1. 9/26 Focus:
The Phoenicians spread ideas throughout the Mediterranean and they are credited with starting the modern alphabet.
The Persians formed one of the largest and best governed empires in the ancient world and made great cultural achievements.
Do Now:
Explain how the geographic location of a group of people might influence their culture.

2. Review Where did the Hittites originally come from?
What technological development made them a powerful military force?
Why were the Assyrians hated by the people they conquered?

3. Fertile Crescent Empires
The Chaldeans
The Phoenicians

4. Nebuchadnezzar II Chaldean king who rebuilt the Babylonian empire
Took over the southern and western Assyrian empire after that empire collapsed
Neo-Babylonian Empire
Captured Jerusalem and sent many Jews back to Babylon as slaves

5. Nebuchadnezzar II Made Babylon one of greatest cities of that time
Ancient writers claim that he constructed the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
One of the seven wonders of the ancient world

6. Artists rendition of what the Hanging Gardens may have looked like

8. Phoenicians Lived in along the coast of modern day Lebanon
Mountainous terrain made it difficult to farm
They became expert sailors
Established trade routes and trading colonies throughout the Mediterranean
Carthage in North Africa was one the largest colonies

11. Phoenicians “The Carriers of Civilization” Created the Alphabet
Spread ideas, technology, customs from the Middle East through the Mediterranean as they traded
Created the Alphabet

13. How far did the Phoenicians sail?

14. The Greek historian, Herodotus claimed that the Phoenicians had circumnavigated Africa

15. Some theorize that the Phoenicians may have even made it to the Americas. This is theory is generally not accepted.

16. The Persian Empire

17. Persians Cyrus the Great 559-529 BCE Established the Persian Empire
Extended from N. Africa to India
Allowed people to keep their customs

19. Persians Darius the Great 522-486 BCE
Established large network of roads
The Royal Road
Created postal system
Used a single currency
Appointed governors to run sections of the empire
Called Satraps

21. Persians Zoroastrianism Based on the teachings of Zoroaster
Monotheistic Religion
Belief in one god
God was named Ahura Mazada
Good actions and thoughts lead to immortality
Tolerant of other religions

22. Closure
What legendary achievement did Nebuchadnezzar construct in Babylon?
Why did the Phoenicians focus on trade by sea for their livelihood?
Why were the Phoenicians known as carriers of civilization?