1. Ancient Civilizations

2. U2 Discussion Questions
What is needed in order for
a civilization to be successful?
Why were many early
civilizations geographically
located in the same areas?
Which Area of Interaction
do you think best fits this
unit? Why?

3. Sumerians 4000-2330 B. C. Geography Fertile Crescent-region between
the Mediterranean Sea and
Persian Gulf
Mesopotamia-between the
Tigris and Euphrates River

4. Sumerians Society/Government/Culture Made up of city-states
(Babylon, Uruk, Ur)
Theocracy
Ziggurats; polytheistic
Cuneiform

5. Sumerians Accomplishments Literature (Epics of Gilgamesh)
School-men only; reading and writing
Units of 60
Geometry and irrigation system
Invented the wheel
Plow; bronze tools and weapons
Arches, ramps, columns
Ivory carvings
Umbrella

6. Akkadians From Arabia Led by Sargon I Conquered Mesopotamia
and became the first known
empire
Adopted Sumerian way of life

7. Babylonians Amorites Hammurabi (Hammurabi’s Code) Social Classes
Borrowed from Sumerians
Organized society that
included taxes, trade,
strong military
Conquered by Hittites (1600 B.C.)

8. Egypt 5000-1000 B. C. Geography Nile River (4, 160 miles long)
Flooding-forced them to
create irrigation system
Sahara Desert

9. Egyptian Geography Cont…
“The Black Land”
Nile Delta
Lower Egypt-North
Upper Egypt-South

10. Old Kingdom 2650-2150 B. C. Menes-united upper and
lower Egypt (3100 B. C.)
Memphis-capital
Pyramids
Pharaohs
Theocracy
Bureaucracy-vizier

11. Middle Kingdom 2055-1650 B. C. Capital moved to Thebes Trade increased
Expanded territory further South
Taken over by Hyksos

12. New Kingdom 1550-1070 B. C. Overthrew Hyksos Strengthened military
Expanded empire into Phoenicia and Syria
Hatshepsut
Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten)
Ramses II

13. Egyptian Society and Culture
Polytheism
Obelisks
Mummification
Art/paintings
Games (board games,
wrestling, dancing)

14. Obelisks

15. Eygptian Society and Culture
Hieroglyphics
Papyrus
Rosetta Stone
Book of the Dead
Great Pyramid; Sphinx
Math; medicine; astronomy

16. Great Sphinx

17. Great Pyramid

18. Aramaeans 1200 B. C. Damascus; Syria Trade; Egypt to Mesopotamia
Contributed to written
and spoken language

19. Hittites (2000-1200 B. C.) Empire in Western Asia (modern day Turkey)
Iron weapons and chariots
First people to make use
of iron
Conquered Babylon 1595 B. C.
Borrowed Mesopotamian
culture
Fell to unknown group described as
“Sea Peoples”

20. Phoenicians 3000 B. C. Lebanon Purple dye, glass, lumber
Alphabet; maritime trade
Established colonies for trade
Established Carthage
Byblos, Tyre, Sidon

21. Lydians (600’s B. C.) Asia Minor Economic Standards Coined money
Set prices (did not barter)

22. Israelites 1500-722 B. C. Lived to the south of the Phoenicians
Practiced Judaism
Hebrew writings
Torah

23. Abraham Abandon polytheism Covenant with God (Promised Land)
Traveled to Canaan
12 sons of Jacob-12 tribes
of Israel

24. Captivity in Egypt and the Exodus
Left Canaan and traveled
to Egypt
Enslaved by Egyptians
Moses
Mt. Sinai
Ten Commandments
Exodus-journey out
of Egypt
Passover

25. Kingdom of Israel Original government divided
by tribes and ruled by judges
Saul-first king; not well supported
by the people
David-well-liked; strong military;
Jerusalem
Solomon-ruled during height;
expanded trade; temple in Jerusalem

26. Decline Israel divided (Israel and Judah) Fell to the Assyrians
(722 B. C.)
Eventually enslaved by
Chaldeans (586); known as
Babylonian Captivity
Diaspora

27. Assyrians 900 B. C. Nineveh Conquered Egypt,
Mesopotamia, E. Asia Minor
Powerful military-chariots,
foot soldiers, cavalry, iron weapons,
terrorism, cruel
System of roads; messengers
Library
Conquered by Chaldeans (612 B. C.)

28. Chaldeans 612 B. C. – 539 B. C. Mesopotamia and Canaan
Related to Babylonians
Led by
Nebuchadnezzar ( B. C.)
Enslaved Jews
(Babylonian Captivity)
Rebuilt Babylon
Hanging Gardens
Conquered by Persians

29. Nebuchadnezzar’s Hanging Gardens

30. The Ishtar Gate

31. Persian Empire

32. The Persian Empire 539 B. C. – 300s B.C.
Originally settled in Iran
3000 miles wide;
50 million people
Cyrus the Great-overthrew
Medes rule; officially
established Persian Empire;
freed Jews from Babylon

33. Persia Cont…. Darius I-reformed military; Ten Thousand Immortals;
tried to conquer Greece;
reformed government
Satraps/Satrapies
Built roads; increased
trade/wealth

34. Persia Cont…. Xerxes-tried to invade Greece but was defeated;
last strong ruler of Persia
Eventually conquered by
Macedonians
(Alexander the Great)

35. Persian Society and Culture
Tolerant of other cultures
Established capital cities
(all connected by Royal Road)
Royal Road-first highway; good communication

36. Zoroastrianism First dualistic religion Ahura Mazda-god of good
Ahriman-god of evil
Free will
Avesta