Middle East map

Iraq

Mesopotamian Empires, 1800-600 BCE

It means the “land between the rivers (Tigris and Euphrates) It means the “land between the rivers (Tigris and Euphrates). Cities emerged around 4000 BC. Mesopotamia

Ziggurat of UR markville.ss.yrdsb.edu.on.ca

Ziggurat of Ur http://www. flickr

World’s oldest civilization. Ziggurats were massive stepped pyramids used as temples. Sumer

“The Epic of Gilgamesh” was a story about Gilgamesh’s search for immortality. Had a polytheistic religion. First writing system (cuneiform). “The Epic of Gilgamesh” was a story about Gilgamesh’s search for immortality. 4. Polytheistic religion. 5. Cuneiform writing.

Empires in the Ancient Middle East

Empires in the Ancient Middle East Akkad Led by Sargon (2370 BC- 2315 BC), the Akkadians conquered the land of Sumer. Sargon created the first empire in history.

Ruled from 1830 BC to 1530 BC. Their capital was Babylon. Babylonians Ruled from 1830 BC to 1530 BC. Their capital was Babylon. Hammurabi (1792 BC- 1750 BC) created a severe law code.

Assyrians The Assyrians (1300- 612 BC) had a professional army (officers, archers, iron weapons). “A land bathed in blood.”

New Babylonian (Chaldean) 600 BC to 550 BC. King Nebuchadnezzar II created the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Mesopotamian Empires, 1800-600 BCE

The Persians Ruled from 539 BC to 331 BC. Founded by Cyrus the Great who allowed freedom of religion.

Tomb of Cyrus the Great

Lost army of Cambyses http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ENizFYf96Y

Persian Empire

The Persians were conquered by Alexander the Great and the Greeks.

Egypt Egypt and Nubia: “gifts of the Nile.” Began to emerge around 4,000 BC.

Nile Valley: 3,000 BC-2,000 BC

Egyptians

Nubians

The pharaoh, Menes, unified Egypt around 3100 BC. http://wysinger.homestead.com/menes.jpg

Old Kingdom Lasted from 2660 BC to 2160 BC. Great pyramids of Giza were built. Khufu (Cheops) is the largest.

Khufu

Pyramid of Chephren and the Great Sphinx

Khufu, Chephren, and Menkure

Mentuhotep

Lasted from 2040 BC to 1640 BC. The Hyksos used bronze weapons and chariots to conquer Egypt in the 17th C. BC. Middle Kingdom www.specialtyinterests.net

The Egyptians regained power and conquered other lands. ` New Kingdom www.specialtyinterests.net Lasted from 1550 BC to 1070 BC. The Egyptians regained power and conquered other lands. After the New Kingdom, Egypt fell to a series of foreign conquerors.

Imperial Egypt, 1400 BC

First female pharaoh. She ruled from 1479 BC To 1458 BC. Hatshepsut

Main gods were the sun gods Amon and Re. Egyptian Religion

Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) promoted the worship of only one god--Aten. It didn’t last. Reign: 1379 BC-1362 BC

Nefertiti (1372-1350 BCE): Akhenaten’s wife

Tutankhamun (1361-1352 BCE)

Cult of Osiris: Egyptians believed that Osiris, the god of the underworld, determined who would have eternal life.

Osiris

Isis, Osiris, a pharoah, Horus

Anubis, Ammit, and Thoth

Followers are called Jews Followers are called Jews. Abraham led a group of Hebrews (a tribe) from Mesopotamia to Palestine in 1850 BC and some went to Egypt. Judaism

Moses: Some Jews returned with him to Palestine around 1300 BC Moses: Some Jews returned with him to Palestine around 1300 BC. He promoted monotheism and the Ten Commandments, which are moral standards. The Torah is a Jewish holy book.

Jerusalem became their capital. Jews worship in synagogues.

If you could travel back in time to ancient Egypt or Mesopotamia and had the chance to interview somebody, who would it be? What would you ask him or her?