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Ancient Persia, Ancient Greece, & Ancient Israel

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Agenda •  Persian Empire

•  Politics •  Economics •  Military •  Religion

•  Ancient Greece •  Significance of Ancient

Greece in W. Civ. •  Geography •  Vocabulary •  Politics •  Economics •  Religion •  Philosophy

•  Ancient Israel Ancient World 2

Persian Empire

•  Politics •  “King of Kings” & satraps

•  Economics •  trade, tribute, taxes

•  Military •  10,000 Immortals

•  Religion •  Zoroastrianism

See Noble, pp. 33-37

Model chariot in gold, from Persia, ca. 4th c. BC

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Persian Empire (ancient)

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“King of Kings”

King Darius Ancient World 2

“King of Kings”

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Persian military

•  10,000 Immortals •  Meritocracy •  Very large army

Cataphracts = Persian knight Ancient World 2

Trade, tribute, & taxes in Persia

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Persian economy

•  Gold daric & silver shekels standardized •  Royal Road:

•  1700 miles from Sardis to Susa •  “neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor

darkness…” (Herodotus)

•  International trade

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Zoroastrianism

•  Zoroaster (6th c. BC) •  Reformer against

sacrifice, intoxicants •  Ahura Mazda vs.

Ahriman (dualism) •  Alternatively known

as Parsiism. •  Magi

Farohars are powerful, holy guardian spirits who aid the god Ahura Mazda since His creation of the universe. Somewhat akin to angels. Farohars can also curse when they are offended. Ancient World 2

Zoroastrian Magus

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Ancient Greece

See Noble, chap. 3 Ancient World 2

Why Greece Matters

•  In groups of 3-4, brainstorm for 3 minutes about why Ancient Greece is important in the history of Western Civilization. Both broad themes and specific examples: – E.g., “Olympics: discus, marathon, javelin,

heptathlon; int’l festival every 4 years.” •  DON’T use your textbook; DO discuss it

with each other.

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Geography of Ancient Greece

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Politics in Greece •  Small, urban,

independent city-states (poleis)

•  Farmer-citizen-soldier •  Experimentation w/

different forms of government –  Tyranny –  Oligarchy –  Democracy

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Economics in Greece •  Colonization •  Trade & Piracy •  Agriculture

•  Olives, grapes, wheat

•  Crafts •  Metalworking, pottery

Woman working wool, c. 480 BC

Map of “Magna Graecia”, c. 550 BC

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Religion in Greece

•  Polytheistic •  Oracles and

divination •  Human gods/

godlike humans

Introduction of Hercules to Athena, Hermes, & Poseidon, c. 6th c. BC

Ajax and Achilles playing a board game, c. 530 BC

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Philosophy

•  Rational > spiritual •  Natural science and

humankind = focus

Jacques-Louis David, “Death of Socrates” Bust of Aristotle Bust of Socrates Ancient World 2

Ancient Israel

•  Geography •  Eastern

Meditt.

•  Politics •  Kings and

Prophets

•  Religion •  Ethical

Monotheism

•  See Noble, pp. 39-45

King Jehu of Israel (9th c. BC) pays homage to King of Assyria

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Ancient Israel

Ancient Israel The Israelites settled in the Canaanite hill country west of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea after 1200 b.c. (top map). Control of Israelite territory after 928 b.c. was shared between two monarchies (bottom map): the kingdoms of Israel (conquered by the Assyrians in 722 b.c.) and Judah (conquered by the Babylonians in 598 b.c.).

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Hebrew Religion

Aleppo  Codex:  1000  year-­‐old  Bible  Ancient World 2

Significance of Ancient Israel?

•  Monotheism •  Bible •  Covenant •  Ten Commandments •  Kings

•  Saul, David, Solomon

•  Prophets •  Jeremiah, Isaiah,

Ezekiel, Moses

•  Exodus •  People of the Book •  Egalitarianism •  Yahweh / Elohim

P.E.R.S.I.A.  +  G.T.  Ancient World 2