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The Fertile Crescent
Chapter 2
Section 1
ziggurat
Section 1
• Mesopotamia, located between the Tigris and
Euphrates rivers, had rich soil and plentiful water.
• Sumerian cities were well developed, had high walls
to keep out invaders, large temples, houses, busy
shops, markets, and royal palaces.
• Sumerians worshiped at temples called ziggurats;
they practiced polytheism (worshiping multiple
gods).
Section 2
Section 2
Section 2
• Assyria was an empire of skilled warriors that
stretched across the Fertile Crescent. It’s
capital, Nineveh, became a city of great
learning.
• Later, New Babylonia was created under the
Chaldeans. King Nebuchadnezzar II rebuilt the
city of Babylon.
Section 2
• The empires of Babylonia and Assyria were
the two most important empires of
Mesopotamia.
• The empire of Babylonia united the cities of
Sumer and stretched all the way to Asia
Minor; it was a great military power and
center of trade.
Section 3
Section 3
• Hammurabi’s Code
– A written code of laws followed by Babylonians
– The punishment equaled the crime
– Laws were applied unequally depending on the
victim’s class
• The development of writing allowed people to
clearly state laws and keep records.
Section 4
Section 4
• The Phoenicians developed an empire through trade
along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
• The Israelites
– Abraham led the Israelites from Mesopotamia to Canaan.
– Most fled to Egypt during the famine.
– After years of forced slavery, they were lead back to
Canaan by Moses and others.
– Kings Saul and David reclaimed Canaan and unified the
Israelite nation.
Tomb of King David
Section 5
• Basic beliefs of Ancient Judaism
– God promised Abraham that his people would
become kings and build nations.
– Believed in the holy book called the Torah.
– Believed in one all powerful God that was
everywhere.