Chapter 2 The Fertile Crescent

Land Between Two Rivers I. Fertile Crescent A. Shaped like a crescent moon B. One end at Mediterranean Sea

Land Between Two Rivers C. One end at Persian Gulf D. Presence of rivers make location good for crops

Land Between Two Rivers II. Mesopotamia A. Part of Fertile Crescent B. Name from Greek – “between the rivers”

Land Between Two Rivers C. Between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers D. Life and death from rivers

Land Between Two Rivers 1. Life – rich soil, fish, clay, reeds 2. Death – floods and destruction

Land Between Two Rivers III. Sumer A. First cities developed in area of Sumer 1. Cities separated by long distances

Land Between Two Rivers 2. Did not unite under one ruler 3. City-states – a city with its own traditions and its own government and laws

Land Between Two Rivers B. Religion 1. Polytheism – belief in many gods 2. ziggurats – main temple to gods of city

Land Between Two Rivers a. very high b. Gods used them to travel to Earth

Land Between Two Rivers 3. myths – stories about gods that explain people’s beliefs 4. scribes – professional writers

Land Between Two Rivers C. Fall of Sumerian city – states 1. Due to wealth 2. Fought over land 3. Fought over use of river water

I. Important themes in history of Mesopotamia Babylonia and Assyria I. Important themes in history of Mesopotamia A. Powerful warriors conquering rich land

Babylonia and Assyria B. Two important empires – area of many territories and people controlled by one government 1. Babylonia 2. Assyria

Babylonian and Assyria II. Babylonian Empire A. Hammurabi united the cities of Sumer

B. City of Babylon – center of empire Babylonia and Assyria B. City of Babylon – center of empire 1. Location made it center of trade – cities to north and south

Babylonia and Assyria 2. Empire – area of many territories and people that are controlled by the government

3. Caravans – groups of traders – stopped there Babylonia and Assyria 3. Caravans – groups of traders – stopped there 4. Bazaars – a market selling different kinds of goods

5. 1760 B.C. Hammurabi conquered Mari. Babylonia and Assyria 5. 1760 B.C. Hammurabi conquered Mari. 6. 1600 B.C. Babylonian empire shrunk and was destroyed

B. Located in open spaces Babylonia and Assyria III. Assyrian Empire A. North of Babylon B. Located in open spaces

1. Always defending themselves Babylonia and Assyria 1. Always defending themselves 2. Became great warriors

C. Achievements in warfare 1. Invented battering ram 2. Expert archers Babylonia and Assyria C. Achievements in warfare 1. Invented battering ram 2. Expert archers 3. Armed charioteers

D. Nineveh – great library and city of learning Babylonia and Assyria D. Nineveh – great library and city of learning E. Defeated by Medes and Chaldeans

IV. New Babylonian Empire A. Grew under Chaldeans Babylonia and Assyria IV. New Babylonian Empire A. Grew under Chaldeans

B. Greatest King – Nebuchadnezzar Rebuilt city of Babylon Babylonia and Assyria B. Greatest King – Nebuchadnezzar Rebuilt city of Babylon Great palace and gardens

C. Center of science and learning 1. Studied stars Babylonia and Assyria C. Center of science and learning 1. Studied stars 2. Measured length of a year

D. Chaldeans open to attacks by neighbors Babylonia and Assyria D. Chaldeans open to attacks by neighbors 1. 539 B.C. New Babylonian empire fell A. City of Babylon spared

The Legacy of Mesopotamia A. Development of written code of laws – Hammurabi’s Code B. Development of a system of math

The Legacy of Mesopotamia 1. Solve everyday problems 2. Measure geometric shapes

The Legacy of Mesopotamia C. Development of writing 1. Developed in Mesopotamia – 3500 B.C. 2. Necessary to keep records

The Legacy of Mesopotamia 3. Scribes important in society 4. Used clay from Tigris and Euphrates

The Legacy of Mesopotamia 5. Clay shaped into tablets 6. Shape and size of tablet depend upon its use

The Legacy of Mesopotamia 7. Cuneiform – a form of writing that uses groups of wedges and lines

Mediterranean Civilizations I. Phoenicia A. Located on Mediterranean Sea

Mediterranean Civilizations B. Rich resources 1. Snails produce purple dye 2. Cedar trees

Mediterranean Civilizations C. First trading empire and great sea power

Mediterranean Civilizations D. Phoenician alphabet 1. Needed to simplify writing

Mediterranean Civilizations 2. Developed alphabet – a set of symbols that represent sounds of the language

Mediterranean Civilizations 3. Basis of our alphabet 4. More people could learn to read and write