SSWH1 The student will analyze the origins, structures, and

interactions of complex societies in the ancient Eastern

Mediterranean from 3500 BCE to 500 BCE.

.Define “Fertile Crescent.”

Geographic FeaturesMesopotamia – The Fertile Crescent• Curved shape of land including lands

facing Mediterranean Sea & plain between Tigris & Euphrates Rivers

Define “Fertile Crescent” A well-watered and fertile area,

the fertile crescent arcs across the northern part of the Syrian desert

a. Describe the development of Mesopotamian societies; include the religious, cultural, economic,

and political facets of society, with attention to Hammurabi’s law code.

• Mesopotamia:

• City-state of Sumer• Early civilization

developed along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers due to the rich soil used for agriculture

Geographic FeaturesMesopotamia – The Fertile Crescent

• Flooded yearly (unpredictable) leaving behind a thick mud called silt

• Farmers planted crops in rich soil

• Resulted in plentiful harvests allowed villages to grow

Geographic Features Environmental Challenges for Sumerians

• Challenge:– Unpredictable flooding with a period of little

to no rain. Land sometimes became almost a desert.

Geographic Features Environmental Challenges for Sumerians

• Solution:– Dug irrigation ditches that carried river water

to their fields– Led to production of surplus crops

Geographic Features Environmental Challenges for Sumerians

• Challenge:– No natural barriers for protection

(defenseless)

Geographic Features Environmental Challenges for Sumerians

• Solution:– Built city walls with mud bricks

Geographic Features Environmental Challenges for Sumerians

• Challenge:– Limited natural resources– Building materials scarce

Geographic Features Environmental Challenges for Sumerians

• Solution:– Traded their grain, cloth, & crafted tools with

people of mtns & deserts– In exchange, they received raw materials like

stone, wood, & metal• Cultural Diffusion: process by which a new idea

or product spreads from one culture to another

• Location: Modern day Iraq & Iran

• Means: Land between 2 rivers (Tigris & Euphrates)

• Religion: Center of society, Polytheistic (many gods), Ziggurat (temple)

Development of MesopotamiaCulture• Art & Architecture

– Literature – The Epic of Gilgamesh– Ziggurats– Arches– Columns– Ramps

Development of MesopotamiaCulture• Science & Technology

– Cuneiform (See AKS 30g)– Irrigation– Bronze– Wheel– Sail– Plow

Development of MesopotamiaReligion

• Polytheistic– Belief in more than one

god

• Ziggurat (Sumerian temple) was the center of city life– Priests conducted rituals &

sacrifices to city gods– Served as storage for

grains, fabrics, gems

Development of MesopotamiaPolitics• Rulers

– Military leaders that shared power with priests

• Priests prayed to gods, controlled irrigation systems• Ruler controlled standing armies

Power and Authority

• Ziggurat– Temple at the center of each city-state

Power and Authority

• Sumerian City-States– 1st settled in 3300 BC– City-state is a city and its surrounding lands

Key Civilizations in Mesopotamia

• Sumerian City-States (4000-2300 B.C.)– Small, independent

cities w/ surrounding villages & farms

– Not unified, constantly at war w/ one another

Key Civilizations in Mesopotamia

• Babylonian Empire (1800-1500 B.C.)– Most important king was Hammurabi– Hammurabi’s Code

• 282 laws that formed the basis of the Babylonian legal system

• Different punishments for rich & poor• “Eye for an eye”

Mesopotamia

• Religion: Polytheistic • Culture: Patriarchal (Controlled by Men), ruled

by a council of elders which developed into city-states, women could own property, written language, music

• Economics: Agriculture was the a main economic force, especially along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Mesopotamia

• Culture: Art, Religion, Trade (women have rights)

• Economy: Bartering• Politics: Priests 1st leaders, after many

wars the best fighters became permanent leaders (dynasties)

• Law: Hammurabi’s Code – 282 written laws, created to unify the community (govt responsible for society)

Power and Authority

• Priest were Rulers– Priests acted as go betweens for the people

and the Gods– Priests demanded crops as a form of taxation

for their services– People believed that the Gods were

responsible for all things in their lives (crops, rich soil, rain, etc.)

Science and Technology

• Cuneiform– Sumerian writing system on clay tablets

Who was Hammurabi?

• Hammurabi became the king of Babylon around 1792 BC.

• He transformed Babylon from a single city-state into a large empire, which united Mesopotamia under one rule.

Hammurabi’s Ingenuity

• Even though Hammurabi made Babylon a powerful empire that lasted for the next 1,000 years, he is remembered mainly for his code of laws.

• Hammurabi’s Code was the first laws ever written down.

• It was a compilation of 282 laws. The death penalty was enforced for breaking many of the laws.

Code of Hammurabi• After years of constant fighting by

Mesopotamian city-states, Hammurabi came to power

• The first ruler of Babylon, Hammurabi set up a a code, or set of laws for the people to follow

• He wanted to rule fairly and promote the welfare of the people

EGYPT

b. Describe the relationship of religion and

political authority in Ancient Egypt. • Egyptian Pharaohs (kings)

were considered to be living gods

• The rule based on religious authority is called a theocracy

• Pharaohs continued to help rule after their deaths-pyramids were built to house the pharaoh and everything he would need in the after life

northeast corner of Africa

Egypt grew to be an important civilization for over three hundred years because of the Nile River.

Impact of Geography

• The Nile is a unique river, beginning in the heart of Africa and coursing northward for more than 4000 miles.

• It is the longest river in the world.• The Nile Delta is called Lower Egypt; the

land upstream, to the south, is called Upper Egypt.

• To the ancient Egyptians, the most important feature was the yearly flooding.

Geographic Features Ancient Egypt – Nile River• Benefits:

– Predictable yearly flooding allowed farming settlements to grow

– Worshiped the river as a god b/c of its abundance

Geographic Features Ancient Egypt – Deserts on Either Side of Nile River

• Benefits:– Shut out invaders– Spared Egypt constant warfare

Importance of Religion

• Religion also provided a sense of security.

• The ancient Egyptians had no word for religion.

• Religious ideas were an inseparable part of their world order.

• Polytheistic- Were divided into two groups sun gods and land gods

Life after Death

• The ancient Egyptians believed in an afterlife of beauty, peace, and contentment.

• Since most of their lives were filled with hard work, they looked forward to death as a release from this lifetime.

• They believed their souls would need to use their bodies again, so the Egyptians invented a process to embalm their bodies called mummification.

• Wealthy could afford better mummification than the poor

Steps in Mummification

• After the body was washed and covered with scented oils, the liver and kidneys were removed and placed in jars that would be put in the coffin later.

• The brains were removed carefully, but the heart was left in the body because they believed it was the mind and would be needed immediately in the next life.

• Then the body was wrapped in either linen or rough cotton strips and a sticky tar-like mixture was poured over the cloth strips forming a protective outer covering for the body.

• When the mixture hardened, the mummy was placed in a wooden coffin, which was carved and painted to resemble a person.

• Then the mummy was laid in its tomb, along with many objects the Egyptians thought it would need for daily use in the next lifetime, such as tools, jewelry, furniture, religious statues, and food.

Society in Ancient Egypt

• God-King (Pharaoh)

• Upper Class of Nobles and Priests

• Merchants, Artisans, Scribes, and Tax Collectors (The Middle Class)

• Peasants – the largest number of people in Egypt simply worked the land

Egyptian Culture• Writing System

– Hieroglyphics• Like Sumerian cuneiform, it used pictures to

represent ideas

c. Explain the development of monotheism; include the concepts developed by the ancient Hebrews,

and Zoroastrianism.

Monotheism

• Definition:– Belief in a single god

• Hebrews believed in one god b/c:– Believed Abraham had made a covenant with

God, where Abraham and his descendants promised to obey God in return for God’s protection

Origins of Judaism

• 2000 B.C.– God commands Abraham to take his people

to Canaan.• All the early history of the Hebrews is written in the

Torah – the first five books of the Old Testament in the Christian Bible

Origins of Judaism

• 1650 B.C.– Descendants of Abraham move to Egypt

• At first, they held places of honor in the Egyptian kingdom

• Later, Hebrews forced into slavery

Origins of Judaism

• 1300-1200 B.C.– Hebrews begin their “exodus” from Egypt

• Moses led the Hebrews out of slavery• Later, he received the Ten Commandments from

God on Mount Sinai

Origins of Judaism

• 1020 B.C.– Hebrews unite and

form the kingdom of Israel• Saul

– Drove the Philistines out of central Palestine

• David– United the tribes & made

Jerusalem the capital– Began a dynasty

Origins of Judaism

• 962 B.C.– King David succeeded by his son, Solomon

• Solomon built a great temple in Jerusalem to glorify God and house the Ark of the Covenant (this held the Ten Commandments)

Ancient Hebrews

• Believed that their god had power over all people and that he would protect them

• Their god gave them laws or commandments to obey (Ten Commandments)

• The history of the Hebrews is written in their bible, the Torah

Zoroaster• Persian prophet• Taught that earth is a battleground

between good & evil & each person is supposed to take part in this struggle

• Taught belief in one god, Ahura Mazda, who will one day judge everyone according to how well he/she fought the battle for good

• His teachings led to the concept of Satan and the belief in angels seen in Judaism, Christianity, & Islam

d. Describe early trading networks in the Eastern Mediterranean; include the impact Phoenicians

had on the Mediterranean World. • Many of the ancient

trade routes were water based

The Importance of TradeThe Importance of Trade

• Trade between regions was important Trade between regions was important in the transfer of ideas from the Near in the transfer of ideas from the Near East (Middle East) to area on the edges East (Middle East) to area on the edges of Europe (in the Mediterranean Sea)of Europe (in the Mediterranean Sea)

Rise of the PhoeniciansRise of the Phoenicians

Phoenicia never really unites into a nation Phoenicia never really unites into a nation but does include several wealthy city-but does include several wealthy city-statesstates

• Phoenicians were master ship builders Phoenicians were master ship builders and are said to have traveled to Britain and are said to have traveled to Britain and around the coast of Africa nearly and around the coast of Africa nearly 2,500 years before anyone else2,500 years before anyone else

• Phoenicia founded many colonies Phoenicia founded many colonies along the coast of the Mediterranean along the coast of the Mediterranean (Carthage) which lead the Phoenicians (Carthage) which lead the Phoenicians to be one of the richest civilizations of to be one of the richest civilizations of the ancient worldthe ancient world

• Phoenicians were also some of the best Phoenicians were also some of the best builders of the ancient world – they are builders of the ancient world – they are reported to have built the Temple of reported to have built the Temple of Solomon for the Hebrew peopleSolomon for the Hebrew people

The Alphabet The Alphabet

• Because the Phoenicians were so Because the Phoenicians were so involved in trading they had to create a involved in trading they had to create a alphabet to record transactionsalphabet to record transactions

Seafaring Traders - Phoenicians

• Skilled shipbuilders & sailors– First Mediterranean people to sail beyond

Strait of Gibraltar, possibly even around Africa

Seafaring Traders - Phoenicians

• Phoenician traders spread their alphabet system to the peoples with whom they traded

Phoenicians• The Phoenicians developed a series of

powerful city-states along what is now Lebanon-colonized a large area

Phoenicians

• The Phoenicians were great sailors and shipbuilders

• This enabled them to explore and set up city-states throughout the Mediterranean

• These city-states were used for trading posts for goods found throughout the region

e. Explain the development and importance of writing; include cuneiform, hieroglyphics,

and the Phoenician alphabet. • Cuneiform: Created by Sumerian scribes

as a means to keep records: written into moist clay which was then dried

Sumerian Cuneiform

• Consisted of pictographs

• Used wedge-shaped tool to press symbols into clay, then baked clay in the sun to preserve the writing

• Used for record-keeping, writing about wars, natural disasters, etc.

• Marked beginning of written history

Hieroglyphics

• In early Egyptian hieroglyphics, pictures stood for an idea.

• As they developed, the pictures came to represent sounds

• Egyptians used a form of paper called papyrus to write on

• Writing allowed civilizations to record their history, religious, and cultural beliefs

Egyptian Hieroglyphics

• Consisted of pictographs• Scribes recorded history,

beliefs, & ideas of ancient Egypt (often times in the tombs of the pharaohs)

• Used to document tax collection, laws, storage of grain, etc.

Phoenician Alphabet

• Needed a way of recording transactions clearly and quickly

• Similarities can be seen between Phoenician, Greek, & modern-day alphabets

Phoenician alphabet

• Developed as a means of recording trade transactions-spread throughout the Mediterranean

• Was a phonetic system: one sign represented one sound

• Other cultures based their alphabet on the Phoenicians (Greece)