Unit 1

Overview and Discussion

The Calendar: Time

• • B.C. – before Christ = B.C.E.–before the common era

• • A.D. – anno domini = C.E-common era

Time Line

• 2000 B.C.E.• 1000 B.C.E.• 500 B.C.E• 0• 500 C.E.• 1000 C.E.• 2000 C.E.

• If something occurred in 2000 BCE, it took place 4012 years ago.

Neolithic revolution• Agricultural societies emerge

– Led to economic, social, and political organization

– Rose independently throughout the world

• What was the effect of the revolution?• Permanent settlement was formed to

ensure dependable food supply• Population boom

What is a civilization• Society with high levels of culture and

social organization– Formal states, writing, cities, trade,

etc• Where did the first civilization emerge?• Began in the Middle East 10,000 BCE• Along river valleys (3500 BCE)• What contributes to the development of

civilization?• Specialization of labor (steady supply of

food allows other people to build, invent, create tools, art, govt. etc

Birth of Civilization

Prehistoric Peoplehttp://www.becominghuman.org/

Evolution’s Theory…Evolution’s Theory…

Controversy…Controversy…Evolution Vs CreationEvolution Vs CreationCharles Darwin’s Theory of Charles Darwin’s Theory of evolution creates evolution creates controversy! Why?controversy! Why?Challenged human originChallenged human originMany considered this to be Many considered this to be offensive, atheistic, offensive, atheistic, blasphemous blasphemous

Ancient Civilizations

The Fertile Crescent

MAPS

http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/maptext_n2/start1.html

Fertile Crescent• Fertile Crescent

- “Crossroads to the world?” • Also known as Mesopotamia• Trade brought cultural diffusionTrade brought cultural diffusion

Mesopotamia

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•

Climate: • Unpredictable

flooding • No geographical barriers

SOCIAL STRUCTURE• There were three distinct classes:

– the large landholders, royalty, priests, and merchants– dependent farmers (most people) and artisans and

workmen– Slaves was not economically crucial

• not an inherited condition

• Men held authority over women and children• Women had legal rights; some engaged in trade

and owned property.

Economy

• Barter Economy • - Example? • Ziggurat • Each had its own

ziggurat? Very Important…

• - Its purpose?• Resting place of the

gods

Religion• Believed gods controlled every aspect of

life. • Anthropomorphic - gods possess same

characteristics as man • Man at the mercy of the gods

GOVERNMENT

• Made up of City-states with hereditary rulers.

• Supported by priesthood and military• Ruler led army in war and enforced laws.

Writing• Cuneiform Cuneiform

-Oldest in the World -Most important contribution

The Code of Hammurabi

– first major collection of laws first major collection of laws – 282+ laws 282+ laws – ““Eye for an eye, life for life” Eye for an eye, life for life”

Hammurabi

Babylonian Leader

1792-1750 B.C.E

Egypt: “The Gift of the Nile”• 4,160 miles longest

river in the world• Predictable Predictable

floodingflooding• carried rich carried rich

deposits of silt deposits of silt along with it.along with it.

• primary means of primary means of communication communication and and transportation. transportation.

• Pharaoh was god on earth

• Menes reigned for 62 years and was killed by a hippopotamus

Menes:(C. 2925 BCE) The First Pharaoh

Religion in the Lives of Ancient Egyptians

• Gods controlled Gods controlled nature, especially the nature, especially the weather and illness weather and illness

•

Egyptian PriestEgyptian Priest

Most Honored Egyptian Gods

Major Gods:Major Gods: - -Amon-Re (ra)Amon-Re (ra) was the sun god – Most Powerful God! -OsirisOsiris was the god of the underworld and of the Nile.

-IsisIsis was the most powerful mother goddess worshiped all over Egypt

Mummification– Mummify to

preserve a sound body for the Ka to return to

– 70 day process

– Improper embalming leads to second true death

Mummification

A Fateful Test…• The heart of the dead was weighed against a

feather if the heart weighted less he was allowed to go on

• Those who were viewed as sinners were fed to the crocodile-shaped eater of the dead

• those who were viewed as worthy entered the happy field of food.

3 Kingdoms of Egypt• Old Kingdom (2700 BCE -2200 BCE)

– Pharaohs organized a strong central state– Policy of isolation– Pyramid Age

• Middle Kingdom (2050 BCE – 1800 BCE)– Corruption and rebellion were common– Hyksos invaded and occupied the delta region (1648 -1540 BCE)

• New Kingdom (1550 BCE – 1100 BCE)– The empire will extend to its greatest size (Syria and Nubia

• Nubian Kingdom Meroe took control of Egypt as the twenty-fifth dynasty (712-660 BCE)– Driven out of Egypt by the Assyrians

• 332 BCE Alexander of Macedon conquered Egypt– Ptolemaic Egypt

• Ended in 51 BCE when the Romans conquered them

Great Leaders of the New Kingdom

• Ramses II: most effective leader. (1279 BCE – 1213 BCE)

---What is he famous for?

Pharaoh of the Exodus?

• The most powerful pharaoh, Ramses II expanded Egypt to the height of its power

• Palestine to Syria

Ramses II

The Early History of the Jews

Also known as the Israelites and Hebrews

Their history effects relations in the

Middle East today!

Genealogy

Judaism Heritage Chart

Father Abraham Married to Sarah

2 sons

Ishmael Mother is Hagar

Abraham's maidservant

Isaac Mother is Sarah

Cast out to desert

12 sons 12 Tribes of the Ishmaelite

Muslims

Jacob (Israel) Son of Isaac

12 sons 12 Tribes of Israel

Jews

•The Israelites were monotheistic, believing in one true God.

•The Israelites believed that they were God’s “chosen people.”

Judaism

Teachings on Law and Morality

• The laws of the Torah address all aspects of life, from cleanliness and food preparation to criminal matters.

Judaism

Abraham & Isaac

Moses & the 10 Commandments

Torah

•The earliest Indian civilization flourished for about 1,000 years, then vanished then vanished without a trace. without a trace.

Indus Valley CivilizationIndus Valley Civilization3300–1300 BCE3300–1300 BCE

Indus Valley CivilizationIndus Valley Civilization

• Well-organized government • Carefully planned cities •Modern plumbing and sewer system

Public Bath at Harappa

Indus Valley WritingIndus Valley WritingWhose writing does the Indus peoples look the most like?

How could that be?

Decline and Disappearance: Indus Valley Civilization

• No one knows for certain why the cities were abandoned or forgotten.

• Scholars have proposed a number of theories:• Natural disasters:• A devastating earthquake destroyed the region. • A volcanic eruption caused the Indus to flood the city. • Aryan invaders overran the region. • The Indus valley climate grew significantly cooler and

drier from about 1800 BCE. A crucial factor may have been the disappearance of substantial portions of the Ghaggar Hakra river system