock Circles were first built, marking the formation of the Levantine protoculture. Ehyehism also evolved into a strictly monotheistic religion around this time.

Prosperity and Collapse
The Levantines grew and became prosperous, trading with the Middle East. They eventually cut off relations with the Nile, however, and conflict arose in Sinai. Some Levantine warriors journeyed north across the Caucasus Mountains, establishing a separate warrior colony in Volgograd. The protoculture was hit heavily by the Toba Catastrophe, however, with numbers falling too low to sustain any form of culture. The Levantines scattered, ending the protoculture.

Legacy
As the Levantines scattered, they spread Ehyehism across the Middle East. Ehyehism eventually mixed with Nile Alkabism, leading to the formation of the Delta protoculture. The warrior colony in Volgograd eventually reconnected with the rest of Homo sapiens, trapping a neanderthal group in Armenia. Due to hostilities from its surroundings, the Uratu protoculture eventually formed in this neanderthal pocket.