Mesopotamia Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Sumerian Civilization – 3000 BCE Capital City is UR Ziggurat

Characteristics Religion is polytheistic and had a grim view of the afterlife Religion is polytheistic and had a grim view of the afterlife Men were head of household, women had few legal rights Men were head of household, women had few legal rights Sumerian Advances Sumerian Advances 1. Wagon Wheel 2. Arches in building 3. Cuneiform – Wedge shaped symbols 4. Sundial – 60 seconds in a 1 minute 5. Number system based on month calendar 7. Metal plow 8. Epic of Gilgamesh 9. 1 st Umbrella

Akkadians Located North of Sumer Located North of Sumer 2340 BCE conquered Sumerians 2340 BCE conquered Sumerians Sargon I – ruled for 55 years. He united and expanded Mesopotamian culture and helped spread Sumerian achievements Sargon I – ruled for 55 years. He united and expanded Mesopotamian culture and helped spread Sumerian achievements

Babylonians – 1750 B.C. King Hammurabi – conquered Sumerians and Akkadian King Hammurabi – conquered Sumerians and Akkadian People sometimes described as Amorites People sometimes described as Amorites Created 1 st Babylonian Empire Created 1 st Babylonian Empire Hammurabi’s Code Hammurabi’s Code -uniform code of laws -uniform code of laws -written down – 282 specific laws -written down – 282 specific laws “eye for an eye” type laws “eye for an eye” type laws

Hebrews – 1500 to 722 B.C. Journeyed into Palestine around 1200 B.C. from the Arabian Desert Journeyed into Palestine around 1200 B.C. from the Arabian Desert The Old Testament records their history The Old Testament records their history Maintained their independence for 500 years Maintained their independence for 500 years Religion of the Hebrews is Monotheistic – belief in one God – Judaism Religion of the Hebrews is Monotheistic – belief in one God – Judaism God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient

Solomon’s Temple

Phoenicians – 1200 to 800 B.C. The best sea traders of the ancient world The best sea traders of the ancient world Founded cities in North Africa and Spain Founded cities in North Africa and Spain Known for their Alphabet (22 letters) – English alphabet is a direct descendent Known for their Alphabet (22 letters) – English alphabet is a direct descendent Traded cedar logs, textiles dyed in purple, glass objects, and jewelry Traded cedar logs, textiles dyed in purple, glass objects, and jewelry

Phoenician ABCs

Phoenician Ships

Hittites 1450 B.C. to 1200 B.C. Fierce Fighters from the country of Turkey Fierce Fighters from the country of Turkey Used iron weapons Used iron weapons Invented the chariot – 3 men per chariot Invented the chariot – 3 men per chariot Wore their hair long with thick pigtails hung down their backs Wore their hair long with thick pigtails hung down their backs Legal system – less harsh than Hammurabi Legal system – less harsh than Hammurabi

Hittites

Assyrians – 800 to 612 B.C. One of the most lethal fighting forces One of the most lethal fighting forces Fighting force was organized into foot soldiers, charioteers and fast moving cavalry Fighting force was organized into foot soldiers, charioteers and fast moving cavalry Burned cities and tortured and killed thousands Burned cities and tortured and killed thousands Had network of roads that connected empire Had network of roads that connected empire World’s largest cuneiform library World’s largest cuneiform library Their cruelty would earn them many enemies Their cruelty would earn them many enemies King Sennacherib bragged that he destroyed 89 cities and 820 villages King Sennacherib bragged that he destroyed 89 cities and 820 villages

Assyrian Brutality

Chaldeans – 616 to 539 B.C. Known as the 2 nd Babylonian Empire Known as the 2 nd Babylonian Empire Treated the Jewish Population horrible – enslaved the city’s population and exiled them to Babylonia Treated the Jewish Population horrible – enslaved the city’s population and exiled them to Babylonia Predicted eclipses and the length of year Predicted eclipses and the length of year King Nebuchadnezzar built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon – one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World King Nebuchadnezzar built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon – one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World

King Nebuchadnezzar

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Babylonian Ziggurat

Persians – 559 to 330 B.C. Empire was founded the Cyrus the Great – treated conquered cities with kindness Empire was founded the Cyrus the Great – treated conquered cities with kindness Allowed Jews to return to their homeland Allowed Jews to return to their homeland Darius I extended the empire and divided it into 20 provinces with a rule known as Satrap Darius I extended the empire and divided it into 20 provinces with a rule known as Satrap Royal Road – 1,500 miles long – every 14 miles there were stations of food, rest, and horses – took only 7 days to travel the distance Royal Road – 1,500 miles long – every 14 miles there were stations of food, rest, and horses – took only 7 days to travel the distance “Eyes and Ears of the King” – royal spies “Eyes and Ears of the King” – royal spies

Zoroastrianism Zoroaster was a prophet with monotheisitic spiritual message Zoroaster was a prophet with monotheisitic spiritual message Ahuramazda was the only god (good god). Ahriman was the evil spirit Ahuramazda was the only god (good god). Ahriman was the evil spirit Had notions of heaven and hell Had notions of heaven and hell Each soul faced a final evaluation of its actions Each soul faced a final evaluation of its actions

Persian Rulers

Persepolis