EMPIRES OF ANCIENT MIDDLE EASTThe Hittites

The AssyriansThe Nubians

THE HITTITES

Main Idea: To identify the Hittites and the effects of their

technology on other societies

THE HITTITES

Essential Question:Who were the Hittites?

The Hittites By 2000 B.C.E., they

occupied most Anatolia (or Asia Minor)

City-states formed into an empire by 1650 B.C.E.

Capital: Hattusas Controlled much of

Mesopotamia for 450 years Fought with Egypt to

control ancient Syria Eventually signed peace

treaty

THE HITTITES

Essential Question:What influenced their law system and

how was it different?

The Hittites Borrowed ideas about literature, art,

politics, and law from Mesopotamian peoplesGave each own distinctive twist

Legal code similar to Hammurabi’s Code, but less harshMurderers not automatically punished by

deathConvicted murderer could make up for

death by giving the family a slave or own child

THE HITTITES

Essential Question:How was the Hittites war technology

superior?

The Hittites Excelled in war

technology Superior chariots

Light and easy to maneuver

Iron weapons Around 1500 B.C.E., first in

Mesopotamia to smelt iron and harden it into weapons

Iron technology spread to areas conquered

Fell suddenly in 1190 B.C.E. due to waves of invasions, and the burning of the capital

THE ASSYRIANS

Main Ideas:Assyria built a military machine that was

greatly feared by others in the region.Assyria used several different methods

to control its empire.

THE ASSYRIANS

Essential Question:How was Assyria able to build an

empire?

The Assyrians – A Powerful Army Assyria was located in

hilly northern MesopotamiaBuilt powerful horse and

chariot army to protect lands

Soldiers were only ones in area to use iron swords and spear tips

Used battering rams, ladders, tunnels to get past city walls

Inside cities, feared Assyrians slaughtered enemy inhabitants

Harsh Treatment of Captured People Assyrians were cruel to defeated peoples Enemies who surrendered were allowed

to choose a leaderEnemies who resisted were taken captive

and killed and enslaved Enemy leaders were killed, and cities

were burned Captured peoples were sent into exile

Exile: forced to move from homelands to other lands, often far away

ASSYRIAN BUILDS A HUGE EMPIRE

Essential Question:How did Assyria control its empire?

A Huge Empire From 850 to 650 B.C.E., Assyrians conquered most

of the Fertile CrescentIncluding Syria, Egypt, Babylonia, Palestine

Reached peak under Ashurbanipal (668-627 B.C.E.)Known for creating libraries to collect documents

Assyrians chose native kings and governors to rule conquered lands

Conquered rulers paid tribute (payment for army’s protection)Assyrians destroyed cities if no tribute was paid, and

exiled people Assyrians made many enemies by their cruelty

Exiled peoples tried to gather forces to fight the AssyriansAssyrians put down many revolts

Assyria Crumbles Assyrian empire fell in 609 B.C.E.

Defeated by combined forces of the Medes and Chaldeans

Victors burned Assyrian capital city of Ninevah

WHY LEARN ABOUT THE ASSYRIANS?

The Assyrian Empire showed that to control large areas of land with

many people, an empire must have a highly organized government

and a strong military.

NUBIA AND THE LAND OF KUSH

Main Idea:The region of Nubia had connections

with Egypt.

THE REGION OF NUBIA

Essential Question:In what ways were Nubia and Egypt

connected?

Upper and Lower Nubia Nubia: African region south

of Egypt, includes modern Sudan and South Sudan

Nubia was divided into two areas Upper area was southern or

upstream Lower area was northern or

downstream People of Nubia lived along

the Nile River Southern Nubia’s moist

climate didn’t limit farming to Nile River Valley

Cultural Relations Between Egypt and Nubia

Egypt controlled parts of Nubia between 2000 and 1000 B.C.E.

Egyptian art, architecture, and religion influenced Nubia

Egypt went through a period of decline, and Nubian kingdom Kush became powerful

Kushite nobles went to Egypt and brought back rituals and writing system Adopted Egyptian customs,

clothing styles, adapted pyramids

The Decline of Kush (Nubia) Taharqa, a later Kushite ruler of

Egypt, fought Assyrian invasionAssyria conquered Egypt in 671 B.C.E.

with iron weapons, bows and arrowsKushite bronze weapons were too

weak