1. Early Empires

2. Phoenicians Limited by geography Little fertile land
Peaked around 1000 BC
Trade: Cedar, Metal products, Glass blowing, Dyeing
Sea (Great International Sea Traders)
Carthage (Famous Colony)
Alphabet (22 characters) - Greek

3. Assyrians 700 BC Military (Iron Weapons) * Use of Chariots
* 1st to use cavalry
Terror tactics (smash dams, looted fire, rape, pillage, & torture)
Transportation/communication (post offices)
Library (one of the world's 1st) at City of Ninevah

4. Assyrians (cont’d)

5. Persians (S.W. Iran) Cyrus (treated capture well) - Darius – Xerxes
Military conquests
* The Immortals (Cavalry & elite infantry: ,000)

6. Persians (cont’d) Had informed the largest world-empire to date
Use of secret agents (spies)
* "king's eyes and ears“
Use of newly built road system (Royal Road)
Court decline (High taxes brought decline in loyalty & diluted gene pool)

7. Persians (cont’d) Zoroastrianism (Monotheistic - Ahuramazoa)
* Zoroaster (prophet of the "true" religion)
* 600 BC
* People have free will to choose
* good or evil
* Seek reward or receive punishment
* Great influence on other religions

8. Lydians
Asia Minor
Traders
Coined Money
600 BC
Money economy develops