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MIDDLE EAST: ANCIENT EMPIRES • Mesopotamia means “land between rivers” • It is the area between Tigris River and Euphrates River. • It sometimes refers to the area that stretches from Persian Gulf through Iraq. • THIS IS WHERE CIVILIZATION BEGAN. • Mesopotamia is included in a region called The Fertile Crescent. • Named because the land was very fertile. Wow. Amazing. Creative Name…. • People settled there because the land was good (fertile- silt) and there was a water supply. • The earliest civilizations began in SUMER which was governed by 12 independent city-states— – made up of a city and surrounding farmland. • Each city-state had its own laws and leaders. • They were ruled by a King. – A famous example is GILGAMESH around 2500 BC. It was an AGRICULTURAL society. • GREATEST ADVANCEMENT: WHEEL. • Which led to the invention of a wheeled cart. • Which was good because animals could pull heavy loads, making it easier for people. • Developed a writing system called CUNEIFORM around 3000 BC. • CUNEIFORM is a system of wedge shaped symbols. • They were polytheistic – belief in MANY gods. • The gods were believed to control many things like weather. • Most cities would have a ZIGGURAT which was a shrine to the special god of the city. • BABYLON was created when Hammurabi. created the city that united Sumer. • He then conquered all the way to Turkey • Their location made them perfect for trade. • They became very rich through conquests. • This kingdom united most of Mesopotamia between 1792BC and 1750BC. • Hammurabi was most famous for his laws, called Hammurabi’s Code. • Made up of 282 laws • Based on “eye for an eye” • Examples: – If any one steal the minor son of another, he shall be put to death. – If the slave of a freed man strike the body of a freed man, his ear shall be cut off. • It favored men over women and free over slaves. • At the time, it was the very best in lawmaking. • The Phoenicians lived along important trade routes. • In present day Libya and Syria. • MOST IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION: ALPHABET • 22 letters based on sounds • all consonants, no vowels • Excellent sea travelers. – Able to spread their alphabet through the world • It was used by the Greeks and Romans • Invented purple dye • Developed the art of glassmaking • Babylonian empire came to an end when the Hittites destroyed it • They were excellent horsemen. • First to discover how to heat iron to make tools and weapons • Another important group of people were the Assyrians. • They developed a strong military • Used iron weapons and chariots. • Most powerful king was Sennacherib • Wanted power- so he destroyed many cities – Babylon was destroyed in 689 BC •Assyrian empire was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 612 BC Turks Assyrians Persians Babylonians