World HistoryChapter 3

Kingdoms and Empires in the Middle East

Chapter 3, Section 1

Civilizations in Mesopotamia and Egypt trade and spread cultural influences throughout the region

Setting the Scene

• Terms to Define: confederation, alphabet, colony, barter

• People to Meet: the Aramaeans, the Phoenicians, the Lydians,

• Places to Locate: Syria, Damascus, Tyre

The Aramaeans

• Highly active in Middle East trade• Settled in Central Syria, 1200 B.C.• Capital at Damascus• Controlled trade route, Mesopotamia to

Egypt• People in region spoke Aramaic, language

of Aramaeans

The Aramaeans

• Until A.D. 800s, most people in Fertile Crescent spoke Aramaic

• Parts of Bible written in Aramaic

The Phoenicians

• Originally from Arabian Peninsula

• Settled in north Canaan

• Neighbors were Philistines

• Canaan was later called Palestine by the Greeks

• They sailed the seas for a living

The Phoenicians

• Harvested timber from nearby forests to build strong ships

• Built a string of towns and cities along the coast– Many grew to city-states—most significant

was Tyre– Loose union of city-states forming a

confederation.

The Phoenicians

• Sailed from their coast city-states throughout the Mediterranean

• Expert navigators using stars and sun

• Reached southern coast of Spain and possibly England

• Took charge of Mediterranean shipping and trade

The Phoenicians

• Had advantage over business competitors because they had improved t alphabet

• Phoenician system became foundation of several alphabets including Greek

• Set up temporary colonies along the Mediterranean coasts

• The colony of Carthage became the most powerful in the Mediterranean

The Lydians• Lydians lived in Asia Minor

• Developed wealthy kingdom

• Neighboring cultures relied on system of trade called barter—exchanging their wares for other goods

• Lydians established money system, using coins as a medium of exchange

• The concept of money soon spread

EARLY ISRAELITESCHAPTER 3, SECTION 2

The Israelites were an exception among the polytheistic cultures of the ancient world. They were monotheistic, or believed in one all-powerful God. They called him Yahweh. The teachings of the Israelites influenced Christianity and Islam

The Land of Canaan

• The Bible traces the origins of the Israelites to Abraham– Herder and trader– Lived in Ur in Mesopotamia– Believed God made covenant with Abraham– Would build a great nation around him if he

remained faithful to God

The Land of Canaan

• Descendents of Abraham shared land with Phoenicians and Philistines

• Rocky hills and deserts

• Fertile plains and grassy slopes

• Many lived as nomad herding sheep and goats

The Exodus From Egypt

• Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, raised 12 sons and each son led a separate family group– The 12 tribes of Israel– Severe drought forced migration to Egypt– They lived peacefully for several generations

until the Egyptians decided to enslave them

The Exodus From Egypt

• In 1200s B.C., Moses led people from Egypt– Exodus into Sinai Desert– During Passover, Exodus story is retold

• God renewed the covenant with Moses– Israelites ledged to reject all gods– Received Ten Commandments

• God promised them safe return to Canaan

Settling the Land

• Moses died before reaching Canaan

• Joshua led Israelites into Canaan

• For 200 years, the Israelites fought the Philistines and Canaanites who now occupied the land

The Davidic Monarchy

• Israelites united under one king—Saul

• Unable to defeat the Philistines, David became king

• David had once defeated Goliath

• David ruled for next 40 years

• King David set up capital in Jerusalem

• Israelites enjoyed prosperity under David

The Davidic Monarchy

• David’s son Solomon succeeded his father– Founded new cities and constructed

magnificent temple in Jerusalem– Israelites resented Solomon’s high taxes– Ten tribes broke away from the other two

• Two in the north broke away from southern tribes• Ten in the south kept the name of Judah as a

kingdom and kept Jerusalem as the capital• “Jew” comes from the term Judah

Exile and Return

• Politically split, tribes kept same religion

• Too weak to resist invasions

• In 722 B.C., the Assyrians of Mesopotamia conquered the 10 tribes

• IN 586 B.C., the Chaldeans of Mesopotamia gained control of Judah and destroyed the temple

Exile in Babylon

• During the difficult period, prophets arose from the Israelites

• Some like Jeremiah blamed the Jews for leaving God

• Without a temple, Jews met in small groups—the rise of synagogues came from these gatherings

Rebuilding Jerusalem

• In 539 B.C., the Persian conquered the Chaldeans– Persian king Cyrus II allowed the Jews to

return to Judah and rebuild the temple– First five books of Bible were placed in Torah

• Some Jews remained in Babylon and and other went to other regions—the Diaspora—Greek word for scattered

Lasting Legacy

• Jews saw God-directed purpose and continued to record their history

• Torah recorded concept that humans were made in the image of God

• People were accountable for what happens in the world

EMPIRE BUILDERSCHAPTER 3, SECTION 3

Warlike neighbors came to rule the Fertile Crescent

Setting the Scene

• Terms to Define: satrap

• People to Meet: the Hittites, the Assyrians, the Chaldeans, Nebuchadnezzar, the Persians, Cyrus II, Darius I, Zoroaster

• Places to Locate: anatolia, Babylon, Nineveh, Persepolis

The Hittites

• Presumably from areas beyond the Black Sea, conquered Asia Minor 2000 B.C.

• Established city-states in central plain called Anatolia

• Custom of wearing hair in long, black pigtail

• First to Wield iron weapons

The Hittites

• Two soldiers on a chariot—fast, light, mobile, strong

• Conquered Babylon about 1595 B.C.

• Established less harsh legal system than Hammurabi

The Assyrians

• Subject of constant attacks to their home in north Mesopotamia

• Built strong force and starting attacking others– Most lethal fighting force in Middle East– Chariots, cavalry, foot soldiers– Used iron weapons and battering rams to

knock down wall of foes

The Assyrians

• Treated conquered people cruelly– Burned cities– Tortured and killed thousands– Deported people to other parts of their

kingdom– Resettled other people into conquered

territories

The Assyrians

• By 650, Assyrians governed empire from Persian Gulf to Asia minor

• Established capital in Nineveh, along Tigris River

• Alliance between Chaldeans and Medes brought down the Assyrian empire

The Chaldeans

• Descended from Hammurabi’s Babylonian empire

• Height of empire was during reign of King Nebuchadnezzar

• Conquered Canaan and Syria

• Built Babylon into beautiful city

The Chaldeans

• Among seven wonders of the world, Hanging Gardens of Babylon– Made for the king’s wife– Walls 50 feet high around the city

• Study of stars laid foundations of study in Astronomy

• Persians under Cyrus II conquered them

The Persians

• From central Asia, leaving about 2000 B.C

• Settle between Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea

• Between Cyrus and his son, Cambyses, they brought all of the Middle East under Persian control

The Persians• Darius I was best organizer

– Reigned 522 B.C. to 486 B.C.– Divided the realm into provinces—satraps—

provincial governors– Military officials and tax collector chosen from

the conquered people– Inspectors made tours—”eyes of the king”– Believed in loyalty over fear

The Persians

• Persian did not participate in trade—their conquered people could

• Expanded network of roads for trade– Royal road stretched more than 1500 miles

across Persian Empire– Stations every 14 miles

The Persians

• Darius waged war against the Greeks

• After Darius death, his son Xerxes led disastrous campaign against Greeks in Greece in 480 B.C., crippling the Persian empire (partly against the “300”)

The Persians

• Followed strict code of bravery and honesty– Taught riding, use of the bow and speaking

the truth

• Worshiped many deities

• Prophet, Zoroaster, began speaking of a world divided into good and evil

The Persians

• Zoroaster– Humans caught up in the struggle– Humans must choose– Eternal life was the reward– Written in book called Avesta

• Persian kings led by good god, Ahura Mazda

The Persians

• Zoroaster’s teachings linked to glorification of Persian monarchy

• Zoroaster’s teachings on paradise, hell, and Last Judgment may have influenced other religions

• Persians mixed with Greek culture when Alexander the Great absorbed them