Chapter 4Chapter 4Warriors and Deities in theWarriors and Deities in the

Near EastNear East

Assyrian EmpireAssyrian Empire900-612 BCE900-612 BCE

By 800 BCE had conquered much of Tigris-Euphrates regionBy 800 BCE had conquered much of Tigris-Euphrates region Great talent in military affairsGreat talent in military affairs

• Army was large, seemingly invincibleArmy was large, seemingly invincible• Horse and chariot were chief force in warfareHorse and chariot were chief force in warfare• Used tightly-knit infantry formationsUsed tightly-knit infantry formations• Also experts in siege warfareAlso experts in siege warfare

Perhaps the most hated conquerors in ancient historyPerhaps the most hated conquerors in ancient history Empire reached from upper Tigris to central EgyptEmpire reached from upper Tigris to central Egypt Conquered peoples finally united, overthrew AssyriansConquered peoples finally united, overthrew Assyrians Had sophisticated appreciation for all art formsHad sophisticated appreciation for all art forms

PhoeniciansPhoenicians

Lived along coastal strip (now Lebanon)Lived along coastal strip (now Lebanon) Great colonists, traders in luxury waresGreat colonists, traders in luxury wares Spread art of iron makingSpread art of iron making Established colonies throughout western Established colonies throughout western

MediterraneanMediterranean Most notable contribution was Most notable contribution was phonetic phonetic

alphabetalphabet, about 1000 BCE, about 1000 BCE• System of 22 marksSystem of 22 marks• Definite advance – simplicity, accessibilityDefinite advance – simplicity, accessibility• Greeks later added signs for vowelsGreeks later added signs for vowels

Persians Persians 500 BCE – 500 CE500 BCE – 500 CE

Most powerful of peoples of western Most powerful of peoples of western AsiaAsia• Indo-European languageIndo-European language• Highly skilled cavalryHighly skilled cavalry• Eventually became sedentaryEventually became sedentary

Persian EmpirePersian Empire• Cyrus the GreatCyrus the Great

United Persians in mid-sixth century BCEUnited Persians in mid-sixth century BCE Extended domain from India to Mediterranean, Extended domain from India to Mediterranean,

Arabia to lower Nile ValleyArabia to lower Nile Valley Main cities were in Iran, not MesopotamiaMain cities were in Iran, not Mesopotamia

Persian EmpirePersian Empire

His government was umbrella His government was umbrella sheltering many different peoplessheltering many different peoples• Subjects allowed to keep customs, lawsSubjects allowed to keep customs, laws• Local authorities stayed in powerLocal authorities stayed in power• Religion was totally freeReligion was totally free

Darius IDarius I• During his reign, empire reached largest During his reign, empire reached largest

sizesize• Uniform coinage, calendarUniform coinage, calendar• Advanced law codeAdvanced law code

HebrewsHebrews Most knowledge comes from Old TestamentMost knowledge comes from Old Testament Story of Abraham leading people into desert is Story of Abraham leading people into desert is

probably trueprobably true Established in Canaan by 1500s, came under control Established in Canaan by 1500s, came under control

of Egyptof Egypt ExodusExodus

• Exact reasons are not clearExact reasons are not clear• Under Moses, Hebrews resolved to return to CanaanUnder Moses, Hebrews resolved to return to Canaan• Wandered across Sinai Peninsula, met Canaanites, PhilistinesWandered across Sinai Peninsula, met Canaanites, Philistines

By about 1000 BCE had set up own kingdom in By about 1000 BCE had set up own kingdom in Canaan, Saul as kingCanaan, Saul as king

David conquered Jerusalem, which became capital David conquered Jerusalem, which became capital citycity

HebrewsHebrews SolomonSolomon

• Hebrews were trading intermediaries between Hebrews were trading intermediaries between Mesopotamia, EgyptMesopotamia, Egypt

• Temple of Jerusalem was built – one of wonders of Temple of Jerusalem was built – one of wonders of ancient worldancient world

• His successor split kingdom into Judea and SamariaHis successor split kingdom into Judea and Samaria In time, Judeans (Jews) and Samaritans saw In time, Judeans (Jews) and Samaritans saw

themselves as separate peoplesthemselves as separate peoples DiasporaDiaspora

• People scattered after Assyrian conquestPeople scattered after Assyrian conquest• Ten Lost Tribes of IsraelTen Lost Tribes of Israel• Judeans conquered by BabyloniansJudeans conquered by Babylonians• Babylonian Captivity Babylonian Captivity 586-539 BCE586-539 BCE• After their return, Judea remained under Persian rule After their return, Judea remained under Persian rule

until Alexander the Great conquered the areauntil Alexander the Great conquered the area

Jewish Religious Belief and its Jewish Religious Belief and its EvolutionEvolution

Yahweh became the only deity of the JewsYahweh became the only deity of the Jews Zarathustra’s dualism doctrine had considerable Zarathustra’s dualism doctrine had considerable

influenceinfluence Covenant – sacred contract to keep the faith, Covenant – sacred contract to keep the faith,

triumph over enemiestriumph over enemies Ten Commandments – rigid set of rules, moral Ten Commandments – rigid set of rules, moral

regulationsregulations One of earliest attempts to link ethics, worshipOne of earliest attempts to link ethics, worship

• Yahweh as enforcer of correct ethical actionsYahweh as enforcer of correct ethical actions• This belief was not unusualThis belief was not unusual• What was different was idea that good would be What was different was idea that good would be

rewardedrewarded

Economic Change and Social Economic Change and Social CustomsCustoms

Jews were mostly minor players in Jews were mostly minor players in regional affairs, politicsregional affairs, politics

Made transition from nomadic Made transition from nomadic herders to town lifeherders to town life

Social tension between rich and poor Social tension between rich and poor then appearedthen appeared

Jews divided all humanity into “we” Jews divided all humanity into “we” and “them”, segregated themselves and “them”, segregated themselves

Economic Change and Social Economic Change and Social CustomsCustoms

WomenWomen• Typical nomadic custom of subordinating women, Typical nomadic custom of subordinating women,

considering them as possessionsconsidering them as possessions• Marriage, divorce reflected patriarchyMarriage, divorce reflected patriarchy• Wife married into husband’s family, moved into Wife married into husband’s family, moved into

his househis house• Divorce was easy for husband, very unusual for Divorce was easy for husband, very unusual for

wifewife Children were the whole reason for marriageChildren were the whole reason for marriage

• Boys shared inheritance, girls did notBoys shared inheritance, girls did not• Education carried out within familyEducation carried out within family

A Changing TheologyA Changing Theology

Concept of Yahweh changed over timeConcept of Yahweh changed over time Long spiritual crisis during Babylonian Long spiritual crisis during Babylonian

CaptivityCaptivity New interpretation of the Covenant (the New interpretation of the Covenant (the

TalmudTalmud)) Yahweh was not the universal god of allYahweh was not the universal god of all He was just and merciful, He was just and merciful, omnipotentomnipotent and and

omniscientomniscient Granted Man free will, thus allowing Granted Man free will, thus allowing

principle of evil to appearprinciple of evil to appear

A Changing TheologyA Changing Theology

Last Judgement conceptLast Judgement concept Gradually Yahweh became a Gradually Yahweh became a

personal deitypersonal deity• Could be prayed to directlyCould be prayed to directly• Actions were not impulsive or Actions were not impulsive or

unpredictableunpredictable• Relationship between God and Man is Relationship between God and Man is

meant to be one of mutual lovemeant to be one of mutual love

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

1. The Assyrians have sometimes been 1. The Assyrians have sometimes been called the “first terrorists”. Why? What called the “first terrorists”. Why? What actions did they take that might be called actions did they take that might be called “terrorism” today? What comparisons and “terrorism” today? What comparisons and contrasts do you see with modern terrorism?contrasts do you see with modern terrorism?

2. Judaism established not only 2. Judaism established not only monotheism, but also the new idea of a monotheism, but also the new idea of a covenant between Man and God. Why was covenant between Man and God. Why was this such a different idea? How did it this such a different idea? How did it change over time? Did it strengthen or change over time? Did it strengthen or weaken the spread of Judaism?weaken the spread of Judaism?