First Empires & the Phoenicians World History Libertyville HS

First Empire: The Akkadians Akkad: area north of Sumeria Defeated Sumerian city states, took control of N & S Mesopotamia Sargon I became first Emperor Definition of empire: bring together several peoples, nations under one rule Empire fell apart after 200 years due to civil war Stele of Naram- Sin

Babylonian Empire (c BC) Amorites invaded from Syria and Lebanon Founded own cities in N. Mesopotamia, including Babylon –Cities had much higher proportion of non-citizen residents than Sumerians –Cities laid out on grid Reached height of power under King Hammurabi, BC Babylonian city (above); Hammurabi, seated

Babylonian Empire: Hammurabi Great conqueror, reformer –Expanded irrigation system –Road network –Postal service Centralized gov’t to himself and Babylon Created single uniform Code of Laws –Covered all societal issues –Welded Empire together –Code posted in all towns

Indo-European Migrations: Hittites Hittites moved in about 1500 BC Their home was in Central Anatolia At its height, the Hittite empire included Central Anatolia, Syria, and Northern Mesopotamia

Indo-European Migrations: Hittites Hittites were a warrior people –One of first to use iron weapons –First to use chariots Softened Code of Hammurabi –Fines, not vengeance

Indo-European Migrations: Hittites Expanded into Syria until 1400 BC, bumped into Egyptians in Palestine Battle of Kadesh, 1274 BC –Largest Chariot battle in history – 5k chariots, 9k infantry By 1200 BC, Hittites couldn’t hold empire together –Succession of civil wars –External threat from Sea People (raiders from Italy) Battle of Kadesh; A “Sea Person”, from Egyptian hieroglyphs

The Phoenicians Around 1100 BC, these people emerged in Lebanon Group of independent city states Most powerful traders around Mediterranean –Remarkable ship builders, sailors –Set up colonies around Med

The Phoenicians Colonies formed the basis of their power –Included Carthage, on N. African coast –Spain, Sicily & Italy also settled Trade –Crafts (wood, ivory metal) –Goods from other lands, especially slaves –Famous for their purple dyed material

The Phoenicians Phoenician technologies –Developed alphabet –Needed way to record transactions clearly –1 symbol represented 1 sound (phonetic) –Formed root of all modern alphabets Mastered use of rudder, sails Archaeologist believe they explored N coast of Europe, W coast of Africa