1. Do Now Pretend that a group conquered the United States. List some characteristics that you hope your conquerors would have (at least 4). Consider: What kind of rights would you like to keep? Quiz on this stuff tomorrow!!

2. Three Empires that will give you a reason to live. The Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Persians

3. Where the heck is Assyria?  Upper part of Tigris River Valley  Present Day Syria  Spread all the way into Egypt! http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Map_of_Assyria.png/800px-Map_of_Assyria.png

4. The Assyrian Army  Feared warriors, very organized army  1 st to use separate units of infantry and cavalry  All adult men served in army

5. Assyrians, Cont…  Assyrian Army conquered many people.  Forced them to pay heavy taxes.  Built up capital city of Nineveh with taxes.

6. King Ashurbanipal  Ashurbanipal ruled around 650 B.C.  Divided empire into provinces with governors that controlled each.  Built network of roads to improve communication.  Very well-educated, collected a library of over 20,000 tablets of poetry, mathematics, epics, etc.

7. Goodbye Assyrians, Here Come the Chaldeans!  Assyrians conquered by Chaldeans 612BC  Chaldean = Babylonian  Chaldean King Nebechadnezzar leads invasion of Israel.  Destroys Jerusalem and Solomon’s Temple http://www.hope.edu/academic/religion/bandstra/RTOT/CH13/CH13_F7.JPG

8. - Nebuchadrezzar built “Hanging Gardens” palace for wife. - One of 7 wonders of ancient world.

9. Bring In the Persians!  Chaldeans conquered by Persians in 539 BC  Persians develop largest empire in world.  Known for being nice to conquered people. http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson_images/EvalGraphics/PersianEmpire03.jpg

10. Cyrus the Great!  Ruled 559 BC – 530 BC  Expanded empire  Freed Hebrews from Assyrians in Jerusalem  Also set up satrapies (provinces) governed by a satrap.  Typically appointed locals to run satrapies.  Later, created road system to travel between satrapies.  Developed a system of coinage

11. Zoroastrianism  Began by worshipping many gods  Religious leader Zoroaster changed this with belief of 2 major gods – good and evil spirit.  Also used concept of judgment day. http://www.zoroastrianism.cc/ima ges/farohar1_small.jpg

12. Reflection  Of the previous empires, which would seem to be the best group to be ruled by? Give at least 2 examples for why.  Don’t forget the quiz tomorrow!