A Brief History of the Ancient Near East

Goals for today:

understand general political history of Egypt, understand general political history of Egypt, Assyria, and BabylonAssyria, and Babylon

understand the importance of these political understand the importance of these political situations to Israelsituations to Israel

understand how Israel is able to thrive only understand how Israel is able to thrive only when there is a lull on the world scenewhen there is a lull on the world scene

understand how empires took tribute from understand how empires took tribute from Israel and other vassal countriesIsrael and other vassal countries

A Brief History of the Nations in the Ancient Near East

A. LanguagesA. Languages B. NationsB. Nations

– EgyptEgypt– SumerSumer– AkkadiansAkkadians

AssyriaAssyria BabylonBabylon

– SyriaSyria– PhilistiaPhilistia– Hatti (Hittites)Hatti (Hittites)

A. Languages

Main languages are the Semitic languagesMain languages are the Semitic languages– Hebrew: IsraelHebrew: Israel– Akkadian: Assyria and BabylonAkkadian: Assyria and Babylon– etc.etc.

Other languagesOther languages– Sumerian: SumerSumerian: Sumer– Egyptian: EgyptEgyptian: Egypt– Hittite: HattiHittite: Hatti

Egypt: 3 major period

1. Old Kingdom: 2800 - 2200 B.C.E.1. Old Kingdom: 2800 - 2200 B.C.E.– roughly Early Bronze Ageroughly Early Bronze Age

2. Middle Kingdom: 2000 - 1750 B.C.E.2. Middle Kingdom: 2000 - 1750 B.C.E.– Middle Bronze is 2200 to 1550Middle Bronze is 2200 to 1550

3. New Kingdom: 1550-1150 B.C.E.3. New Kingdom: 1550-1150 B.C.E.– Late Bronze is 1550-1200 Late Bronze is 1550-1200

periods between:periods between:– 2200 - 2000 rival powers in Egypt2200 - 2000 rival powers in Egypt– 1750 - 1550: Hyksos invaders dominate Egypt1750 - 1550: Hyksos invaders dominate Egypt

Egypt’s Dynasties

Since the Greek historian, Manetho (3rd Since the Greek historian, Manetho (3rd century B.C.E.)century B.C.E.)

There are some problems with these There are some problems with these divisions, but it has been done for centuriesdivisions, but it has been done for centuries

Dynasties and Kingdoms Old Kingdom: 3-6 DynastiesOld Kingdom: 3-6 Dynasties

– time of pyramidstime of pyramids

– 2800 to 2200 BCE2800 to 2200 BCE

Middle Kingdom: 10-12 DynastiesMiddle Kingdom: 10-12 Dynasties– ruled from Thebesruled from Thebes

– 2000 to 17502000 to 1750

Hyksos period: 13-17 DynastiesHyksos period: 13-17 Dynasties– 1750 to 1550 BCE1750 to 1550 BCE

New Kingdom: 18-19 DynastiesNew Kingdom: 18-19 Dynasties– 1550 to 1200 BCE1550 to 1200 BCE

– 20th Dynasty and beyond goes to Greek conquest20th Dynasty and beyond goes to Greek conquest

Hyksos (15th)

Dynasty

18th Dynasty

First Dynasty of New KingdomFirst Dynasty of New Kingdom Strongest point in Egyptian HistoryStrongest point in Egyptian History in 1550, Ahmose I reunited Egyptin 1550, Ahmose I reunited Egypt

– Egypt controls CanaanEgypt controls Canaan Thutmoses III (1490-1436) leads Egypt to Thutmoses III (1490-1436) leads Egypt to

its strongest pointits strongest point Amenhotep IV: el-Amarna letters written at Amenhotep IV: el-Amarna letters written at

capital of el-Amarnacapital of el-Amarna

Thutmose III

19th Dynasty

came to power ~1300 w/ Sethi I and came to power ~1300 w/ Sethi I and Rameses IIRameses II

reasserted control over Asia Minorreasserted control over Asia Minor moved capital to border of Sinai in deltamoved capital to border of Sinai in delta most scholars identify this with period of most scholars identify this with period of

ExodusExodus ? Sethi I is Pharaoh who enslaves Israelite? Sethi I is Pharaoh who enslaves Israelite ? Rameses II is Pharaoh of Exodus? Rameses II is Pharaoh of Exodus

Rameses II

20th Dynasty and beyond

from 1200 down to Greek conquestfrom 1200 down to Greek conquest Egypt declined at end of Late Bronze Age Egypt declined at end of Late Bronze Age

and start of Iron I Ageand start of Iron I Age never become as dominantnever become as dominant several Iron Age II pharaohs who are several Iron Age II pharaohs who are

strong, but never controls known worldstrong, but never controls known world

Sumer

first great civilization in the worldfirst great civilization in the world arose around 3500 (start of Early Bronze)arose around 3500 (start of Early Bronze) Sumer located in marshes of lower Sumer located in marshes of lower

Mesopotamia between Tigris and EuphratesMesopotamia between Tigris and Euphrates invented writing (Gilgamesh)invented writing (Gilgamesh) advanced mathematics based on number 6advanced mathematics based on number 6 much of their art / culture was adopted by much of their art / culture was adopted by

the Semitic peoplesthe Semitic peoples

Akkadians

later the two main countries would be later the two main countries would be Assyria (in North) and Babylon (in South)Assyria (in North) and Babylon (in South)

~2400, Sargon I is first Semitic ruler to ~2400, Sargon I is first Semitic ruler to defeat the Sumeriansdefeat the Sumerians

the Akkadians adopted Sumerian culture and the Akkadians adopted Sumerian culture and religion, but kept Semitic languagereligion, but kept Semitic language

controlled Mesopotamia until Cyrus the controlled Mesopotamia until Cyrus the Great (Persian ruler ~520)Great (Persian ruler ~520)

Assyria: 9th century

Ashurnasipal II (888-859)Ashurnasipal II (888-859) Shalmeneser III (858-824)Shalmeneser III (858-824)

– pictured Jehu (842-815) giving tributepictured Jehu (842-815) giving tribute– Qarqar in 853 B.C.E.Qarqar in 853 B.C.E.

from 800 to 750 lost control of world due to from 800 to 750 lost control of world due to internal strugglesinternal struggles

Battle of Qarqar in 853 B.C.E.

Assyria: 8th century Tiglath-Peleser III (747-727)Tiglath-Peleser III (747-727)

– restores powerrestores power– expands westwardexpands westward– from now until fall of Ninevah (612), Assyria is from now until fall of Ninevah (612), Assyria is

a constant threat to Israel and Judaha constant threat to Israel and Judah Sargon II (721-705)Sargon II (721-705)

– Israel fallsIsrael falls Sennacherib (704-681): Judah almost fallsSennacherib (704-681): Judah almost falls Assurbanipal (668-628): last great kingAssurbanipal (668-628): last great king

Tiglath- Pileser III

Hamath

Arvad

Hazor

Damascus

Gaza

Gezer

Besor, N.

Ramoth-gilead

Jerusalem

Aphek

Megiddo

Tyre

734

743-740

738

733

732

Tiglath-Pileser III (745–727)

Sennacherib’s 701 campaign

Rise of Assyria

Babylon

After 625, they were able to win over from After 625, they were able to win over from AssyriaAssyria

exacted tribute from Canaan just like exacted tribute from Canaan just like Assyria had doneAssyria had done

defeated Judah in 596 and 586defeated Judah in 596 and 586 Babylon falls to Cyrus the Great (Persian Babylon falls to Cyrus the Great (Persian

ruler) in 520ruler) in 520

The Rise of the Babylonian EmpireThe Rise of the Babylonian Empire

The Rise and Fall ofthe Babylonian Empire

Syria

used Semitic languageused Semitic language language known from Ugarit and Eblalanguage known from Ugarit and Ebla kingdom of Aramkingdom of Aram culture similar to Canaan but not exactly the culture similar to Canaan but not exactly the

same (although many scholars make too same (although many scholars make too many parallels)many parallels)

Philistines

they occupy the coastal area in Canaanthey occupy the coastal area in Canaan come onto the scene about the time the come onto the scene about the time the

Israelites arrive on the sceneIsraelites arrive on the scene they are one of the Sea Peoples, but not all they are one of the Sea Peoples, but not all

Sea Peoples are PhilistinesSea Peoples are Philistines wiped out in early 6th century by Babylonwiped out in early 6th century by Babylon

Hittites

they occupied the area of modern Turkeythey occupied the area of modern Turkey as a world power, they fell at the end of the as a world power, they fell at the end of the

Late Bronze Age and start of Iron AgeLate Bronze Age and start of Iron Age this is about the time period when Israel this is about the time period when Israel

comes onto the scenecomes onto the scene not a huge presence for Israel, but a not a huge presence for Israel, but a

presence in terms of culture (esp. cov’t)presence in terms of culture (esp. cov’t)

Conclusions:

remember: Israel’s economic resourcesremember: Israel’s economic resources Israel thrived when there was a lull in the Israel thrived when there was a lull in the

world political situationworld political situation Israel needed contacts with other nationsIsrael needed contacts with other nations these relationships help us understand the these relationships help us understand the

political scene in Israel and Judah, and also political scene in Israel and Judah, and also the religious texts that evolve out of these the religious texts that evolve out of these settings.settings.