• 9/26 Focus:9/26 Focus:– The Phoenicians spread ideas

throughout the Mediterranean and they are credited with starting the modern alphabet.

– The Persians formed one of the largest and best governed empires in the ancient world and made great cultural achievements.

• Do Now:Do Now:– Explain how the geographic location of a

group of people might influence their culture.

ReviewReview

• Where did the Hittites originally Where did the Hittites originally come from?come from?

• What technological development What technological development made them a powerful military force?made them a powerful military force?

• Why were the Assyrians hated by the Why were the Assyrians hated by the people they conquered?people they conquered?

The Chaldeans The Phoenicians

Nebuchadnezzar IINebuchadnezzar II

• Chaldean king who rebuilt the Babylonian empire– Took over the

southern and western Assyrian empire after that empire collapsed

– Neo-Babylonian Empire

– Captured Jerusalem and sent many Jews back to Babylon as slaves

Nebuchadnezzar II

• Made Babylon one of greatest cities of that time

• Ancient writers claim that he constructed the Hanging Gardens of Babylon– One of the seven

wonders of the ancient world

Artists rendition of what the Hanging Gardens may have looked like

PhoeniciansPhoenicians

• Lived in along the coast of modern day Lebanon • Mountainous terrain

made it difficult to farm• They became expert

sailors • Established trade

routes and trading colonies throughout the Mediterranean – Carthage in North

Africa was one the largest colonies

Phoenicians Phoenicians

• “The Carriers of Civilization”– Spread ideas,

technology, customs from the Middle East through the Mediterranean as they traded

• Created the Alphabet

How far did the Phoenicians sail?

The Greek historian, Herodotus claimed that the Phoenicians had circumnavigated Africa

Some theorize that the Phoenicians may have even made it to the Americas. This is theory is generally

not accepted.

Persians

• Cyrus the Great– 559-529 BCE– Established the

Persian Empire • Extended from N.

Africa to India• Allowed people to

keep their customs

Persians• Darius the Great– 522-486 BCE– Established large

network of roads• The Royal Road

– Created postal system – Used a single currency – Appointed governors

to run sections of the empire• Called Satraps

Persians

• Zoroastrianism – Based on the

teachings of Zoroaster• Monotheistic Religion

– Belief in one god – God was named Ahura

Mazada

• Good actions and thoughts lead to immortality

• Tolerant of other religions

Closure

• What legendary achievement did Nebuchadnezzar construct in Babylon?

• Why did the Phoenicians focus on trade by sea for their livelihood?

• Why were the Phoenicians known as carriers of civilization?