1. Mesopotamia
12,000 B.C. – 500 B.C.

2. Mesopotamia

3. Sumerian Civilization
The Land, Geographic Importance
Not geographically isolated
Known as Fertile Crescent
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Ancient valley was called Babylon
Constantly overrun with invaders

4. Sumerian Civilization
Sumer and Its Achievements
Metal tools
Cuneiform

6. Sumerian Civilization
Architecture and Science
Invented the arch & dome
Ziggurats – temples
Science
First to use the wheel
Used a # system based on 60
Top – Artist’s conception – Bottom = today

7. Sumerian Civilization
Sumerian Society
Formed city-states
Controlled surrounding land
Government and Society
Nobility and priests
Merchants, Traders and Artisans
Peasants and slaves
Slaves were captives of war

8. Sumerian Civilization
Farming and Trade
Dates, grains, vegetables, and flax
Food surplus led to trade by 3000 BC
Education and religion
Only upper class boys went to school
Learned religion, drawing and mathematics
Believed in an afterlife

9. Ancient Empires in the Fertile Crescent
Beyond the Sumerians

10. Empires of the Fertile Crescent
Akkad
Kish
Sumer
Babylon
Uruk
(Erech) Ur

11. Empires of the Fertile Crescent
The Akkadians
Conquered Sumerians
Semitic language
Sargon was the most powerful Akkadian King
The Empire reached as far west as Mediterranean Sea
Lasted 150 years

12. Empires of the Fertile Crescent
Babylonians
Code of Hammurabi
288 laws
Concerned all aspects of life
Regulated work hours
Property rights
“eye for and eye”, rich still had more rights

13. Empires of the Fertile Crescent
Babylonian Culture
Farming
Active traders
Women had some rights
Could be merchants, traders, scribes
Could be divorced by husband
Could not divorce husband
Women could leave a cruel husband and take property
Religion
Believed in a shadowy afterlife like Sumerians
Made sacrifices to their gods for good harvest
Believed priests could predict the future

14. Ancient Babylon (artist conception)

15. Empires of the Fertile Crescent
Hittites
Iron
Biggest achievement was law and government
Conquered and looted Babylon
But too far away to control it effectively

17. Empires of the Fertile Crescent
Assyrians
Semitic language
Shared cultural elements with Sumerians
Eventually extended power into Egypt

18. Empires of the Fertile Crescent
Assyrians
Skilled at warfare
Cavalry
Enslaved people they defeated
Destroyed Babylon
Library
Epic of Gilgamesh
Finally defeated by Chaldeans and Medes

20. Empires of the Fertile Crescent
Chaldeans
Led by Nebuchadnezzar
Rebuilt Babylon
Conquered most of Crescent
Built Hanging Gardens
Great astronomers
Advanced in math
Kingdom fell after Neb’s death

21. Empires of the Fertile Crescent
The Persians
Indo-European Language
Cyrus the Great led a rebellion to win independence from Median Dynasty
Darius and Xerxes I would spread rule of Persia
Strongest empire of the time

22. Empires of the Fertile Crescent
The Persians
Government
Justice was important
Allowed conquered slaves to keep own religion
King sent spies to check on regional rulers
Built roads to connect empire
Religion
Zoroastrianism
Eternal struggle between good and evil
Defeated by Alexander the Great

24. Pictures of Ancient Persia
Tomb of Cyrus
Artist conception of
Ancient Persian sculptors

25. Pictures of Ancient Persia
Rock Carvings

26. The Phoenicians and Lydians
Moving into the Mediterranean

27. The Phoenicians and Lydians
No large Empire, but large impact
Modern Day Syria, Lebanon, and Israel
Loose union of city-states
Traded by sea
Excellent sailors- could navigate by the stars
Lumber
Skilled workers with gold and silver
Invented glass blowing
Purple dye

28. The Phoenicians and Lydians
Culture
Spread Egyptian and Babylonian culture through trade
Afterlife
sometimes sacrificed their own children
Alphabet

29. Phoenician Trading Places

30. The Phoenicians and Lydians
Asia Minor / Turkey
Did not create an empire
First to use coined money

31. Origins of Judaism
From Ur to Israel

32. The Origins of Judaism The Hebrews Canaan
Conquered by Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Persians, Syrians
Abraham
Had 2 sons, Isaac and Ishmael
Isaac’s younger son, Jacob
Had 12 sons
Became the 12 tribes of Israel

33. The Origins of Judaism The Exodus Left Canaan for Egypt due to drought
Enslaved for 400 years
Moses
Wandered in the wilderness of Sinai for 40 years

34. The Origins of Judaism Ten Commandments
Given to Moses by Yahweh (Jewish God)
Hebrews entered into a covenant with God
Promised land

35. The Origins of Judaism The Founding of Israel
Loose confederation of tribes
Warred against The Philistines and Canaanites
The nomadic twelve tribes would unite under one king
Saul – 1st King
David – 2nd King
Made Jerusalem the capital and religious center

36. The Origins of Judaism Kingdom eventually split
Northern 10 tribes became Israel
Conquered by Assyrians
Southern 2 became Judah
Conquered by Chaldeans
Allowed to return after Chaldeans were conquered by Cyrus

37. The Origins of Judaism Law and Ethics Religion
Torah – first five books of the Bible
Religion
Yahweh is the one, true God
Free will
Spiritual being with no human characteristics
Ethical-monotheistic religion

38. Arch of the Covenant
King Solomon
Ancient Jerusalem
Cave of the Dead Sea Scrolls

39. Solomon’s Temple