The Middle East An Introduction

Objectives 1. Name and locate the nations of the Middle East. 2. Identify the major ethnic and religious groups of the Middle East. 3. Overview the early civilizations of the Middle East – recognize their names and major accomplishments.

Peoples of the Middle East Ethnicity Majority group: Arab Others: Turk, Iranian, Kurd, Armenian Religion Majority religion: Islam Others: Christianity, Judaism

Early Civilizations

Sumer B.C. Egypt 3100 B.C.8000 B.C. Earliest settlement Babylon B.C. Hittites s B.C B.C. Phoenicia Persian Empire 500 B.C. Greek influence: Spread of Hellenistic civilization (Alexander the Great) 330s B.C. Roman influence (115 B.C.) & Byzantine Empire ( A.D.) 115 B.C A.D.

Sumerians 1 st civilization in ME ziggurats cuneiform wheel sail calendar plow measurement based on 60

Babylonians, Hittites, Phoenicians Babylonians Hammurabi’s Code (1700s B.C.): “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” Hittites iron Phoenicians “carriers of civilization” alphabet

Persians Persian Empire under Darius, B.C.E.

Greek Influence (Hellenistic Civilization) Alexander the Great’s Empire

Roman Influence: Roman Empire

Roman Influence: Byzantine Empire