MesopotamiaMesopotamia

Tigris and Euphrates RiversTigris and Euphrates Rivers

Sumerian Civilization – Sumerian Civilization – 3000 BCE3000 BCE

Capital City is UR

Ziggurat

CharacteristicsCharacteristics Religion is Religion is

polytheistic and had polytheistic and had a grim view of the a grim view of the afterlifeafterlife

Men were head of Men were head of household, women household, women had few legal rightshad few legal rights

Sumerian AdvancesSumerian Advances1.1. Wagon WheelWagon Wheel2.2. Arches in buildingArches in building

3. 3. CuneiformCuneiform – Wedge – Wedge shaped symbolsshaped symbols

4. Sundial – 60 4. Sundial – 60 seconds in a 1 seconds in a 1 minuteminute

5. Number system 5. Number system based on 60based on 60

6. 12 month calendar6. 12 month calendar7. Metal plow7. Metal plow8. Epic of Gilgamesh8. Epic of Gilgamesh9. 19. 1stst Umbrella Umbrella

AkkadiansAkkadians

Located North of Located North of SumerSumer

2340 BCE conquered 2340 BCE conquered SumeriansSumerians

Sargon I – ruled for Sargon I – ruled for 55 years. He united 55 years. He united and expanded and expanded Mesopotamian Mesopotamian culture and helped culture and helped spread Sumerian spread Sumerian achievementsachievements

Babylonians – 1750 B.C.Babylonians – 1750 B.C. King Hammurabi – King Hammurabi –

conquered Sumerians conquered Sumerians and Akkadianand Akkadian

People sometimes People sometimes described as described as AmoritesAmorites

Created 1Created 1stst Babylonian Babylonian EmpireEmpire

Hammurabi’s CodeHammurabi’s Code -uniform code of laws-uniform code of laws -written down – 282 -written down – 282

specific lawsspecific laws “ “eye for an eye” type eye for an eye” type

lawslaws

Hebrews – 1500 to 722 Hebrews – 1500 to 722 B.C.B.C.

Journeyed into Palestine around 1200 Journeyed into Palestine around 1200 B.C. from the Arabian DesertB.C. from the Arabian Desert

The Old Testament records their historyThe Old Testament records their history Maintained their independence for 500 Maintained their independence for 500

yearsyears Religion of the Hebrews is Monotheistic Religion of the Hebrews is Monotheistic

– belief in one God – Judaism– belief in one God – Judaism God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and

omniscientomniscient

Solomon’s TempleSolomon’s Temple

Phoenicians – 1200 to Phoenicians – 1200 to 800 B.C.800 B.C.

The best sea traders of the ancient The best sea traders of the ancient worldworld

Founded cities in North Africa and Founded cities in North Africa and SpainSpain

Known for their Alphabet (22 letters) Known for their Alphabet (22 letters) – English alphabet is a direct – English alphabet is a direct descendentdescendent

Traded cedar logs, textiles dyed in Traded cedar logs, textiles dyed in purple, glass objects, and jewelrypurple, glass objects, and jewelry

Phoenician ABCsPhoenician ABCs

Phoenician ShipsPhoenician Ships

Hittites 1450 B.C. to Hittites 1450 B.C. to 1200 B.C. 1200 B.C.

Fierce Fighters from the country of Fierce Fighters from the country of TurkeyTurkey

Used iron weaponsUsed iron weapons Invented the chariot – 3 men per Invented the chariot – 3 men per

chariotchariot Wore their hair long with thick Wore their hair long with thick

pigtails hung down their backspigtails hung down their backs Legal system – less harsh than Legal system – less harsh than

HammurabiHammurabi

HittitesHittites

Assyrians – 800 to 612 Assyrians – 800 to 612 B.C.B.C.

One of the most lethal fighting forcesOne of the most lethal fighting forces Fighting force was organized into foot Fighting force was organized into foot

soldiers, charioteers and fast moving cavalrysoldiers, charioteers and fast moving cavalry Burned cities and tortured and killed Burned cities and tortured and killed

thousandsthousands Had network of roads that connected empireHad network of roads that connected empire World’s largest cuneiform libraryWorld’s largest cuneiform library Their cruelty would earn them many enemiesTheir cruelty would earn them many enemies King Sennacherib bragged that he destroyed King Sennacherib bragged that he destroyed

89 cities and 820 villages89 cities and 820 villages

Assyrian BrutalityAssyrian Brutality

Chaldeans – 616 to 539 Chaldeans – 616 to 539 B.C.B.C.

Known as the 2Known as the 2ndnd Babylonian Empire Babylonian Empire Treated the Jewish Population horrible Treated the Jewish Population horrible

– enslaved the city’s population and – enslaved the city’s population and exiled them to Babyloniaexiled them to Babylonia

Predicted eclipses and the length of Predicted eclipses and the length of yearyear

King Nebuchadnezzar built the King Nebuchadnezzar built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon – one of Hanging Gardens of Babylon – one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient Worldthe 7 Wonders of the Ancient World

King NebuchadnezzarKing Nebuchadnezzar

Hanging Gardens of Hanging Gardens of BabylonBabylon

Babylonian ZigguratBabylonian Ziggurat

Persians – 559 to 330 Persians – 559 to 330 B.C.B.C.

Empire was founded the Cyrus the Great – Empire was founded the Cyrus the Great – treated conquered cities with kindnesstreated conquered cities with kindness

Allowed Jews to return to their homelandAllowed Jews to return to their homeland Darius I extended the empire and divided it Darius I extended the empire and divided it

into 20 provinces with a rule known as into 20 provinces with a rule known as SatrapSatrap

Royal Road Royal Road – 1,500 miles long – every 14 – 1,500 miles long – every 14 miles there were stations of food, rest, and miles there were stations of food, rest, and horses – took only 7 days to travel the horses – took only 7 days to travel the distancedistance

““Eyes and Ears of the King” – royal spiesEyes and Ears of the King” – royal spies

ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism

Zoroaster was a prophet with Zoroaster was a prophet with monotheisitic spiritual messagemonotheisitic spiritual message

Ahuramazda was the only god (good Ahuramazda was the only god (good god). Ahriman was the evil spiritgod). Ahriman was the evil spirit

Had notions of heaven and hellHad notions of heaven and hell Each soul faced a final evaluation of Each soul faced a final evaluation of

its actionsits actions

Persian RulersPersian Rulers

PersepolisPersepolis