Eastern Mediterranean Societies:

Monotheism, Trade, and Writing

SSWH1: The student will analyze the origins, structures, and interactions of complex

societies in the ancient Eastern Mediterranean from 3500 BC to 500 BCE.

Monotheism

SSWH1 c: Explain the development of monotheism, include the concepts developed by the ancient Hebrews, and Zoroastrianism.

The Development of Monotheism

The oldest monotheistic religion was created by the Hebrew people.

– Its foundation lies in the original covenant made between Abraham and God, ~1900 BCE

– Abraham’s SonsIshmael by Hagar would be the ancestor of the Arab peopleIsaac by Sarah would be the ancestor of the Israelites (Jews) and eventually Christians

The Development of Monotheism

Asher

Simeon

Dan

Issachar

Levi

Nephtali

Reuben

Zebulun

Judah

Gad

Joseph Benjamin

Abraham

IsaacIshmael

EsauJacob

The Development of Monotheism

Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers (jealousy)

– His gift in dream interpretation made pharaoh give him position of vizier

– He was in a position to bring his whole family to Egypt during the famine.

– Israelites stay in Egypt for 400 years

The Development of Monotheism

The second and chief covenant of Judaism was made when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt.

– God gave Moses the 10 Commandants and other rules to live by (contained in the Torah) marking the beginning of Judaism as a structured monotheistic religion.

– Dates are unknown – anywhere from 1600-1200 BCE.

Hebrew Monotheism

Main Beliefs of Judaism– There is one God, Yahweh

created and ruled the world.

determined right and wrong (what is sin)

expected people to deal justly with each other and accept moral responsibility for their actions.

– Role of Humanity: All people were Yahweh’s servants, not just a certain tribe or nation.

Hebrew Monotheism3 important aspects of the Hebrew religion– Covenant was the agreement between God

and his people. – Law of God stated in the 10 Commandments– Holy messengers called prophets were sent

by God. Unjust actions brings punishment

New element– concern for all humanity– hope that someday all people would follow the law of the

God of Israel in a time of peace.

Hebrew MonotheismThe religion of Israel was unique among the religions of western Asia and Egypt.– Its most distinctive feature was its monotheism. – Ideas of Judaism were written down– would not accept the gods/goddesses of neighbors.

Hebrew Monotheism

Main Beliefs of Judaism– Afterlife:

Primary focus of Judaism is here and now, not afterlife.

Called Olam Ha-Ba (The World to Come)

They believe in an afterlife but there is no official dogma. Open to personal opinion.– Paradise, temporary punishment to purge soul,

reincarnation, resurrection

– Role of Humanity: All people were Yahweh’s servants, not just a certain tribe or nation.

Hebrew MonotheismMain Beliefs of Judaism

– Role of Humanity: Created to be companions for God.

All people were Yahweh’s servants and companions

Jews are “chosen people” in that they live their lives fully in accordance with God’s will as an example to others

– Books of Judaism:Torah (Old Testament), particularly the Pentateuch

Talmud – rabbinic teachings

Persia

Persia is the name used to describe the people who moved into the Iran area of the Assyrian Empire as it was in decline. It rose in influence under great leaders like Cyrus the Great and Darius the Great and created a great empire as it conquered territories in the region.Would come to interact with the Greeks later on.

Persian Monotheism

Zoroastrianism– Beginning uncertain, possibly as early as

1200 BCE.– Existing frameworks were formalized through

the work of prophet Zoroaster.– Was dominant religion in Persia until the

Muslims came through in 700s CE.– Zoroastrian refugees from Persia brought the

religion into India, where most of the modern practioners live today.

ZoroastrianismMain Beliefs of Zoroastrianism– One Supreme and Universal God, called

Ahuramazda, who created the world– Duality of Existence: good versus evil (morally

and cosmically)Ongoing battle between good (Ahuramazda) and evil (Ahriman). Good will win with rewards, evil will lose and suffer punishment.

– Ethics of ‘Good Words, Good Thoughts and Good Deeds’

– Sacredness of creation – ecological concern

Zoroastrianism

Main Beliefs of Zoroastrianism– Afterlife: soul remains near body 3 days then

goes to 1st judgment, which gives temporary residence in heaven or hell. Last Judgment comes at end of time when Ahuramazda judges for permanent place.

– Role of Humanity: to stay away from evil and enhance the good amongst us through religious practice and following teachings of Zoroaster.

– Holy book: Zend Avesta, the teachings of Zoroaster

Trading Networks

SSWH1 d. Identify early trading networks and writing systems existent in the

Eastern Mediterranean, including those of the Phoenicians.

Trade Network

Mesopotamian trade:– Foot (local)– Donkey (most common, long distance)– Gulf boat (from southern Mesopotamia to Gulf)– Raft (local river trade)– Coracle (up & down river)– River boat (down river trade; had to be towed back)– cart

Egyptians traded primarily by way of the Nile River, but also using some overland trade along the Mediterranean coast.

Trade Networks

Egyptian trade: – cheapest and fastest way was by ship (river, canal,

and sea coast)departure and return journeys dictated by seasons due to sails

– Overland caravan possible using horse and oxen

Trade went north and east through Sinai into Mesopotamia.

Trade Networks

Other civilizations of the Fertile Crescent and their trade contributions:

– AramaeansNomadic people who eventually settled along trade routes in Mesopotamia.

Largest center was Damascus, Syria

Came to dominate overland trade between Egypt and Mesopotamia– their language, Aramaic, became widespread

Trade Networks

– PhoeniciansThey settled in Canaan (modern day Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan)

They began to sail the seas because they did not have good farmland for crops

– Could plot voyages using the sun and stars.– reached southern Spain, Western Africa and

maybe even the British Isles.– Controlled Mediterranean shipping and trade.

Created an alphabetic writing system and introduced bills of sale (receipts) and contracts.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9c/PhoenicianTrade.png

Trade Routes

– LydiansIntroduced a money system so that the barter system (trading goods for goods) was no longer needed.

Writing Systems

SSWH1 e. Explain the development and importance of writing; include cuneiform, hieroglyphics, and the

Phoenician alphabet.

Cuneiformdates to 3100 BC and was developed by the Sumerianswedge-shaped markings on clay tablets

– Over # symbols– Pictograms that eventually developed into

symbols representing complex ideas.scribes

– studied at schools called Eddubas.– Scribes rose to high position in society– produced business records, listed historical

dates and some literary works were written.

CuneiformUses of Cuneiform

– originally developed to keep accounts and trade documents.

– business records– listed historical dates – some literary works

most famous literary work in cuneiform was Epic of Gilgamesh

– Oldest story in the world: 1850 BC– It is based on an actual king in the city-state

of Uruk.

HieroglyphicsEgypt’s earliest writing systempicture symbols into slate.

– Over 2000 symbols at its height– The picture symbols stood for objects, ideas and sounds

Also had a class of scribes to record thingsNo modern man understood hieroglyphics until AD 1799.

– Jean-François Champollion deciphered the hieroglyphics using the Greek on the Rosetta Stone.

HieroglyphicsUses of Hieroglphics

– Original hieroglyphics was used for sacred writing, inscribing monuments and recording religious texts and rituals.

– hieratic script was a cursive script used for sacred writing on papyrus

– Demotic text used for administrative, legal and commercial texts

– Best Known Example of Literature : The Book of the Dead

It contained more than 200 prayers and magic formulas.

Hieroglypics

Horizontal

Vertical

Hieratic Script

Demotic Egyptian

Phoenician Alphabet

a series of symbols that represent sounds– It was developed around 1000 BC– It had 22 characters and each represented a

consonant soundthe reader mentally supplied the vowels in the proper places

– It later became the foundation of several alphabets including Greek, which in turn became the basis of all western alphabets including ours.

– Because the alphabet was easy to learn the merchants no longer needed scribes to keep records.