Download Unit 2 – Ancient Civilization

Unit 2 – Ancient Civilization
• Review from Unit 1 – What is the
Fertile Crescent?
• Mesopotamia – Greek for what?
• Why was this land ideal for farming?
• Why was this land often not ideal for
farming?
• How were people able to control their
water resources?
Sumer
• As cities grew, city-states were
formed, creating local governments
• What kind of religion was now being
practiced? People worked very hard to
please the Gods
• Warriors and war
chiefs began to rule,
creating dynasties.
Sumerian Culture
• What was it and how were Sumerians
using cuneiform? Could everyone
write?
- Has anyone read the Epic of Gilgamesh?
• We use Sumerian concepts even TODAY!
- 60, the wheel, the plow, basic surgery
• The people of Sumer used trade as
their primary resource for raw
materials
The Empires
• Akkadia
-
The worlds’ first empire
Where was it? And who ruled?
Adopted many Sumerian practices
What was the fate of Akkadia?
• Babylonia – Hammurabi
- Where? When? Who ruled?
- Many Sumerian rituals and beliefs were honored in
Babylon
- What was the fate of the Babylonia Empire?
Code of Hammurabi Project
• A devastating world-wide disaster has
occurred, wiping out all of
mankind...
• We will create a NEW Code of
Hammurabi
• Groups of three or four
• Choose ONE code from your selection
and explain why it will be part of
our New Code
- Short presentation tomorrow
- Please work quietly until the end of class
Mesopotamian Empires
• What happened to Babylon?
• The Hittites
-
Indo-European war tribe
3,000 years ago in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey)
Military and cultural advances...
When did this empire fall???
Mesopotamian Empires cont...
• The Assyrians
- What was life like before they were a dynasty?
- Around 900 BC they took over all of Mesopotamia,
Asia Minor and parts of Egypt
- “The War Machine” relied on what to dominate the
region? What/when/why was their downfall?
- The Assyrians were ruthless and brutal, however
were responsible for many cultural advances...
Mesopotamian Empires cont...
• The Chaldeans
- Babylon became their new capitol
- Nebuchdnezzar II was their most famous Warrior
King
- What areas did they capture and make their own?
- How long did this empire last?
Mesopotamian Empires cont...
• The Phoenicians
- Western Asia: Sidon and Tyre (present day Lebanon)
- Trade was THEIR THING
- Were excellent sailors, dominating trade in the
Mediterranean
- Started settlements along their trade routes
> Carthage
- Lumber, dye, glass, ivory, silver and slaves
- The Phoenician Alphabet
> 22 letters (no vowels)
> The modern day alphabet is an adaptation of the
modified Greek alphabet
The Phoenicians
The Hebrews
• Ancestors of the Jews, 2000-1500 BC
- Judaism, Hebrew religion
- Early history can be found in the Torah AKA the
Old Testament of the Bible
- Abraham, was given a covenant by God, in return
for him leading his people to a Promised Land (AKA
Canaan)
- Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, began what was known
to be the Israelites
- Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were patriarchs
- After leaving Canaan for Egypt, the Pharaoh would
make the Israelites into slaves
Moses and the Exodus
• Moses, an Egyptian Israelite, has God
speak to him
- God demanded he lead the Israelites out of Egypt
- God casts down plagues on Egypt to free to the
Israelites
- Moses leads the Jews on a journey called the
Exodus (celebrated today during Passover)
- After wandering in the desert for years, the Jews
find Mount Sinai, where Moses is given the Ten
Commandments
- After Sinai, the Jews would fight for years and
years to gain back Canaan, eventually getting it
back, the land was then renamed, Israel
The 10 Commandments
Israel
• What was life like in Canaan?
- No government, judges, farmers, continued faith
• Saul – The first King of Israel
• David – The second King of Israel
- Israelites are now united, growing and centered
around Jerusalem
• Solomon – The third King of Israel
- Oversees the height of Israeli life, wealth and
power
- What happens to Israel following the death of
Solomon?
Israel cont...
• Israel and Judah
- Who’s who? Kingdom of Judah AKA the JEWS
> 10 northern tribes and two southern tribes
- Israel falls to the Assyrians, Judah falls to the
Chaldeans (circa 722 BC)
> The Jews are enslaved for 50 years AKA Diaspora
- Persia takes the Chaldeans, allowing the Jews to
return home (some do, some don’t)
• Judaism – Religion is the foundation
-
Monotheism, worship of ONE God
Justice and Righteousness
Obedience to the Law (think, Ten Commandments)
Texts: Torah, Prophets, Writings and the Talmud
The Persian Empire (550-350 BC)
• The Persian Empire was a giant empire that arose
in Southwest Asia that was built upon tolerance
and a wise government. (Unlike the Assyrians)
• In 550 B.C., Persian King Cyrus defeated several
neighboring kingdoms to mark the beginning of the
Persian Empire.
–In 11 years (550-539 B.C.) Cyrus conquered all of
the Fertile Crescent and most of Asia minor.
–Cyrus believed that when his army marched into a
defeated city, that there would be no looting or
destroying of any buildings/temples.
–Cyrus believed that it was wise leave local
customs and religions alone.
http://www.spentaproductions.com/cyruspreview.htm
Persia cont...
• King Cyrus was killed in 530 B.C. and then his
son, Cambyses, took over for 8 years. Cambyses
died of a wound suffered by a sword.
• Cambyses successor was Darius who governed the
fragile empire by using absolute power.
–Darius used two important tools to hold the
empire together.
> Excellent Road System called the “Royal Road System”
> Standardized Coinage: The whole empire had a universal money
system to trade with.
The Royal Road System
“The Royal Road”
- 1,677 miles
- Took a caravan 3
months to travel
this distance.
Zoroaster
• Who was this man?
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Is Zoroastrianism like any other religion?
Ahura is like... Ahriman is like...
Dualism is like...
Avesta was the teachings of Zoroaster
The Greeks all but end the religion
• The Persian Empire was dialed in
 The Royal Road enhanced communication throughout
the vast empire
 Art, animals and gold added to Persian culture
 Persepolis – ceremonial city designed by Darius
• The Persian Empire was one of PEACE