Indo-European Migrations 4 m-2 m BCE The Middle

Indo-European Migrations: 4 m-2 m BCE The Middle East: “The Crossroads of Three Continents”

The Ancient Fertile Crescent Area The Middle East: “The Cradle of Civilization”

Sumerian Religion Polytheistic Enki Innana Anthropomorphic Gods

• • Settled in Mesopotamia in 3500 B. C. Built the world’s first cities (Ur, Uruk, Eridu) • Built ziggurats – temples in each citystate – only priests could enter the temples • Government: each city was independent – A military leader was chosen to lead/protect – 2700: military leaders were viewed as kings – Leaders served as king and high priest – The legal systems were not clear or consistent

• Roles of Men and Women – Men had ultimate authority over families – Women possessed very few rights (buy/sell prop. ) • Writing System – Cuneiform: pictograms on wet clay – Gilgamesh was written @ 1850 B. C. • Religion: each god was over a natural force – The gods were viewed as unpredictable/angry • Inventions: – The wheel, 12 mo. Calendar, arch, and sundial – Developed bronze and metal plow

Mesopotamian Trade “The Cuneiform World”

Cuneiform: “Wedge-Shaped” Writing

Deciphering Cuneiform

Gilgamesh

Ziggurat at Ur § Temple § “Mountain of the Gods”

Sophisticated Metallurgy Skills at Ur

Sargon of Akkad: The World’s First Empire Came to power in the 2300 s B. C. United the Mesopotamian city-states

The Babylonian Empires

• Hammurabi’s Babylonian Empire – Amorites overran Sumerian centers (Babylon) – Hammurabi became the dominant ruler – Law Code: “Made Justice Appear in the Land” • Law covered the entire region • 282 sections on Daily Life • Clear punishment for crimes • Babylonian Society – Upper Class: Kings, priests, nobles – Middle Class: artisans, merchants, scribes, farmers – Lower Class: slaves (from war/had not paid debts) – Borrowed ideas and techniques from Sumerians • Writing system, farming techniques, & religion

Hammurabi’s [r. 1792 -1750 B. C. E. ] Code

Hittite Empire

Hattusas: Capital of the Hittites

Hittite Chariots & Warriors

A Balance of Power: 1200 B. C. E.

The Battle of Kadesh Ramses II at Kadesh Treaty of Kadesh

Phoenician Sea Routes

• The Phoenicians: Settled in Canaan – Known as Palestine, “land of the Philistines” – Controlled the trade in the Med. Sea – Used an alphabet to keep track of records – Set up colonies and trading posts

Phoenician Alphabet

Carthage: Phoenicia’s Mightiest Colony

The Assyrian Empire

• Lived in northern Mesopotamia • Most lethal and ruthless military in the Middle East – Organized the military into different groups – Fought with iron weapons • 650 BC: had created Empire (capital – Nineveh) – Divided the empire into provinces – Built a sophisticated system of roads • 612 B. C. – the Chaldeans defeated the Assyrians

Jewish Captives: c 8 BCE

Babylon under the Chaldeans

• Descendents of Hammurabi’s Empire • Nebuchadnezzar – most powerful king – Expanded the empire to include Syria/Canaan • Studied astrology: laid foundation for astronomy • Decline after Nebuchadnezzar – weak kings + poor harvest + slow trade • 539 B. C. – Persians seized Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar II’s Babylon

Hanging Gardens of Babylon?

Abraham’s Geneaology HAGAR ABRAHAM Ishmael 12 Arabian Tribes SARAH Isaac Jacob 12 Tribes of Israel Esau

• Lived in Canaan (Abraham) • Monotheistic – Worshiped one God (Yahweh) • A divine covenant w/ Abraham • Lived as nomadic shepherds • Jacob and 12 sons – Joseph was sold into slavery – Fled to Egypt – Later enslaved

Yahweh’s “Covenant” With His People § The first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible. § The most sacred text in the Jewish religious tradition. The Torah

Moses “Prince of Egypt” “Shepherd of His People”

• Moses and the Exodus from Egypt – Commemorated Passover • Settling in Canaan: Joshua led them into Canaan – Fought against the Canaanites and Philistines – Judges led the Twelve Tribes of Israel • Saul (r. 1020 -1012 B. C. ): first Israelite king • David (r. 1012 -961 B. C. ) – Defeated Goliath – Set up the capital in Jerusalem – economic prosperity • Solomon (r. 961 -922 B. C. ) – Built the Temple in Jerusalem – Very prosperous economically

The Exodus

Route of the Exodus

Moses and the 10 Commandmets A new “covenant” with Yahweh

Mount Sinai

King David’s Empire

Solomon’s Kingdom

Inside the Temple Tabernacle The Arc of the Covenant

The Temple Mount, Jerusalem Today Solomon’s Temple Wall: The “Wailing” Wall

• Israel’s Struggle – 10 northern tribes broke away from the southern 2 – The 2 southern tribes became Judah (Jews) • Exile of Kingdoms – Assyrians and Chaldeans invaded and enslaved Israel – Exile in Babylon – prophets (Jeremiah) rose up • Rebuilding Jerusalem – 539 B. C. the Persians (Cyrus) conquered the Chaldeans – Darius allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild – The Torah was organized (first 5 books of the O. T. ) – The Diaspora (the scattering) began

Kingdoms of Judah & Israel

The Persians

The Persian Empire

Cyrus the Great § A tolerant ruler he Allowed different cultures within his empire to keep their own institutions. § The Greeks called him a “Law-Giver. ” § The Jews called him “the anointed of the Lord. ” (In 537, he allowed over 40, 000 to return to Palestine). 580 – 529 B. C. E.

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E. ) § Built Persepolis. § He extended the Persian Empire to the Indus River in northern India. (2 mil. s. q. mi. ) § Built a canal in Egypt.

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E. ) § Established a tax-collecting system. § Divided the empire into districts called SATRAPS. § Built the great Royal Road system. § Established a complex postal system. § Created a network of spies called “the King’s eyes and ears. ”

Ancient Persepolis

Persepolis

Persian Archers & Soldiers

Zarathustra [Zoroaster], 6 c BCE: Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words “Tree of Life”

Extent of Zoroastrianism

Dualistic Battle of Good vs. Evil Ahura Mazda “Holy Spirit” Ahriman “Destructive Spirit”

Zend-Avesta (The “Book of Law”) The “Sacred Fire” the force to fight evil