Mesopotamia 12,000 B.C. – 500 B.C.

Mesopotamia

Sumerian Civilization The Land, Geographic Importance –Not geographically isolated –Known as Fertile Crescent –Tigris and Euphrates Rivers –Ancient valley was called Babylon –Constantly overrun with invaders

Sumerian Civilization Sumer and Its Achievements –Metal tools –Cuneiform

Sumerian Civilization Architecture and Science –Invented the arch & dome –Ziggurats – temples –Science First to use the wheel Used a # system based on 60 Top – Artist’s conception – Bottom = today

Sumerian Civilization Sumerian Society –Formed city-states Controlled surrounding land –Government and Society Nobility and priests Merchants, Traders and Artisans Peasants and slaves –Slaves were captives of war

Sumerian Civilization Farming and Trade –Dates, grains, vegetables, and flax Food surplus led to trade by 3000 BC Education and religion –Only upper class boys went to school –Learned religion, drawing and mathematics –Believed in an afterlife

Ancient Empires in the Fertile Crescent Beyond the Sumerians

Empires of the Fertile Crescent Akkad Kish Sumer Uruk (Erech) Ur Babylon

Empires of the Fertile Crescent The Akkadians –Conquered Sumerians –Semitic language –Sargon was the most powerful Akkadian King –The Empire reached as far west as Mediterranean Sea –Lasted 150 years

Empires of the Fertile Crescent Babylonians –Code of Hammurabi 288 laws Concerned all aspects of life –Regulated work hours –Property rights –“eye for and eye”, rich still had more rights

Empires of the Fertile Crescent –Babylonian Culture Farming Active traders Women had some rights –Could be merchants, traders, scribes –Could be divorced by husband –Could not divorce husband –Women could leave a cruel husband and take property –Religion Believed in a shadowy afterlife like Sumerians Made sacrifices to their gods for good harvest Believed priests could predict the future

Ancient Babylon (artist conception)

Empires of the Fertile Crescent –Hittites Iron Biggest achievement was law and government Conquered and looted Babylon –But too far away to control it effectively

Empires of the Fertile Crescent –Assyrians Semitic language Shared cultural elements with Sumerians Eventually extended power into Egypt

Empires of the Fertile Crescent –Assyrians Skilled at warfare Cavalry Enslaved people they defeated Destroyed Babylon Library –Epic of Gilgamesh Finally defeated by Chaldeans and Medes

Empires of the Fertile Crescent –Chaldeans Led by Nebuchadnezzar Rebuilt Babylon Conquered most of Crescent Built Hanging Gardens Great astronomers Advanced in math Kingdom fell after Neb’s death

Empires of the Fertile Crescent The Persians –Indo-European Language –Cyrus the Great led a rebellion to win independence from Median Dynasty Darius and Xerxes I would spread rule of Persia –Strongest empire of the time

Empires of the Fertile Crescent The Persians –Government Justice was important Allowed conquered slaves to keep own religion King sent spies to check on regional rulers Built roads to connect empire –Religion Zoroastrianism Eternal struggle between good and evil –Defeated by Alexander the Great

Pictures of Ancient Persia Tomb of Cyrus Artist conception of Ancient Persian sculptors

Pictures of Ancient Persia Rock Carvings

The Phoenicians and Lydians Moving into the Mediterranean

The Phoenicians and Lydians The Phoenicians –No large Empire, but large impact –Modern Day Syria, Lebanon, and Israel –Loose union of city-states –Traded by sea –Excellent sailors- could navigate by the stars –Lumber –Skilled workers with gold and silver –Invented glass blowing –Purple dye

The Phoenicians and Lydians Phoenicians –Culture Spread Egyptian and Babylonian culture through trade Afterlife –sometimes sacrificed their own children Alphabet

Phoenician Trading Places

The Phoenicians and Lydians Lydians –Asia Minor / Turkey –Did not create an empire –First to use coined money

Origins of Judaism From Ur to Israel

The Origins of Judaism The Hebrews –Canaan –Conquered by Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Persians, Syrians –Abraham Had 2 sons, Isaac and Ishmael Isaac’s younger son, Jacob –Had 12 sons –Became the 12 tribes of Israel

The Origins of Judaism The Exodus –Left Canaan for Egypt due to drought –Enslaved for 400 years –Moses Wandered in the wilderness of Sinai for 40 years

The Origins of Judaism Ten Commandments –Given to Moses by Yahweh (Jewish God) –Hebrews entered into a covenant with God –Promised land

The Origins of Judaism The Founding of Israel –Loose confederation of tribes –Warred against The Philistines and Canaanites –The nomadic twelve tribes would unite under one king Saul – 1 st King David – 2 nd King –Made Jerusalem the capital and religious center

The Origins of Judaism –Kingdom eventually split Northern 10 tribes became Israel –Conquered by Assyrians Southern 2 became Judah –Conquered by Chaldeans –Allowed to return after Chaldeans were conquered by Cyrus

The Origins of Judaism Law and Ethics –Torah – first five books of the Bible Religion –Yahweh is the one, true God –Free will –Spiritual being with no human characteristics –Ethical-monotheistic religion

Arch of the Covenant King Solomon Ancient Jerusalem Cave of the Dead Sea Scrolls

Solomon’s Temple