Download Mesopotamia

The Ancient Fertile Crescent Area
The Middle East: “The Cradle of Civilization”
Mesopotamia
Sumerians
 Land between
two rivers (Tigris &
Euphrates Rivers)
 Located in southern Iraq
 The flat land was vulnerable to attackers
– City states: cities that had control of
surrounding land
– Example: Sumer by 3000 B.C.E. had
12 city states
Sumerian Religion Polytheistic
Enki
Deciphering Cuneiform
Innana
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Empire of Hammurabi
1792 B.C.B.C.-1750 B.C.
 Great
warrior; conquered most of
Mesopotamia
Code of Hammurabi: earliest code of law
– collection of 282 laws; based on
JUSTICE
– Laws focused on the family
– “Eye for an Eye” and “A tooth for a
tooth”
– Penalties differed for the same crime
Empire of Hammurabi
1792--1750
1792
 Based in the citycity-state Babylon
 Patriarchal society: dominated by
men
– Women’s duties were in the home
The Babylonian Empires
Egypt
A. Stable civilization
B. Lasted a long time 2700
B.C.--1085 B.C.
B.C.
C. Very advanced; Nile
flooded regularly
1. People planned for
this, and felt secure
2. History divided into 3
periods
Old Kingdom 2700 B.C. -2200 B.C.


Pharaohs: powerful monarchs presided over the kingdom
Egyptians believed kingship was divine
1. Pharaoh was equal to deity
2. Polytheists: believed in many Gods
Middle Kingdom 2200 B.C.B.C.-1652 B.C.

Egyptians learned to make bronze weapons and war chariots
New Kingdom 1652 B.C.B.C.- 1085 B.C.

The Egyptians built a large empire
1. For a while the most powerful in SW Asia
2. But it grew too large
3. A number of people invaded
2
Egyptian Social Hierarchy
An Egyptian Woman’s “MustHaves”
Mirror
Perfume
Whigs
Materials Used in
Mummification
Preparation for
the Afterlife
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Linen
Sawdust
Lichen
Beeswax
Resin
6. Natron
7. Onion
8. Nile Mud
9. Linen Pads
10. Frankincense
Abraham’s Genealogy
HAGAR
ABRAHAM
Ishmael
12 Arabian
Tribes
SARAH
Isaac
Jacob
Esau
12 Tribes of
Israel
3
Abraham 1900 B.C.E
•Father of Israel- led his people out of Ur to
Canaan
Moses: leader of the
Israelites
•Prophet: religious teacher sent from God
•Made a covenant (2-way promise with God)
• Monotheistic: belief in one god
•There was a DROUGHT -some fled to Egypt &
were enslaved
“Prince of Egypt”
The Exodus
“Shepherd of His People”
Judaism
•1st monotheistic religion: belief in 1 god
•Most live in Israel or US
•14,535,000 followers
Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt
“I am the Lord thy God…Thou shalt have
no other gods before me.” –Exodus 20:2-3
Yahweh
•Jewish God
•Symbol: Star of David
•Place of worship: synagogue
•Leaders: rabbis
The Torah
 The first 5 books
of the Hebrew Bible.
•Creator & Ruler of the world
(Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers,
Deuteronomy)
•Watches over, cares for/loves & protects
his people
 The most sacred
text in the Jewish
religious tradition.
•Holds them accountable for their
actions
•Serve God by studying Torah & living by
its teachings
Yahweh’s “Covenant” With His People
Contains laws &
practices
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