The Near Middle East

Objectivesp. 033

The student will demonstrate knowledge of ancient civilizations of the Hebrews, Phoenicians, and Kush, bya.locating these civilizations in time and place;b.describing the development of social, political, and economic patterns, including slavery;c.explaining the development of religious traditions;d.describing the origins, beliefs, traditions, customs, and spread of Judaism;e.explaining the development of language and writing.

Essential Understandings of the Near Middle East p. 0341. Religion was a major part of life in all early civilizations.2. The monotheism of Abraham became the foundation of Judaism, Christianity, and

Islam—religions that changed the world. The Hebrews were the first to become monotheists.3. Language and writing were important cultural innovations.4. Assyria developed a military machine, conquered an empire, and established imperial

administration.

Essential Questions about the Near Middle East p. 0341. What religious traditions developed in ancient civilizations?2. What were essential beliefs of Judaism?3. How did Judaism influence Western civilization?4. What forms of language and writing existed in early civilizations?

Why do I need to know this?p. 034

1. Half the people living today speak languages that stem from the original Indo-European languages.

2. The world’s first alphabet was created, changing written language forever.3. Judaism developed into one of the world’s major religions.4. Some leaders still use military force to extend their rule, stamp out opposition and gain wealth

and power.

Indo-European Migrations

p. 035

Indo-Europeans Migratep. 035

1.Indo-Europeans(p. 57) – come from the steppes(p. 57) (dry grasslands that stretched north of

the Caucasus)

2.semi-nomadic people who tamed horses and rode in light two-wheeled chariots

3.half of all spoken language today can be traced to their language* – modern

languages of Europe, Southwest Asia, and South Asia(p. 57)

4.migrated from the steppes in all direction between 1700 B.C. and 1200 B.C.

Indo-Europeans

Steppes

Steppes

Hittitesp. 035

1. occupied Anatolia(p. 58), also called Asia Minor

2. the city of Hattusas(p. 58) was its capital

3. the Hittites blended(p. 58) their own traditions with those of other

more advanced peoples

a. their legal code was similar to Hammurabi’s Code, but was more forgiving(p. 58)

b. legal system emphasized payments* for breaking the law

4. the Hittites excelled in the technology of war(p. 59)

a. the Hittites were able to conquer an empire using the chariot(p. 59) and iron weapons(p. 59)

Hittite Empire

The Phoenicians

p. 035-037

The Mediterraneanp. 035

1.settled in present day Lebanon(p. 68)

2.they never united into a country, but remained a loose confederation of city-states

3.they were remarkable shipbuilders and seafarers(p. 68)

a.first Mediterranean people to venture out beyond the Strait of Gibraltar(p. 68)

Phoenicia

Strait of Gibraltar

Med Sea is 2,400 miles wide

Africa

Spain

Strait of Gibraltar

Commercial Outposts Around the Mediterranean p. 0351.most important city-states were Sidon and Tyre(p. 69) (both known for their production

of purple dye(p. 69) ) Berytus (modern day Beirut) and Byblos(p. 69) (a center for

trading papyrus)

2.created colonies all along the Mediterranean

a.greatest was Carthage(p. 69) in North Africa

The Murex Snail

Some 60,000 snails were needed to produce just one pound of purple dye.

Worldly Contributionsp. 037

1.The Alphabet(p. 69) (most important legacy)

a.symbols were used to represent sounds(p. 69)

b.learning was now more accessible to many more people

c.foundation of the Greek* and English* alphabets

2.their far reaching trade (from Britain to China) helped cultural diffusion*

3.bills of sale* (the modern receipt)

Phoenician Alphabet

Early Israelites

p. 037-039

Beginningsp. 037

1.the early history of the Hebrews is contained in the Torah(p. 72)

(most sacred writings in Judaism)

2.trace origins to Abraham(p. 72) (father of the Hebrews)

a.originally from Ur - traveled to Canaan(p. 72) (part of Palestine)

3.the Hebrews were monotheistic(p. 73) - belief in one god

4.Abraham made a covenant(p. 73) with God

a.Abraham promised to obey God if God promised to protect Abraham and descendants

Abraham

Abraham’s Journey

Canaan

“Let my people go.”p. 037

1.the Hebrews moved to Egypt because of a drought(p. 73) and threat of famine (p. 73)

2.first treated well, then forced into slavery (p. 73)

3.1200s B.C., Moses(p. 73) led the Israelites out of Egypt

a.this fleeing of Egypt is called “the Exodus(p. 73)”

4.during trip back to Canaan, they pledged to obey the Ten Commandments(p. 74) in

exchange for a safe journey

a.the basis for civil and religious laws of Judaism

b.they wandered the desert for 40 years, but returned to Canaan(p. 74)

Moses

Route of the Exodus

The Hebrews are ruled by Judgesp. 037

1. the Hebrews were loosely organized into twelve tribes led by judges(p. 74)

a.one of the most prominent judges was a woman named Deborah(p. 74)

Deborah is the only woman to be a Judge of Israel, the equivalent of king. As Judge, she was also leader of the army of Israel. She led the Israelites in a battle against the Canaanites when returning to Israel after the Exodus. The Israelites were badly outnumbered, yet won the battle.

The Kingdom of Israelp. 039

1.the largest tribe was Judah(p. 75) – Hebrews came to be called Jews and their religion

was called Judaism

2.from 1020-922 B.C., the twelve tribes united into a kingdom called Israel(p. 75)

a.Saul(p. 75) was the first king

b.King David(p. 75) was very popular

united the tribes

set up a capital at Jerusalem(p. 75)

founded a dynasty

3.Solomon Builds the Kingdom

a.Solomon was the most powerful(p. 75) of the Hebrew kings

b.beautified Jerusalem through building projects – Solomon’s Temple was built to

glorify God(p. 75) and house the Ark of the Covenant(p. 75)

4.because of high taxes and forced labor, the kingdom split after Solomon’s death

a.Israel(p. 76) in the north, Judah (p. 76) in the south

David and Goliath

A sling can throw a rock about 1,300 feet (a quarter of a mile).

King David’s Empire

Solomon’s Temple

Israel and Judah (Judea)

Babylonian Captivityp. 039

1.the Assyrians(p. 76) conquered Israel in 722 B.C.

2.the Babylonians led by king Nebuchadnezzar(p. 76) conquered Judah by 586 B.C.

3.survivors were exiled to Babylon (kept their religion alive)

a.those living in Babylon began meeting on the Sabbath(p. 76) (holy day of rest)

b.began the first synagogues*

4.the Persian king, Cyrus the Great(p. 76) conquered Babylon and

allowed 40,000 Jews to return to Jerusalem (they rebuilt Solomon’s temple)

Abraham’s Journey

Kingdom of Kush

p. 039

People of Nubiap. 039

1. located south* of Egypt in Africa

2.learned Egyptian religion, language,

clothing style and customs

The Assyrians

p. 041

A Mighty Military Machinep. 041

1. The Assyrians came from the northern part of Mesopotamia(p.88)

a. Lacking natural barriers, they repelled invaders by developing a strong army (p.88)

2. Assyria was a society that glorified military strength (p.88)

3. Weapons

a. Wore helmets, leather skirts layered with metal scales

b. Swords and spears were made out of iron (p.88)

4. Tactics

1. Built pontoon bridges to cross deep water

2. Dug(p.89) beneath a city’s walls to weaken them

3. Showed no mercy when invading

4. Soldiers received a bounty for severed heads(p.89)

Extent of the Assyrian Empire

Assyrian Weapons

An Expanding Empirep. 041

1. The Assyrians organized their conquered territories into an empire

2. Assyrian kings appointed officials to govern lands closest to Assyria and protected them from

invasion by other enemies

3. New conquered territories brought in taxes and tribute(p.90)

a. If a conquered people refused to pay, the Assyrians destroyed their cities and sent them

into exile

4. King Sennacherib established Assyria’s capital at Nineveh(p.90), the largest city of its day

a. held one of the ancient world’s largest libraries(p.90)

b. King Ashurbanipal(p.90) prided himself on his ability to read in several languages

Extent of the Assyrian Empire

The Empire Collapsesp. 041

1. The cruelty of the Assyrians left them many enemies

2. In 612 BC, an army of Medes and Chaldeans(p.90) burned and leveled Nineveh

3. Chaldeans made Babylon their capital and King Nebuchadnezzar (p.91) restored it

a. The most impressive part of his palace may have been the hanging gardens(p.91), built for

one of Nebuchadnezzar’s homesick wives

b. Had bricks of the walls around Babylon inscribed with “I am Nebuchadnezzar, King of

Babylon.”

4. The Persians(p.91) conquered Nebuchadnezzar’s empire shortly after his death

a. They adopted many of the Assyrian military, political, and artistic inventions

b. Used Assyrian organization to strengthen their own empire

The Hanging Gardens