Download ANCIENT EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN STUDY GUIDE:

ANCIENT EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN STUDY GUIDE:
SSWH1 The student will analyze the origins, structures, and interactions of complex societies in the
ancient Eastern Mediterranean from 3500 BCE to 500 BCE.
a. Describe the development of Mesopotamian societies; include the religious, cultural, economic, and
political facets of society, with attention to Hammurabi’s law code.
Early Mesopotamian settlers moved into the region from the _____________________ peninsula.
Mesopotamia means “________________________________”
What rivers? ___________________________ and ___________________________
Mesopotamia is also called the __________________ __________________
Early civilizations flourished in Mesopotamia due to what two factors?
1.
2.
Sumerian Civilization:
a. The “birthplace of ________________” and/or the “____________ of civilization”
b. Notable features of cities: walls and ____________________ or temples
c. Religion:
i.
_____theistic
ii.
Deities were (unpredictable/predictable)
iii.
Unpredictable flooding influenced their beliefs
d. The Sumerian economy was dependant upon _____________________ to provide excess food supplies.
e. Sumerians cities were ruled by a _______ who was also the high priest – making them a theocracy
f. Sumerian technological advances:
i.
______________ (a metal alloy)
v.
______________ wheel
ii.
______________ wheel
vi.
______________ (to tell time)
iii.
______________ (used in architecture)
vii.
Number system based on _______
iv.
Metal _____________
viii.
___ month calendar based on cycles of ____
g. Other accomplishments:
i.
First codes of _____
ii.
First ________-________
iii.
Epic Poetry (Epic of ____________________) - the oldest story in the world
iv.
Written Language (________________)
i. Wedge-shaped marks made on wet clay, which was then dried and hardened
Akkadian Empire:
a. Begun by ____________ I around 2300 B.C.E.
b. The first _______________ in the world
Babylonian Empire:
a. ____________________, the most famous king of the Babylonians, ruled from c.1728 B.C.E. to 1686
B.C.E.
i.
He is most famous for his _____________________, a set of 282 laws written on 12 tablets
ii.
This law code was written in Akkadian, the language of (the people/the aristocracy). It was
recorded on a large stele and placed in the center of Babylon.
iii.
Laws were harsh, and generally followed the pattern of “an eye for an ______”
iv.
Notable Features:
i. _____________________ until proven guilty
ii. Able to introduce _________________ to support you
iii. Divided society into _____ social classes
1.
2.
3.
v.
Identify the following on the map to the right:
i. Mesopotamia
_______
b. Describe the relationship of religion and political authority in
Ancient Egypt.
c
a
b
a. Identify the following on the map to the right:
a. Upper Egypt
_______
b. Lower Egypt
_______
b. Egypt was first united by ______________ (or Menes).
c. Egyptian history is organized into three main periods:
a. ____________ Kingdom
b. ____________ Kingdom
c. ____________ Kingdom
d. Egyptian kings were called _________________.
a. Pharaohs were both king and _________.
b. Pharaohs often had elaborate tombs (Old Kingdom Pharaohs built ____________) and burials.
e. Egyptian religion
a. The flooding of the Nile was consistent, leading to Egyptians to view their gods and goddesses
as (logical/illogical) and (fair/unfair).
b. Egyptians believed in an afterlife, so dead bodies were prepared carefully and often buried with
objects that would help them in the next life.
f. Relationship between politics and religion\
a. ______________ was both god and king – disobeying his law was both illegal and sinful!
c. Explain the development of monotheism; include the concepts developed by the ancient Hebrews, and
Zoroastrianism.
Monotheism is the belief in ________ god.
The first monotheistic religion was __________________________.
The other major monotheistic religion was that practiced by the Israelites: __________________.
Zoroastrianism
Name of God:
Judaism
________ Mazda
Holy Book:
Tanakh
Mono or Poly?
Free Will?
Judgment Day?
Afterlife:
d. Describe early trading networks in the Eastern Mediterranean; include the impact Phoenicians had on
the Mediterranean World.
Identify what each civilization is known for:
–
Hittite:
–
Aramaean:
–
Lydian:
–
Phoenician:
–
Assyrian:
–
Chaldean:
–
Persian:
–
Israelite (Hebrew):
To which civilization does each of the following questions refer?
Which civilization, whose royal road (pictured in the map
to the right) improved upon the road system of the
Assyrians?
Which civilization’s Mediterranean trading network is pictured
on the map to the left?
e. Explain the development and importance of writing; include cuneiform, hieroglyphics, and the
Phoenician alphabet.
Use of _____________________________ predates Egyptian hieroglyphics and is generally considered to be
the first type of written language. It was eventually used by the Akkadians and others in Mesopotamia until
around 500 B.C.E.
Deciphered by Jean-Francois _________________ in 1822, __________________ were pictograms that were
prevalent in Egypt during the reign of the Old, Middle and New Kingdom pharaohs. The last recorded use of
them is in 394 C.E.
Are cuneiform and hieroglyphics related?
Did they influence each other?
How is this different?
The _____________________ developed the alphabet between 1700 B.C.E. and 1500 B.C.E.
Why did the use of this alphabet spread throughout the Mediterranean?