Chapter 2 Section 4

Global HistoryMr. Schoff

OA

Why is the Fertile Crescent considered the crossroads of the world?

Read “A Money Economy” on page 42 and answer the question that follows.

Fertile Crescent Invasions

Many groups invaded and conquered the civilizations of the Fertile Crescent

Some invaders destroyed the city-states

Others stayed to rule Some of these rulers created large,

well-organized empires An empire is a group of territories under

the control of one ruler or government

Sargon - First Empire Builder

Around 2300 B.C., Sargon, ruler of Akkad, invaded and conquered Sumer

Built the first empire known to history Did not last long

After his death, other invaders crumbled his empire

Other conquerors followed in the footsteps of Sargon and united Sumer

More Control

1790 B.C., Hammurabi, king of Babylon, brought almost all of Mesopotamia under his control

Took steps to unite Babylonian Empire Creation of the Code of Hammurabi

First major collection of laws in history NOT the author of the code Most of the laws had been around since Sumerian

times Hammurabi simply wanted his people to know of

the policies that his gov’t was going to enforce 300 laws on a stone pillar for all to see

Improved irrigation, well-trained army, repaired temples, promoted chief Babylonian god, Marduk, over older Sumerian gods

Hammurabi’s Code

Criminal law – offenses against others like robbery, assault, murder His policies limited personal vengeance and

encouraged social order Often seen as cruel, actually more orderly than

unrestricted revenge Civil law – private rights, business contracts

property inheritance, taxes, marriage, divorce Designed to protect the powerless (slaves, women) Gave husband both legal authority over his wife and

legal duty to support her Gave a father nearly unlimited authority over his

children Babylonian belief that orderly household = stable

empire

Hittites

Pushed into Mesopotamia around 1400 B.C. Less advanced, yet learned how to extract

iron from ore Tools/weapons were harder, stronger, sharper

than those made out of copper, bronze Able to arm more people at less expense

Tried to keep this new system a secret, but as empire collapsed around 1200 B.C., ironsmiths migrated to serve other customers

Assyrians

Lived on upper Tigris For 500 years, they earned a reputation for

being among the most feared warriors in history

Rulers were cocky, boasting of their conquests They did, however, encourage a well-ordered society

King Assurbanipal founded one of the first libraries and ordered scribes to collect cuneiform tablets which has given modern scholars a wealth of information about the ancient Middle East

After his death, other peoples joined forces to crush the Assyrians

Nebuchadnezzar

Aggressive, ruthless king, united Babylon Thought highly of himself – 90 foot statue 9

feet wide, forced people to bow Fiery Furnace Story in Old Testament Known for Hanging Gardens One of the wonders of the world

Advancements in astronomy Polytheistic beliefs

Fell to the Persian armies

Cyrus the Great

Conquered the greatest empire yet seen Asia Minor to India, Turkey, Iran,

Egypt, Afghanistan, Pakistan Tolerance – acceptance

Darius of Persia

In 522 B.C., Darius controlled an empire that stretched from Asia Minor to India

Darius divided his empire into provinces Locally controlled regions Made many roads Drew up a single code of laws Set up weights and measures, coins, barter and

money economy Later rulers used his ideas about

government

Zoroaster

Persian thinker Helped unite the empire Rejected old Persian gods Single wise god, Ahura Mazda, ruled the

world Constant battle with Ahriman, prince of lies

and evil Judgment Day, all individuals would be

judged for their actions

Phoenicians

Sailors and traders Made glass from coastal sand Used papyrus from Egypt to make scrolls

Words Bible and bibliography are from the city of Byblos

Set up colonies in North Africa, Sicily, Spain

Alphabet, cuneiform was too clumsy 22 symbols for consonant sound, Greeks

adapted this alphabet and added vowels, from the Greeks, came our own alphabet

Babylonians 1790 B.C. Created Code of Hammurabi, studied

astronomy, especially sun, moon, and planets

Hittites 1400 B.C. Forged iron tools and weapons

Assyrians 1100 B.C. Set up one of the first libraries, maintained a well-organized society

Persians 539 B.C. Conquered large empire from Asia Minor

to India, improved trade by using coins

and standard measures, Zoroaster taught new religion

Phoenicians 600 B.C. Gained fame as great sailors and traders,

created alphabet similar to the one we use today