Early Civilizations in the Fertile Crescent(3500 B.C.E. – 539 B.C.E.)

What characteristics does a “civilization” have?

MesopotamiaMesopotamia means “the land

between the rivers.”Between the Tigris River and

Euphrates River.Part of the Fertile Crescent.

Why did the earliest human civilizations develop in Mesopotamia?

The Sumerians3500 BCE people settled in area

of Southern Mesopotamia called Sumer.

Built large city-states along the Tigris and Euphrates.

Sumerian city-states grew wealthy and were introduced to various cultures and ideas by trading with neighboring peoples.

Sumerian AchievementsCuneiform.Architecture – ziggurats.Irrigation systems.Mathematics, geometry, a

number system based on the unit 60.

Lunar calendar with twelve months.

Art.

WritingCuneiform – scribes used a stylus

to make wedge-shaped markings on clay tablets.

The Sumerian alphabet consisted of over 600 characters.

Archaeologists have found whole libraries of cuneiform tablets.

Sumerian ReligionPolytheisticGods believed to have human

qualities and personalities, and to be immortal and all-powerful.

ZigguratsEpic of Gilgamesh – one of the

world’s earliest written works, an epic that contains the religious beliefs of the Sumerians. Influenced the Old Testament.

The Akkadians3000 BCE to 2000 BCE – city-states

of Sumer at war with one another.Sargon I of Akkad, a city-state north

of Sumer defeated the city-states of Sumer in 2350 BCE.

The Akkadians adopted elements of Sumerian culture, spread it beyond the Tigris-Euphrates Valley.

Akkadians created the world’s first empire.

The BabyloniansKing of Babylon, Hammurabi,

conquered both Akkad and Sumer.Established the Babylonian Empire.Adopted much from Sumerian

Culture, such as cuneiform and religious beliefs.

Believed in astrology, thus developed a sophisticated study of astronomy.

Code of HammurabiHammurabi collected what he considered to be

the best laws from all lands that he ruled.Created a code that would be applied to every

person in his kingdom.First set of laws by a leader designed to protect

the citizen.The laws were carved into a large stone; thus

the code was visible to all.The code applied to everyone, but set different

punishments for rich and poor and for men and women.

Hammurabi’s code became the foundation for other legal systems in the future.

Why is written law so important to the legitimacy of governments and legal systems?

Examples from Hammurabi’s Code

If a builder has built a house for a man and has not made his work sound so that the house he has made falls down and causes the death of the owner of the house, that builder shall be put to death. If it causes the death of the son of the owner of the house, they shall kill the son of that builder.

If a man has stolen an ox, a sheep, a pig, or a boat that belonged to a temple or palace, he shall repay thirty times its cost. If it belonged to a private citizen, he shall repay ten times. If the thief cannot pay, he shall be put to death.

If a woman hates her husband and says to him “You cannot be with me,” the authorities in her district will investigate the case. If she has been chaste and without fault, even though her husband has neglected or belittled her, she will be held innocent and may return to her father’s house. If the woman is at fault, she shall be thrown into the river.

If a son has struck his father, they shall cut off his hand.

If a man has destroyed the eye of a member of the aristocracy, they shall destroy his eye.

If a man has knocked out a tooth of a man of his own rank, they shall knock out his tooth.

If a man is robbed and the robber is not caught, the governor of the city shall give the victim the value of the stolen goods.

What do you notice about Hammurabi’s Code? Do you feel that the punishments are too harsh, too light, or just right?

By looking at Hammurabi’s Code, which groups do you feel had greater privileges in Babylonian society? Please use evidence from the Code to support your answer.

Why is Hammurabi’s Code so significant and important to modern societies?

The PhoeniciansProspered on the Mediterranean Coast from 1200

B.C.E. to 800 B.C.E.Little land for farming, but cedar trees were

plentiful and could be used for building ships. The Phoenicians became highly skilled

shipbuilders, navigators, and seafaring merchants.Developed wealthy city-states and colonies around

the Mediterranean Sea and even traveled to Europe and Africa.

Phoenicians famous for trade in lumber, glass, and purple dye, known as Tyrian purple.

Eventually conquered by the Assyrians, but their influence was evident for centuries.

Phoenician AccomplishmentsSailed around Africa (probably).The Phoenicians spread culture

and ideas of civilizations that they came into contact with.

Phoenician Alphabet◦Necessary to quickly and efficiently

record business transactions.◦Simple alphabet of 22 characters

replaced the cuneiform alphabet.◦Phonetic – one sign equaled a sound.

The AssyriansMesopotamia ruled by different

groups following Hammurabi’s rule in 1750 B.C.E. until about 900 B.C.E.

The Assyrians eventually conquered the entire Fertile Crescent and Egypt.

The Assyrians were militaristic and used iron weaponry.

Assyrians became wealthy by collecting tributes and taxes from those they conquered.

Assyrian AccomplishmentsThe Assyrians built the great city of

Nineveh.A complex road system to move troops

and trade goods quickly.King Assurbanipal built a huge library

containing knowledge and achievements of many civilizations.◦ It included more than 25,000 clay tablets.◦Dictionaries that contained the same word in

many languages have helped scholars to better understand Mesopotamian writing and ancient cultures.

The ChaldeansThe Chaldeans captured Babylon,

destroyed Nineveh, and eventually controlled the entire fertile crescent.

King Nebuchadnezzar continued to expand the Chaldean empire; 15,000 Jews were captured and sent to Babylon as slaves.

Civil war after Nebuchadnezzar’s death. Eventually overtaken by the Persians.

Chaldean AccomplishmentsHanging

Gardens of Babylon – one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Continued Babylonian tradition of astronomy.

The Persian EmpireCyrus the Great conquered many lands,

including the Phoenician cities.Cyrus brought an end to the Jews’

Babylonian captivity.Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to

Jerusalem in 638 B.C.E. Under Persian rule, the Jews rebuilt their city and temple and were permitted to practice their religion.

The Persians conquered an empire of more than 3,000 miles and ruled more than 50 million people.

Why is it difficult to maintain such a large empire?

Persian SocietyUnlike the Assyrians, the Persians were tolerant

rulers; they allowed conquered people to keep their own languages, customs, and religion, just expected to pay their taxes and obey Persian laws.

King Darius I expanded the empire. He appointed satrap, or governors, to govern each province.

Standard currency.System of weights and measures.System of Roads – linked the entire Persian

Empire, facilitated trade and the movement of troops.

How did the Persians facilitate trade within their empire?

- currency. - standard weights and

measurements. - road network.

Zoroastrianism Persians followed the teachings of a Persian

prophet named Zoroaster, who worshipped one god, Ahura Mazda.

Sacred book called the Zend-Avesta. Zoroaster taught:

◦ Humans had a choice between doing good and doing evil.◦ Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord, was the supreme god who

stood for truth, goodness, and light.◦ Ahriman was the Evil Spirit that represented darkness. ◦ At the end of time, all souls would be judged according to

which side they had chosen.◦ Followers of Ahura Mazda would be rewarded by entering

paradise.◦ Followers of Ahirman would be sent to a dismal

underworld.

How is Zoroastrianism similar to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?

War Between Persians and GreeksGreeks living in Ionia in Asia Minor

revolted against Persian rule.Ionians asked mainland Greeks to help

them.Darius invaded Greece; though they

were outnumbered, the Greeks managed to defeat Darius.

Darius’ son Xerxes again attempted to conquer the Greeks, he also failed.

Eventually led to a weakening of the Persian Empire.