Chapter 2: Western Asia and Egypt

Chapter 2: Western Asia and EgyptSection 1:New Centers of CivilizationGEOGRAPHYMesopotamia Fertile Crescent

Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

arc of land from Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf

MESOPOTAMIA AREA

ImportanceRich soil for agriculture

Water supply for irrigation

Protections from outside enemiesMesopotamia CivilizationsAssyria

Akkad

SumerThe Sumerians Built largely with mud bricksInvented the arc and domeZiggurats- religious temple Theocracy- government by divine authorityPriests and priestesses were figures politically and religiouslyEconomy- mainly agricultureArtisans were emerging Trade was an economic staple

ZIGGURAT

The Sumerians Invention of the Wheel

Potting wheel

Transportation of heavy items

The Sumerians Social ClassesNoblesRoyaltypriestsCommonersWorked large estates as farmers and craftspeopleSlavesWorked mainly large building projects and worked farms of the nobles

The Akkadians Conquered the SumeriansBecame the worlds first empire

Resided north of the Sumerian City- State.

They were called Semitic people because of their language

Babylon Babylon controlled most of the Akkad and Sumer areaEstablished a Code that was considered the law of the civilizationCode of Hammurabi called for harsh penalties towards criminalsEye for an Eye was a fundamental of this lawPunishment varied depending on the social statusIt expressed the patriarchal nature of the Mesopotamian society. Religious Importance Due to harsh physical environment, many believed that destruction was controlled by the supernatural

Polytheism- worship of many gods and goddesses

Sumerians believed the human beings were to do manual labor that Gods and Goddesses did not want to do. Creativity Cuneiform- form of writing (wedge shaped)Used to keep records Scribes kept the records Also passed on cultural knowledgeLiterature (The Epic of Gilgamesh) story about a half human and half godWagon wheel (Sumerians)Math and GeometryAstronomy

I NEED SOME HELPWhat was the importance of the Tigris and Euphrates River?

Why was it called the Fertile Crescent?

What group invented the wheel?

Where did people go to worship in Sumer?What is the Code of Hammurabi?

What was the form of writing called that was developed by the Sumerians?

What was the major form of religion?Egyptian CivilizationThe Gift Of The NileGeographyNorthern Africa

Established on the Nile River

Longest river in the world

Predictable flood patterns

Used it for travel

Natural barrier for intruders

GeographyUpper Nile

Southern Part of the great river

Lower Nile

Northern Part of the great river

Map of Area

Map of Area

ReligionStill did not have a word for religion

Religion gave Egyptians a sense of security

PolytheisticSun GodLand God

Egyptian HistoryMenes ruled and created the first dynasty in Egypt.

Three Major PeriodsOld KingdomMiddle KingdomNew Kingdom

Egyptian KingdomsOld Kingdom (2700- 2200 bc)Pharaohs (monarchs) were very influencialBy obeying Pharaohs, civilians believed they were helping maintain order and stability Possessed absolute power

Although Pharaohs ruled, they also had a Bureaucracy. It was ran by a vizier, which answered to the Pharaohs.

Egyptian KingdomsOld Kingdom (2700- 2200 bc)The pyramids were built during this time period. They served as tombs for Pharaohs.

Mummification was the predominate means of burial. Egyptians believed in life after death. They buried many with belonging to take with them.

The largest of the pyramids built was for King Khufu in Giza. The Great Sphinx is also in Giza and is said to believe that it guards the tombs

Egyptian KingdomsMiddle Kingdom (2050- 1652 bc)Considered the Golden Age

Trade expanded to Mesopotamia and Crete

Pharaohs had a new role. Considered Shepherd to the People. Expected to build public buildingsProvide for peoples welfare

Invasion by the Hyksos people ended this era. They attached Egypt with bronze and horse-drawn chariots.

Egyptian KingdomsNew Kingdom (1567-1085 bc)Tremendously wealthy time period

First female Pharaoh, Hatchepsut.

Akhenton ruled. Tried to make Egyptians monotheistic but many rebelledThis became the beginning of downfall for Egypt

Egyptian AreaNext 1000 years, Egyptian area was dominated by the Libyans, Nubians, Persians, and Macedonians

CleopatraUnsuccessfully tried to reassert Egypts independence but failAlliance with Rome brought defeat plus lead to her suicide and later Roman Rule

Egyptian SocietyPharaohs

Nobles and Priests

Merchants and Artisans

PeasantsWriting and Education in EgpytHieroglyphic- writing system using pictures and abstract forms

Pyramids and temples showed the architectural and artistic achievements

Advancements in geometry that calculated area and volume

Because of mummification, Egyptians became experts in anatomyThe Phoenicians Geography

The Phoenicians lived in the area of Palestine along the Med coast PhoeniciansRelied heavily on trade

Improved ships and sailed as far north as Great Britain and along the south coast of AfricaBest known for its alphabetInfluenced the Greek alphabet, which influenced the Roman alphabet.which is OUR alphabet IsraelAncient Israel BackgroundMain Contribution

JudaismMonotheistic in natureStill exists todayInfluenced Christianity and Islam

Ancient Israel BackgroundIsraelites ruled Palestine

Capital was JerusalemKing Solomon first great king and ruled from (970-930 bc)Built the temple in JerusalemSymbolic center for Israel

Ancient Israel BackgroundKingdom divided after SolomonKingdom of Israel10 tribes to the north

Kingdom of Judah2 tribes to the south

Ancient Israel BackgroundFor the next several years:In 772 bc, Assyrians conquered the tribes to the north & that area lost its Hebrew identity. Chaldeans conquered the Assyrians, destroying Jerusalem.

Persians conquered the Chaldeans and Judah was restored

Ancient Israel BackgroundJudah later became the home land for Jews and the given name of Judaism.

Jewish belief is Monotheistic. They believed in Yahweh. God was not in nature.

Jewish Religion3 Aspects of the Jewish ReligionThe convenantAn agreement between God and his people. Obey by using the Ten CommandmentThe lawBelieved Prophets were sent by GodThe Prophets Believed that all people would follow the of God

The history of the ancient Israelites is unique, the primary source of the Judaeo-Christian tradition According to Jewish belief, there was one God, called Yah-weh who created everythingJews believe that anyone (not just priest/rulers) could have a relationship with Yah-wehNatural phenomena were not gods themselves but Gods handiworkThe belief in one supreme God is known as monotheism

The Hebrew Bible

The Assyrian EmpireLocated along the Tigris river

The first to use iron weapons

Ruled by kings

Highly effective military leaders and fighters

Especially known for committing atrocities on their captivesThe Persian EmpireBackgroundIran, Land of the Aryans is located between western Asia and southern Central AsiaThe Persians of SW Iran created the largest empire the world had yet seenRelatively little written material from w/n the Persian Empire has survived, so we are forced to view most of its history through the eyes of the ancient GreeksProblems with this:OutsidersIgnorantHostileOnly interested in events that affected themselves

Basic GeographyThis region is mostly surrounded by mountains and desert Humans trying to survive in these harsh lands had to find ways to exploit limited water resourcesUnlike the ancient river valley civilizations, ancient Iran never had a dense population The Rise of the Persian Empire

Persian ClassesThe male head of household had nearly absolute authority over family membersThree class:Warriors were the dominant elementMagi were ritual specialistsPeasants were common ppl who were primarily village-based farmers/shepherdsDariusAfter Cambyses, Darius I seized the throneDarius extended Persian control eastward as far as the Indus Valley and westward into EuropeBy 500 BCE the Persians were at the doorstep of GreeceSatrapsDarius divided the empire into 20 provincesEach province was under the supervision of a Persian satrap, or governor connected by marriage to the royal familyOne of the satraps most important duties was to collect and send tribute to the kingDarius decided how much each was to contribute and used some of it for the ppl but hoarded the majorityAs more precious metal was taken out of circulation, the price of gold and silver rose and provinces found it difficult to meet their quotasPersian GovtSurviving admin records from the Persian homeland give us a glimpse of complex their tasks wereGovt officials distributed food and other essential commodities to large numbers of workers of many different nationalities Workers were divided into groups of men, women, and children.Women received less than men but pregnant women and women with babies received moreSkilled jobs received more than their unskilled counterparts