Brief history of the Region

CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION

AROUND 3500 BC BY THE SUMERIANS... BABYLONIA…

Mesopotamia was home to several powerful empires that came to rule almost the entire Middle East RULE TO EARLY 6 TH CENTURY..

The Middle East stands at the crossroads of three continents: Africa, Asia and Europe. Since ancient times it has developed major trade routes over land and sea. CROSSROADS OF THE WORLD

Many invaders throughout history in a desire to control trade routes and have access to three major continents. CONNECTS THREE CONTINENTS

The first major conquering Empire we will discuss in class! PERSIAN EMPIRE-550 B.C….

Ruins of Ancient CityNovel we will read in class. PERSEPOLIS, CAPITAL OF PERSIA

IRAN IS WHAT REMAINS OF PERSIAN EMPIRE..

Persian’s were defeated by the Greek Empire; size and geography of the two empires is almost the same. THE GREEK/MACEDONIA EMPIRE

Zeus RELIGION

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

HELLENISTIC CULTURE

ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT

The Greek culture and language first established in the region by the Macedonian Empire continued to dominate throughout the Roman period. ROMAN /BYZANTINE EMPIRE

Jupiter is the Roman counter part to Greek God Zeus! ROMAN GODS

Byzantine & Sasanid Empire (Persian) Empires, c. 600 A.D. PERS0-ROMAN DOMINATION

Converts the empire to Christianity First Christian Empire in the World EMPEROR CONSTANTINE (HIS MOTHER HELENA)

St. Sophia Church built by Constantine, as well development of Constantinople under his reign. NEW CHRISTIAN EMPIRE

CONSTANTINOPLE

This same capital city will be renamed Istanbul, when centuries later the Ottoman Turks conquer the city from the Byzantine Empire. CONSTANTINOPLE

Middle East at this time was no different culturally from Europe! Christian Influence in the Middle East Greek Language spoken in the Middle East Roman and Greek Architecture & Traditions GRECO- ROMAN WORLD

Ephesus was an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city, on the near present-day Izmir Province, Turkey. EPHESUS IN TURKEY

Petra was the impressive capital of the Nabataean kingdom. The kingdom was absorbed into the Roman Empire in AD 106 and the Romans continued to expand the city. PETRA IN JORDAN

Christianity rose to become the future of civilization. A conquered city, Jerusalem transformed into the Christian Holy City, where the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. JERUSALEM CHRISTIAN QUARTER

RISE OF ISLAM & ISLAMIC EMPIRES

Early Arab & Islamic conquered most of the Byzantine Empire. GROWTH OF ISLAMIC EMPIRES

Ottoman Turks conquer the rest of the Byzantine Empire, Modern day Turkey. Changing capital from Constantinople to Istanbul! OTTOMAN EMPIRE

ISTANBUL, CAPITAL OF OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Known in the East, as "The Lawgiver" SULEIMAN THE MAGNIFICENT

Click on Link for interactive map of the History of the Middle East IMPERIAL HISTORY OF THE MIDDLE EAST