Download In the Beginning…II 1 In the Beginning… II Cradles of Civilization

In the Beginning… II
Cradles of Civilization
BIRTH OF CIVILIZATION
As man had gained control and shaped the world around him, he also began settling down and establishing towns and cities
which would lead to civilizations. These first civilizations would develop in the rich soil regions of river valleys.
The first River-Valley Civilizations locations:


Tigris and Euphrates (Iraq)
Nile (Egypt)
●
●
Indus (Pakistan)
Yellow (China)
Fertile Crescent – the area that extends from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea
Mesopotamia “the land between the rivers” – location of the first civilizations and part of the Fertile Crescent
MESOPOTAMIA: LAND OF CONQUERORS
The first civilizations in Mesopotamia were the Sumerians, Akkadians, and the Babylonians
Sumerians – created the first Mesopotamian civilization and established many of histories “firsts”
formed city-states throughout Mesopotamia near the Persian Gulf with dynastic rule  rule by
succession of rulers who belong to the same family
established a patriarchal society  society dominated by men
created the wheel, cuneiform (first know writing in history), and invented the clock with its 60
seconds, 60 minutes, and 12 hours, and the 12 month calendar which is still in use
the Sumerians also believe in many gods known as polytheism
Akkadians – created the first empire in history
empire – a state that extends its influence and dominion over another
Babylonians – their empire rose out of the conquered Akkadian empire and helped establish the first law codes
Hammurabi’s Code – list of 282 written laws that emphasized the “eye for an eye” rule  one of the
first set of laws that were written for view of the public  consistency and stability
ANCIENT EGYPT – CIVILIZATION ON THE NILE
The flooding of the Nile each summer helped to make Egypt one of the most fertile places in the ancient world by
depositing large amounts of silt (black soil) on the banks of the Nile.
Throughout Egyptian history, Egypt is broken up into an Upper and Lower Kingdom
Upper Kingdom – area near or around the city of Thebes and above the Nile delta
Lower Kingdom – area near or around the Nile delta
around 3000 B.C., King Narmer/Menes who ruled the Upper Kingdom invaded and conquered the Lower
Kingdom uniting the two for the first time  led to the first of more than 30 dynasties in Egypt for the
next 3,000 years with rulers known as pharaohs
The long succession of rulers was not always smooth, but there are three eras of strength and stability
Old Kingdom – (2700 B.C. – 2200 B.C.) – birth of Egypt as a splendid and spectacular kingdom
rulers had absolute power!
the Great Pyramids of Giza were built by Pharaoh Khufu, his son (Sphinx built), and grandson starting in
2550 B.C.
mummification – the process of preserving the body through drying methods and the removal of internal
organs  the internal organs would be stored in jars and placed in the tombs with the bodies
hieroglyphs – pictorial characters uses frequently in religious contexts usually on temple wall
the Old Kingdom fell due to a severe drought of the Nile
Middle Kingdom – (2050 B.C. – 1650 B.C.) – Pharaoh goes from being a god-king to a protector of the people
expand the empire to the south (Nubia) and west (Fertile Crescent)
In the Beginning…II 2
-
ends with an invading army (Hykos) that overwhelms the Egyptians with horse-drawn chariots and bronze
weapons as well as changes in the Nile
New Kingdom – (1550 B.C. – 1085 B.C.) – begins with the overthrow of the Hyko as Egyptians learn from their invaders
and use that knowledge against them to retake Egypt
pharaohs sent military expeditions out into the Fertile Crescent and Nubia once more and brought back
large sums of wealth  used to make great temples
idea of monotheism (believe in one god) arises from Pharaoh Akhenaton who worshiped only the sun
god  his son King Tutankhamen restores polytheism
Ramses II – (1279 B.C. - 1213 B.C.) – was the last great pharaoh who helped protect Egypt’s expanded borders
from invaders
after his reign, many of the conquered people began adopting Egyptian ways and weapons to break away
from Egypt thus beginning the decline of the New Kingdom
ADVENT OF THE IRON AGE
Hittites – a group of people who moved into the area in 1595 B.C. and created an empire which had battled with the
Egyptians (Genesis 15:20)
were the first people to use iron
Phoenicians (Canaanites) – Phoenician alphabet is the ancestor of virtually all modern alphabets
through maritime trade, the Phoenicians spread out of Tyre and other Phoenician cities taking their alphabet
to North Africa and Europe where the alphabet was adopted by the Greeks (Joshua 19:29, Isaiah 23:8, Zechariah 9:3)
after their homeland was overrun by the Assyrians, they relocate to North African city of Carthage
Israelites – made up of twelve tribes noted in history not only for their great military influences but for their religious
influences.
founded Judaism which influenced Christianity and Islam
their history is recorded mainly in the Hebrew Bible  Old Testament (Christianity)
moved to Egypt due to drought in the region  left Egypt in and exodus led by Moses and established Israel
by 1000 B.C.
Israel – area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River
Many names for this region:
● Land of Israel
● Canaan
● Palestine
● Holy Land
Assyrians – established an empire that covered much of the Middle East after the fall of the Hittites
very brutal and militaristic empire “Know ye not what I do to my enemies, how I flay some, burn others
alive. …How I deal with captives, cutting off noses, ears, and fingers, putting out their eyes?” (Captured
and displaces the Israelites)
established one of the first libraries
collapses from internal conflict and a rebellion from Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar – reestablished the Babylonian Empire after the fall of the Assyrians (also displaced the Israelites)
Persia – one of the largest empires of the Ancient World that stretched from Asia Minor to India and Egypt at its height
-
formed under Cyrus the Great
more compassionate rulers than the Assyrians
established a very efficient communication system using horses
Darius – son of Cyrus who creates a profession, standing army known as the Immortals 10
thousand elite infantry and cavalry forces
eventually meet the Greeks in the pursuit to expand their empire!
In the Beginning…II – Cradles of Civilization 2