Early Empires

Phoenicians Limited by geography Little fertile land Peaked around 1000 BC Trade: Cedar, Metal products, Glass blowing, Dyeing Sea (Great International Sea Traders) Carthage (Famous Colony) Alphabet (22 characters) - Greek

Assyrians 700 BC Military (Iron Weapons) * Use of Chariots * 1st to use cavalry Terror tactics (smash dams, looted fire, rape, pillage, & torture) Transportation/communication (post offices) Library (one of the world's 1st) at City of Ninevah

Assyrians (cont’d)

Persians (S.W. Iran) Cyrus (treated capture well) - Darius – Xerxes Military conquests * The Immortals (Cavalry & elite infantry: 10,000)

Persians (cont’d) Had informed the largest world-empire to date Use of secret agents (spies) * "king's eyes and ears“ Use of newly built road system (Royal Road) Court decline (High taxes brought decline in loyalty & diluted gene pool)

Persians (cont’d) Zoroastrianism (Monotheistic - Ahuramazoa) * Zoroaster (prophet of the "true" religion) * 600 BC * People have free will to choose * good or evil * Seek reward or receive punishment * Great influence on other religions

Lydians Asia Minor Traders Coined Money 600 BC Money economy develops