WESTERN ASIA (THE MIDDLE EAST) AND EGYPT

3500-500 B.C.

Standard: The student will demonstrate an understanding of life in the classical civilizations and the contributions that these civilizations have made to the modern world.

CIVILIZATION BEGINS IN MESOPOTAMIA

Chapter 2; Section 1

Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia Between the Tigris and Euphrates river In the fertile crescent

Rich soil and abundant crops 3 Major groups of people living there

Assyria Akkad Sumer (creators of the 1st Mesopotamian

civilization)

City-States of Ancient Mesopotamia: Sumerian Cities City-states

City with political & economic control over the surrounding countryside

Surrounded by walls Defense

Mud bricks Built some of the

largest brick buildings in the world

Created the arch and the dome

Bell Quiz: Students will have 10 mins to use notes.

1. What two rivers did civilization begin between ?

2. What is the fertile crescent?

3,4,5. Name the three major group of people that lived in this region.

6. What is a city-state?

7. What help provide for the defense of these city-states?

8. What did built some of the largest building in the world?

9. How were arches and does created?

10. What is this a picture of ?

City-states of Ancient Mesopotamia: Gods, Goddesses, and Rulers Temples

Massive structures built on a ziggurat (stepped tower)

Believed gods and goddesses owned the cities Theocracy: government ruled by divine

authority Priests & priestesses had a ton of power Believed kings were granted their power

from the gods

City-states of Ancient Mesopotamia: Economy and Society Economy based mostly on farming Trade and industry also became

important Metalwork, textiles, and pottery Imported copper, tin, and timber Exported fish, wool, barley, wheat and

metal goods

City-states of Ancient Mesopotamia: Economy and Society

Contained three major social groups Nobles

Royal and priestly officials

Commoners Worked for palace and

temple estates Farmers Merchants Fishermen Craftsmen 90%+ were farmers

slaves

The Code of Hammurabi

Based on a system of strict justice Severe penalties for criminals-varied across social

classes Believed in “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” Public officials jobs were taken extremely seriously

Fined for not finding murders Had to replace stolen goods if burglars were not located

Patriarchal society Dominated by men

Women had far fewer privileges and rights in marriage than men

The Importance of Religion

Believed in many gods Identified almost 3,000 gods and

goddesses Believed humans were created to do

manual labor Inferior to the gods

Polytheistic

The Creativity & Technology

Writing and Literature Cuneiform

Wedge-shaped system of writing Sundial

Keep time Wagon wheel

Transport goods

Egyptian Civilization: “The Gift of the Nile”

The Impact of Geography

Nile River Longest river in the

world Over 4,000 miles Yearly flooding

The “miracle” of theNile- leaves a depositof mud creating rich soil

Surplus of food = $$$ Travel & transport

Importance of Religion

Polytheistic Believed in multiple gods and goddesses 2 major groups

Sun gods and land gods

The Old Kingdom

2700-2200 B.C. Prosperity and

splendor Led by a pharaoh

Divine power/right Absolute power

(complete/unlimited rule of their people)

Bureaucracy Administrative

organization with officials and regular procedures

The Old Kingdom (continued) Built as part of a large complex

of buildings dedicated to the dead Large pyramid: pharaoh Smaller pyramids: family

members “mastabas”: pharaoh’s officials

Believed humans had two bodies Physical Spiritual

If the tomb was properly prepared, the believed the spirit would leave the body and return

Mummification Process of slowly drying a dead

body to prevent it from rotting

The Middle Kingdom

2050-1652 B.C. Began expanding its territory Pharaoh portrayed as the shepherd of his

people Expected to build public works and provide for

the public welfare

The New Kingdom

1567-1085 B.C. Massive wealth emerged in Egypt Built new, enormous temples 1st female pharaoh named Hatshepsut King Tutankhamen/ King “Tut”

Society in Ancient Egypt

Structure God/king at the top Pharaoh surrounded by upper class nobles

and priests Merchants, artisans, scribes, and tax

collectors Peasants -worked the land

Daily Life in Ancient Egypt

Very positive outlook toward life on Earth Married young

Girls at 12 Boys at 14

Monogamy (marriage to one person) was typical; however polygamy was sometimes accepted

Husband was the master of the home, but wives were very respected

Women in charge of the household and education

Women maintained their inheritance Some women even owned businesses

Writing and Education

Hieroglyphics System of writing

employed by the Egyptians Used pictures and more

abstract forms Written on temple walls

and in tombs Hieratic script

Simplified form, used for business transactions, record keeping, and other daily needs

Writing and Education

Age 10= boys of the upper class went to schools run by scribes

Students learned to read and write by copying texts

Extremely strict discipline Girls remained at home and learned

housekeeping skills from their mothers

Achievements in Art and Science Egyptians developed a 365 day calendar

based on the bright star Sirius Sirius rises in the sun just before the annual

flooding of the Nile River Practice of embalming led to medical

expertise in human anatomy Archaeologists have recovered directions

from doctors for using splints, bandages, and compresses for treating fractures, wounds, and disease

New Centers of Civilization

The Role of Nomadic People

Nomadic people depend on hunting and gathering, herding and sometime farming for their survival. Were often viewed as hostile and barbaric Nomads traded animals, grains, and

vegetables Indo- Europeans( 2000 BCE)

Moved to areas such as Europe, India, and Western Asia

Created the empire of Hittites, which weakened the power of the Egyptians

The Phoenicians

Lived in the area of Palestine along the Mediterranean coast.

Rose after the downfall of the Hittites and fa