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ACCOMPLISHMENTS
THE EGYPTIANS
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Two kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt united by Menes
around 3100 BCE; First dynasty
Old Kingdom highlights:
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Organized strong central government - what kinds of
powers? Projects?
Construction of pyramids, temples, tombs
Why did the power of the pharaohs weaken toward the
end of the Old Kingdom?
THE EGYPTIANS
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Highlights of the Middle Kingdom:
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New major projects - draining swampland
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Mummification extended
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Expanded borders, greater contact
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Period of rule by Hyksos
THE EGYPTIANS
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The New Kingdom (The Empire Age)
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Peak of Egyptian power, expansion to greatest size
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Empire: group of territories controlled by one ruler
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Queen Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Amenhotep IV,
Tutankhamon, Ramses II, Cleopatra
Experiment with monotheism
CULTURES OF MESOPOTAMIA
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First empire - Akkadian - founded by Sargon around 2350
BCE
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Arose during decline of Sumerian city-states
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Adopted cuneiform
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Sumerian religious beliefs and government structure
Amorites invade and attack, building Babylon on Euphrates
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Hammurabi
MESOPOTAMIA
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1700 - King of Babylon - Hammurabi
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Uniform code of laws - 282
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First effort by an empire to record all its laws; built on
earlier law codes
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Punishment fit the crime; treated social groups fairly;
displayed in public
MESOPOTAMIA
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Babylonian Empire weakens and falls to invaders
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Hittites - 1550 BCE
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Iron for spears and battle axes gave them advantage
Assyrians - began building empire in 1100 BCE
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Highly disciplined army
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Harsh and ruthless, destroyed Babylon
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Built capital and library at Nineveh
CULTURES OF MESOPOTAMIA
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Assyrians overthrown by Medes and Chaldeans
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Chaldeans led by Nebuchadnezzar
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Rebuilt Babylon
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Huge palace, hanging gardens
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Study of mathematics and astronomy
CULTURES OF MESOPOTAMIA
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Persian Empire invades and conquers, but leaves Babylon standing
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Led by King Cyrus
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Tolerance of some of conquered groups
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Darius divided empire into satrapies
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Improved the Great Royal Road
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Efficient government, transportation
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Zoroastrianism