MIDDLE EAST: ANCIENT EMPIRES

Mesopotamia means “land between rivers” It is the area between Tigris River and Euphrates River. It sometimes refers to the area that stretches from Persian Gulf through Iraq. THIS IS WHERE CIVILIZATION BEGAN.

Mesopotamia is included in a region called The Fertile Crescent. Named because the land was very fertile. Wow. Amazing. Creative Name…. People settled there because the land was good (fertile- silt) and there was a water supply.

The earliest civilizations began in SUMER which was governed by 12 independent city-states— – made up of a city and surrounding farmland. Each city-state had its own laws and leaders. They were ruled by a King. –A famous example is GILGAMESH around 2500 BC.

It was an AGRICULTURAL society.

GREATEST ADVANCEMENT: WHEEL. Which led to the invention of a wheeled cart. Which was good because animals could pull heavy loads, making it easier for people.

Developed a writing system called CUNEIFORM around 3000 BC. CUNEIFORM is a system of wedge shaped symbols.

They were polytheistic – belief in MANY gods. The gods were believed to control many things like weather. Most cities would have a ZIGGURAT which was a shrine to the special god of the city.

BABYLON was created when Hammurabi. created the city that united Sumer. He then conquered all the way to Turkey Their location made them perfect for trade. They became very rich through conquests. This kingdom united most of Mesopotamia between 1792BC and 1750BC.

Hammurabi was most famous for his laws, called Hammurabi’s Code. Made up of 282 laws Based on “eye for an eye” Examples: –If any one steal the minor son of another, he shall be put to death. –If the slave of a freed man strike the body of a freed man, his ear shall be cut off. It favored men over women and free over slaves. At the time, it was the very best in lawmaking.

The Phoenicians lived along important trade routes. In present day Libya and Syria. MOST IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION: ALPHABET 22 letters based on sounds all consonants, no vowels

Excellent sea travelers. –Able to spread their alphabet through the world It was used by the Greeks and Romans Invented purple dye Developed the art of glassmaking

Babylonian empire came to an end when the Hittites destroyed it They were excellent horsemen. First to discover how to heat iron to make tools and weapons

Another important group of people were the Assyrians. They developed a strong military Used iron weapons and chariots.

Most powerful king was Sennacherib Wanted power- so he destroyed many cities –Babylon was destroyed in 689 BC Assyrian empire was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 612 BC

Babylonians Persians Assyrians Turks