Phoenicians, Kush, Hittites, Hebrews, and Persians People on the Move Phoenicians, Kush, Hittites, Hebrews, and Persians

Phoenicians Powerful sea traders Phoenicians settled along the Mediterranean coast (part of Fertile Crescent in Southwest Asia). Phoenicia is now known as Lebanon Wealthy colonies around the Mediterranean

Sea Traders Also shipbuilders First to travel beyond the Strait of Gibraltar Sailed around Africa by way of the Red Sea

Phoenician Colonies Formed on the Northern Coast of Africa and the coasts of Silicy, Sardinia, and Spain Greatest colony was Carthage Colony - is a territory under the immediate political control of a state

Phoenician Alphabet Formed the 1st alphabet; long lasting contributions Used symbols to represent sounds Phonetic – one sign used for one sound Merchants needed ways to record and process their transactions (trading) Papyrus “Hooked on Phonics”

Hittites Anatolia (Asia Minor) Babylon – chief city in Tigris-Euphrates Valley Adopted Akkadian language to help blend culture Adopt law code with more leniency Signed unusual treaty with Egyptians to fight off future invaders

Iron Workers Iron workers Made weapons, superior chariots Military victories were won by their iron workers Knowledge of their iron work spread through trade and their conquests Kept their iron making process a secret

Kush Civilization Nubians “dark people” Nubia, upper Nile River south of Egypt Fought regularly with Egyptians for control and use of the Nile River Controlled by Egypt between 2000 B.C. to 1000 B.C. As Egypt fell, Kush became known as a regional power

Egypt and Nubia Egypt’s revival established rule on the Kush Kushite princes went to Egypt to learn the customs, clothing styles, and the way of life for the Upper class The princes brought these ideas back to Nubia 1100 B.C. Egypt began to decline and the Nubians felt they need to conquer Egypt to protect the way of life. The two cultures blended together

Meroe Kushites were pushed out of Egypt by the Assyrians Relocated to Meroe, south of Egypt and closer to the Red Sea Active in trade between Africa, Arabia, and India Rich natural resources (iron ore)

Origins of Judaism Abraham Moses Jerusalem

Beliefs, traditions, and customs of Judaism Belief in one God (monotheism) Torah, which contains written records and beliefs of Hebrews Ten Commandments, which state moral and religious conduct

Story of the Hebrew People Begins when God called Abraham to move to a new land, and this land was known as Canaan. God promised Abraham that his people would have a land of their own, a “promised land.” God repeated this promise to Moses, and gave Moses the commandments ,and a new covenant between God and the people.

Hebrews Hebrew tradition professes a western migration from 1900 B.C. The early Hebrews moved to Canaan and then around 1650 B.C. they moved to Egypt Movement from Canaan and to Egypt possibly due to famine.

Abraham Abraham is the father of the Jewish nation and an early proponent of monotheism. Abraham is also important to followers of Islam. Abraham was born in Ur, about 200 miles southeast of Baghdad.

Abraham’s Journeys

Abraham’s Encounters with God (Covenant) Abraham moved to Canaan where he lived a nomadic lifestyle. He married Sarah, and they had no children together. He did have a child Ishmael by his wife’s Egyptian servant, Hagar at the age of 85. When he was 100, God gave him a child by Sarah as a gift, and this child was Isaac.

Abraham’s Covenant with God At Sarah’s insistence, Ishmael and Hagar were banished to the desert, but God protected them. God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham was willing to meet God’s request, and God spared him through this test of faith. Abraham still needed to make a sacrifice, so he sacrificed a goat on the “Dome of the Rock”

The Dome of the Rock One of the most important points of conflict between Arabs and Jews is the monument site of the Dome of the Rock. In Islamic tradition, Muhammad ascended to heaven from this spot. The Dome of the Rock is also connected to the old Jewish temple ruins that was built by Solomon, known today as the “wailing wall.” Control of the ancient monument sites is a serious conflict between the two religious groups in the region.

Dome of the Rock

“The Exodus” In Egypt, Hebrews were honored Later, they became slaves to the Egyptians Around 1500 to 1200 B.C. the Hebrews fled Egypt (The Exodus) Moses lead the Hebrews out of Egypt

The Exodus

Route of Exodus

A New Covenant Moses climbed to the top of Mount Sinai He spoke with God (Yahweh) He received the Ten Commandments on two stone tablets Civil and religious laws of Judaism

Moses and the 10 Commandments A new “covenant” with Yahweh Ten Commandments developed after the Exodus from Egypt.

The Torah The first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible. The most sacred text in the Jewish religious tradition. The Old Testament Each Hebrew law demonstrates Mesopotamian roots. The Torah

Israel Israel became the Jewish homeland from 1020 B.C. to 922 B.C. United under three kings: Saul, David, and Solomon New Kingdom Jerusalem is capital

Diaspora Jewish presence outside of the Land of Israel is a result of the expulsion of the Jewish people out of their homeland by the Babylonians Conquests of the ancient Jewish kingdoms and expulsions of enslaved Jewish population

Jerusalem After the fall of Rome, and the Jewish Diaspora occurring in 70 A. D. when the Roman Empire dispersed the Jews from Palestine, Jerusalem fell into the hands of various Arabic groups who practiced Islam. Islamic leaders were always tolerant of Jewish religious practice in the area. A point of conflict today is control of the city of Jerusalem as the new nation of Israel was able to win control of the city with various wars with Arabs from the 1940’s through the 1970’s.

The Persian Empire Built on earlier Central Asian and Mesopotamian civilizations, Persia developed the largest empire in the world.

Persians as rulers Tolerance of conquered peoples under Cyrus the Great Development of imperial bureaucracy Zoroastrianism as a religion Road system

Cyrus the Great It was formed under Cyrus the Great, who took over the empire of the Medes, and conquered much of the Middle East, including the territories of the Babylonians, Assyrians, and the Phoenicians. Cambyses, Son of Cyrus the Great, continued his conquests by conquering Egypt.

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.) Built Persepolis. He extended the Persian Empire to the Indus River in northern India. Built a canal in Egypt.

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.) Established a tax-collecting system. Installed a satrap (governor), who ruled locally. Built the great Royal Road system. Ran from Susa in Persia to Sardis in Anatolia Established a complex postal system. Created a network of spies and inspectors called “the King’s eyes and ears.”

Zarathustra [Zoroaster], 6c BCE: Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words “Tree of Life” Monotheistic

Extent of Zoroastrianism

Ahura Mazda “God of Truth and Light” Name exalted by Zoroaster (prophet) as the one uncreated Creator, hence God "Ahura Mazda is the highest object of worship"

Zend-Avesta (The “Book of Law”) The “Sacred Fire”  the force to fight evil.

Importance of Persian Wars (499-449 b.c.) Persian wars united Athens and Sparta against the Persian Empire. Athenian victories over the Persians at Marathon and Salamis left Greeks in control of the Aegean Sea. Athens preserved its independence and continued innovations in government and culture. The Greeks defeated the Persian empire and preserved their political independence.