western asia and egypt 3500-500 bc. what was the fertile crescent?
TRANSCRIPT
Western Asia and Egypt 3500-500 BC
Chapter 2
What was the fertile crescent?
DO NOW
Section 1- Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia
Located in what is now southern Iraq
Mesopotamia- land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Fertile Crescent- arc of land from Mediterranean to Persian Gulf Rich soil and abundant crops
Fertile due to layers of silt deposited by 2 rivers during flood
Because floods unpredictable, people learned to control river through irrigation and drainage ditches
3 main areas: Assyria, Akkad, Sumer (Sumerians)
The Fertile Crescent
Physical environment affected view of the world- thought unreliable supernatural forces controlled world
People looked to religion to answer questions
1000’s of gods/goddesses- polytheistic
Humans were supposed to serve and obey gods
Growth of Religion
Origins of Sumerian people a mystery
By 3000 BC est independent cities in southern Mesopotamia
City-States of Ancient Mesopotamia
Ziggurat at Ur- Iraq
Surrounded by walls & built of sun-dried bricks
City includedSmall peasant houses Large buildings for priests and city officials
Living in city-state gave people sense of identity
Sumerians created the arch and the dome
Sumerian Cities
Temple dedicated to chief god or goddess of city built atop ziggurat- massive stepped tower
People devoted much time and wealth to building temples and elaborate houses for priests and priestess
Temple served as center of city physically, emotionally, economically and politically Stored surplus food for distribution
Gov’t was a theocracy-divine authority b/c believed gods ruled the city Believed kings derived power from gods
Religion and Rulers
Economy based on trade and industry Made woolen textiles, pottery, metalwork
Sumerians discovered tin + copper= bronze
Bartered wool, barley, dried fish, metal goods, ect for imported copper, tin and timber
Invention of wheel (3000 BC) made transportation easier
Economy and Society
3 major social groupsNobles: royals, priestly officials and
family
Commoners: farmers, merchants, craftspeople fishers for palace and temple estates
Slaves: palace officials used in building projects- females used for weaving and grinding grain
Economy and Society cont..
What is a technological innovation our generation will be credited with?
DO NOW
Sumerians, Akkadians and Babylonians
Empires in Ancient Mesopotamia
Cuneiform: wedge-shaped style of writing Made impressions on clay using reedsDried out tablets in the sun-source of info
Scribe-key to successful careerHold most important positionsWent to school
Writing allowed society to keep recordsAlso communicate new ideas- ‘The Epic of
Gilgamesh’
Writing and Literature
Wagon wheel-transportation
Potter’s wheel-shape containers
Sundial-keep time
Number system
Geometry to measure fields
Astronomy-charted constellations
Technology
Akkadians- north of the Sumerian city-states
2340 BC Sargon, Akkadian leader, overran Sumerians and set up first empire in world history Empire: large political unit or state
2100 BC Akkadian empire fell from attacks
Akkadian & Babylonian Empires
In Babylon, Hammurabi came to power
Gained control of Sumer and Akkad- new Mesopotamian kingdom
Code of Hammurabi- strict justicePenalties severe and varied according to social classRetaliation was a fundamental part of the system
Duties of public officials very seriousOfficials who failed to solve crimes had to make
personal restitution
Code of Hammurabi
Sumer-Protection LawsBuilders held responsible for buildings
Marriage and Family- largest amount of lawsParents arranged marriages for children and
then signed marriage contract Man-dominated society Woman’s place was in the home- could be
divorced or drowned for not fulfilling duties or humiliating husband
Fathers strict with children- could be disinherited
Code of Hammurabi
Egyptian Civilization
Nile River Begins in Africa and
flows North
World’s longest river
Splits into 2 before hitting the MediterraneanNile Delta- Lower
EgyptLand to the south-
Upper Egypt
Yearly flooding was the “miracle” of the Nile Deposit of mud known as the “Black Land”
River unified- transportation and communication Fastest way to travel
Natural barriers (security)Deserts to West and East, Red Sea to East and
Mediterranean Sea to North
These factors provided sense of security and continuity
Importance of the Nile & Geography
Growth of Religion Polytheistic Two groups of gods
SunLand
Sun godSun seen as source
of life God took on
different forms and names based on role
Re
Growth of Religion cont..Land gods
Included Osiris and Isis
Osiris-symbol of resurrection/rebirth
Egypt identified with him in hopes of gaining life after death
How does wealth or social status affect lifestyle?
Do Now
Simple structure- pharaoh at the top
Upper classNobles and priests
Ruling classRan gov’t and managed their own estates ($$)
Middle classMerchants, artisans, scribes and tax collectors Middle-class homes in city were comfortable Merchants engaged in trade on Nile and internationalArtisans: stone dishes, wood furniture,
gold/silver/copper tools, papyrus paper and rope
Egyptian Society
Lower classBiggestWorked the landPaid taxes in form of cropsLive in small villages Provided military service and forced labor for building projects
Egyptian Society cont..
Married young (girls 12, boys 14) and established homes and family
Monogamy was general rule but husband could have multiple wives if first wife childless
Husband was master of house but wife well respected
Wives in charge of house and educating children
Women’s property and inherence stayed in their hands- even in marriage
Daily Life in Ancient Egypt
Careers and public offices closed to women BUT some women operated business and 4 queens became pharaohs
Parents arranged marriages for children- mainly concerned with family and propertyMain purpose of marriage was children- esp
sonsTomb paintings show close and affectionate
relationships between parents and sons and daughters
Marriages could end in divorce with compensation for the wife
Daily Life cont…
Hieroglyphics- “sacred writings” Complex- learning and writing took time and skill
Hieratic script- simplified version of hieroglyphics Simplified using dashes, strokes and curvesUsed for business transactions, record keeping and
daily life
First carved in stone then written on papyrus
Scribes Age 10 upper class boys went to school run by scribes Learned to read and write- strict and took many years
Writing and Education
Pyramids, temples and monuments show artistic and architectural achievements
Sculptors followed particular formulas in styleHuman body often portrayed profile, semi-profile and frontal
view
Advances in mathematics Calculate area and volume and geometry to survey flood land
Developed accurate calendar- 365 days based on movements of moon and stars
Embalming led to expertise in human anatomy- archeologists have discovered directions from doctors
Art and Science
New Centers of Civilization
Why are residents of a community sometimes suspicious or hostile to strangers?
DO NOW
People who domesticate animals for food and clothingMoves along regular migratory routes to
provide a steady source of nourishment for those animals
Their relations with civilized society…Viewed nomads as hostile and barbaric Traded animals and animal products for
grains/vegetables they were unable to growCarried products between civilized centers-
new technologyIf overpopulation or drought disrupted normal
patterns, often attacked cities for relief
Role of Nomadic People
One of most important nomadic people
Name refers to people who spoke a language derived from a single parent tongue (Greek, Latin, Persian, Sanskrit, Germanic)
Originated in Black Sea or Southwest Asia 2000 BC moved into Europe, India, western
Asia
Indo-Europeans
Created empire in western Asia and threatened Egyptian power
First Ind0-Europeans to use iron
Destroyed in 1200 BC by “Sea Peoples”
End of Hittites and weak Egypt left no dominant powers in western AsiaAllowed small kingdoms and city states to
emerge
Hittites (1600 BC and 1200 BC)
Lived in area of Palestine
After downfall of Egyptians and Hittites- newfound political independence helped them to expand trade Basis of their prosperity
Chief cities of Byblos, Tyre & Sidon were ports on eastern Mediterranean Produced purple dye, glass, lumber
Built ships-strong in sea tradeEventually created trade empireCharted new routes- reached Britain and west coast of
Africa
Phoenicians
Best known for their alphabet
Simplified writing by using 22 different signs to represent sounds of their speech All 22 could be used to spell out all the words
in the Phoenician languageImportant because passed on to the Greeks
Phoenicians
Phoenician Alphabet
What are pastoral nomads? How did they affect settled peoples?
How did the Phoenicians influence Americans today?
Questions
South of the Phoenicians
Minor political factor BUT religion flourished and influenced Islam and Christianity
History and beliefs written down in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)Descendants of Abraham-migrated from
Mesopotamia to CanannLifestyle based on grazing animals rather than
farming Because of drought moved to Egypt and were
enslaved until Moses led them out
Israelites
United KingdomKing David (1010-
970 BC) est control over present day Israel and made Jerusalem capital
His son, King Solomon, expanded army and encouraged trade- ancient Israel reached height of power
After death of King Solomon tension among tribes led to creation of two separate kingdoms
Kingdom of Israel-10 northern tribes, captial- Samaria
Kingdom of Judah- 2 tribes, captial- Jerusalem
Divided Kingdom
722/721 BC Assyrians overran Kingdom of Israel sending tribes to other parts of Assyrian empire “Ten lost tribes” merged with neighboring
peoples and lost identity
Chaldeans destroyed Kingdom of Judah in 586 BCCaptives sent to Babylonia Exile from their homeland is called Diaspora
Eventually Persians allowed people of Judah to return to Jerusalem and rebuild
Divided Kingdom cont…
Monotheistic
Covenant, law and prophets- 3 aspects of Jewish religious tradition
Ten Commandments
Age of Prophecy
Judaism
Why do you think a country that is good at fighting might not be good at ruling?
Do Now
Semitic- speaking people who used iron to est an empire in 700 BC
Empire included: Mesopotamia, Iran, Asia Minor, Syria, Israel, Egypt
At it’s height ruled by kings whose power seen as absolute Under leadership empire became well organized Local officials responsible to kingDeveloped efficient system of communication
(horses to carry messages- within 1 week)
Assyrian Empire
Strong at conquering- developed effective military leaders and fighters
Army was large, well organized & disciplined
LayoutInfantrymen at coreCavalrymen and war chariots used to shoot
arrows Equipped with iron weapons
Assyrian Empire cont…
Variety of tactics Guerrilla warfare in mountainsBattles on open groundLay siege to cities (battering rams & siege towers)-
tunnel under
Terror used as part of warfare Smashed dams Looted & destroyed townsSet crops on fire Cut down trees (fruit)Poor treatment of prisoners
Empire fell in 612 BC to Chaldeans and Meads
Assyrian Empire cont..
After collapse of Assyrian Empire the Chaldean king Nebuchadnezzar II made Babylonia leading state
Persians: Indo-Europeans from southwest Iran
Nomadic but unified under Cyrus (559-539 BC)“Cyrus the Great”Demonstrated wisdom, compassion and
organization Respect for other civilizations (Jews)
Persian Empire
Darius (521-486 BC) added western India, part of Europe and Greece to empire
Divided gov’t into 20 provinces (satrapies)Governor (satrap) ruled each province: collected taxes,
provided justice, recruited soldiers
Communication system Well-maintained roads dotted with stations for food &
shelter
Empire’s power depended on military Standing army of soldiers from all over kingdom Core was elite infantry force- “Immortals” (member killed,
immediately replaced)
Persian Empire cont..
After Darius- Persian kings isolated at their courts Kings increased taxes & loyalty to
empire declinedWeakened monarchy
Polygamous kings had many wivesSons had little power and all trying to
gain throne Weakened empire and led to conquest
by Alexander the Great in 330s BC
Fall of Persian Empire