Mesopotamia
12,000 B.C. – 500 B.C.
Mesopotamia
Sumerian Civilization
• The Land, Geographic Importance– Not geographically isolated– Known as Fertile Crescent– Tigris and Euphrates Rivers – Ancient valley was called Babylon– Constantly overrun with invaders
Sumerian Civilization
• Sumer and Its Achievements– Metal tools– Cuneiform
Sumerian Civilization• Architecture and
Science– Invented the arch &
dome– Ziggurats – temples– Science
• First to use the wheel• Used a # system based
on 60
Top – Artist’s conception – Bottom = today
Sumerian Civilization• Sumerian Society
– Formed city-states• Controlled surrounding land
– Government and Society• Nobility and priests• Merchants, Traders and Artisans• Peasants and slaves
– Slaves were captives of war
Sumerian Civilization• Farming and Trade
– Dates, grains, vegetables, and flax• Food surplus led to trade by 3000 BC
• Education and religion– Only upper class boys went to school
– Learned religion, drawing and mathematics
– Believed in an afterlife
Ancient Empires in the Fertile Crescent
Beyond the Sumerians
Empires of the Fertile Crescent
AkkadKish
Sumer
Uruk(Erech)
Ur
Babylon
Empires of the Fertile Crescent
• The Akkadians– Conquered Sumerians– Semitic language– Sargon was the most powerful Akkadian King– The Empire reached as far west as
Mediterranean Sea– Lasted 150 years
Empires of the Fertile Crescent
• Babylonians– Code of Hammurabi
• 288 laws• Concerned all aspects of life
– Regulated work hours– Property rights– “eye for and eye”, rich still had more rights
Empires of the Fertile Crescent
– Babylonian Culture• Farming• Active traders• Women had some rights
– Could be merchants, traders, scribes– Could be divorced by husband– Could not divorce husband– Women could leave a cruel husband and take property
– Religion• Believed in a shadowy afterlife like Sumerians• Made sacrifices to their gods for good harvest• Believed priests could predict the future
Ancient Babylon (artist conception)
Empires of the Fertile Crescent
– Hittites• Iron• Biggest achievement was law and government• Conquered and looted Babylon
– But too far away to control it effectively
Empires of the Fertile Crescent
– Assyrians• Semitic language• Shared cultural elements with Sumerians• Eventually extended power into Egypt
Empires of the Fertile Crescent
– Assyrians• Skilled at warfare• Cavalry • Enslaved people they defeated• Destroyed Babylon• Library
– Epic of Gilgamesh
• Finally defeated by Chaldeans and Medes
Empires of the Fertile Crescent
– Chaldeans• Led by Nebuchadnezzar • Rebuilt Babylon• Conquered most of Crescent• Built Hanging Gardens• Great astronomers• Advanced in math• Kingdom fell after Neb’s death
Empires of the Fertile Crescent
• The Persians– Indo-European Language– Cyrus the Great led a rebellion to win
independence from Median Dynasty• Darius and Xerxes I would spread rule of Persia
– Strongest empire of the time
Empires of the Fertile Crescent
• The Persians– Government
• Justice was important• Allowed conquered slaves to keep own religion• King sent spies to check on regional rulers• Built roads to connect empire
– Religion• Zoroastrianism • Eternal struggle between good and evil
– Defeated by Alexander the Great
Pictures of Ancient Persia
Tomb of Cyrus Artist conception of Ancient Persian sculptors
Pictures of Ancient Persia
Rock Carvings
The Phoenicians and Lydians
Moving into the Mediterranean
The Phoenicians and Lydians
• The Phoenicians– No large Empire, but large impact– Modern Day Syria, Lebanon, and Israel– Loose union of city-states– Traded by sea– Excellent sailors- could navigate by the stars– Lumber– Skilled workers with gold and silver– Invented glass blowing– Purple dye
The Phoenicians and Lydians
• Phoenicians– Culture
• Spread Egyptian and Babylonian culture through trade
• Afterlife– sometimes sacrificed their own children
• Alphabet
Phoenician Trading Places
The Phoenicians and Lydians
• Lydians– Asia Minor / Turkey– Did not create an empire– First to use coined money
Origins of Judaism
From Ur to Israel
The Origins of Judaism
• The Hebrews– Canaan– Conquered by Assyrians, Babylonians,
Egyptians, Persians, Syrians– Abraham
• Had 2 sons, Isaac and Ishmael• Isaac’s younger son, Jacob
– Had 12 sons– Became the 12 tribes of Israel
The Origins of Judaism
• The Exodus– Left Canaan for Egypt due to drought– Enslaved for 400 years– Moses
• Wandered in the wilderness of Sinai for 40 years
The Origins of Judaism
• Ten Commandments– Given to Moses by Yahweh (Jewish God)– Hebrews entered into a covenant with God– Promised land
The Origins of Judaism• The Founding of Israel
– Loose confederation of tribes– Warred against The Philistines and Canaanites– The nomadic twelve tribes would unite under one king
• Saul – 1st King• David – 2nd King
– Made Jerusalem the capital and religious center
The Origins of Judaism
– Kingdom eventually split• Northern 10 tribes became Israel
– Conquered by Assyrians
• Southern 2 became Judah– Conquered by Chaldeans– Allowed to return after Chaldeans were conquered by
Cyrus
The Origins of Judaism• Law and Ethics
– Torah – first five books of the Bible
• Religion– Yahweh is the one, true God– Free will– Spiritual being with no human characteristics– Ethical-monotheistic religion
Arch of the Covenant King Solomon
Ancient Jerusalem
Cave of the Dead Sea Scrolls
