Ancient Middle East

Civilizations developed in river valleys because they provided: Civilizations developed in river valleys because they provided: – Resources (water, fertile soil) – Transportation to support trade – Sustainable food supply

Fertile Crescent Mediterranean to Persian Gulf Mesopotamia Mesopotamia - Means: “Land between the rivers” - Means: “Land between the rivers” Tigris and Euphrates flow through region Tigris and Euphrates flow through region  sometimes these rivers flood and leave behind silt after water goes down  sometimes these rivers flood and leave behind silt after water goes down  Silt: rich soil

Sumerians Civilization – 3000 B.C. What is a city-state? What is a city-state?  A city and surrounding lands with it’s own ruler  A city and surrounding lands with it’s own ruler  Much like a modern day country  Much like a modern day country  Examples: Eridu, Uruk, Umma, Ur  Examples: Eridu, Uruk, Umma, Ur

Priests Controlled Controlled government with gods Acted as go- between with gods Managed irrigation system – demanded crops as taxes Managed irrigation system – demanded crops as taxes

Ziggurat Religious center Religious center City Hall City Hall “Mountain of God” “Mountain of God” Center of all cities Center of all cities Conduct rituals at the top of the ziggurat Conduct rituals at the top of the ziggurat

Ziggurat at Ur

Monarchs Time of war  a strong man took over Time of war  a strong man took over Gave back power after war Gave back power after war

Monarchs to Dynasty Military leaders became full rulers Military leaders became full rulers Rulers passed on power to sons Rulers passed on power to sons –This establishes a dynasty

Cultural Diffusion Sumerian food surplus leads to long distance trade Sumerian food surplus leads to long distance trade This leads to the spread of ideas and products from one culture to another This leads to the spread of ideas and products from one culture to another

Polytheism and Sumerian Gods Belief in many Gods Belief in many Gods - almost 3000 god & goddesses - almost 3000 god & goddesses - controlled forces of nature - controlled forces of nature Had human qualities Had human qualities Immortal and all powerful Immortal and all powerful Most powerful god was Enlil  clouds and air Most powerful god was Enlil  clouds and air

Sumerian and their Gods Lowest of all Gods were Udugs Lowest of all Gods were Udugs – Cause disease and misfortune Humans were god’s servants Humans were god’s servants – Offered sacrifices to keep Gods happy

Innovations Wheel, Plow, Sail Wheel, Plow, Sail Cuneiform: earliest form of writing Cuneiform: earliest form of writing B.C B.C. - Gilgamesh: world’s oldest epic poem - Gilgamesh: world’s oldest epic poem astronomy, chemistry, medicine astronomy, chemistry, medicine Architectural innovations Architectural innovations - arches, columns, - arches, columns, ziggurat ziggurat

Cuneiform Tablet

First Mesopotamian Empires Sargon conquered most of the Fertile Crescent Sargon conquered most of the Fertile Crescent - He was an Akkadian - He was an Akkadian Adopted Sumerian culture Adopted Sumerian culture Established first empire Established first empire – Brings together people under 1 ruler

Babylonian Empire Amorites conquer Sumerians in 2000 B.C. Amorites conquer Sumerians in 2000 B.C. Hammurabi’s Code Hammurabi’s Code B.C B.C. - collection of 282 laws - collection of 282 laws - Applied to everyone - Applied to everyone - Eye for an eye - Eye for an eye - Patriarchal: dominated by men, women had few rights - Patriarchal: dominated by men, women had few rights

Hittites ( B. C.) Empire in Western Empire in Western Asia (modern day Turkey) Iron weapons and chariots Iron weapons and chariots First people to make use First people to make use of iron Conquered Babylon 1595 B. C. Conquered Babylon 1595 B. C. Borrowed Mesopotamian Borrowed Mesopotamianculture Fell to unknown group described as “Sea Peoples”

Phoenicians 3000 B. C. Lebanon Lebanon Purple dye, glass, lumber Purple dye, glass, lumber Alphabet; maritime trade Alphabet; maritime trade Established colonies for trade Established colonies for trade Established Carthage and cities of Byblos, Tyre, Sidon Established Carthage and cities of Byblos, Tyre, Sidon

Israelites B. C. Lived to the south of the Lived to the south of thePhoenicians MONOTHEISTIC – worshiped ONE god MONOTHEISTIC – worshiped ONE god –Practiced Judaism Hebrew writings Hebrew writings –Torah

Abraham Abandoned polytheism ->Covenant with God Abandoned polytheism ->Covenant with God (Promised Land) Traveled to Canaan Traveled to Canaan 12 sons of Jacob-12 tribes of Israel 12 sons of Jacob-12 tribes of Israel

Captivity in Egypt and the Exodus Left Canaan and traveled Left Canaan and traveled to Egypt Enslaved by Egyptians Enslaved by Egyptians Moses Moses –Mt. Sinai –Ten Commandments Exodus-journey out Exodus-journey out of Egypt –Passover

Kingdom of Israel Original government divided by tribes and ruled by judges Original government divided by tribes and ruled by judges Saul-first king; not well supported Saul-first king; not well supported by the people David-well-liked; strong military; David-well-liked; strong military;Jerusalem Solomon-ruled during height; Solomon-ruled during height; expanded trade; temple in Jerusalem

Decline Israel divided Israel divided (Israel and Judah) Fell to the Assyrians Fell to the Assyrians (722 B. C.) Eventually enslaved by Eventually enslaved by Chaldeans (586); known as Babylonian Captivity Diaspora – Jews migrated to other Diaspora – Jews migrated to other areas of the Mediterranean region areas of the Mediterranean region

Assyrians 900 B. C. Nineveh Nineveh Conquered Egypt, Conquered Egypt, Mesopotamia, E. Asia Minor Powerful military-chariots, Powerful military-chariots, foot soldiers, cavalry, iron weapons, terrorism, cruel System of roads; messengers System of roads; messengers Library Library Conquered by Chaldeans (612 B. C.) Conquered by Chaldeans (612 B. C.)