Ancient Civilizations

City-States in Mesopotamia The City-State Structure of Government

A. Although all the cities shared the same culture …B. each city had its own government / rulers, warriors, it’s own patron god, and functioned like an independent

countryC. includes within the city walls and also the surrounding farm land

Definetype of

government

D. Examples include Sumerian cities of Ur, Uruk, Kish, NippurE. At center of each city was the walled temple with a ziggurat –

a massive, tiered, pyramid-shaped structure.

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

F. Powerful priests held much political power in the beginning.

G. Military commanders eventually became ruler / monarch - then began passing rule to their own heirs, creating a new structure of government called a Dynasty – a series of rulers descending from a single family line.

Definetype of

government

Historians wonder…Did the Sumerians develop this new type of government on their own, or did they learn and adopt it only after contact with other peoples?

City-States in Mesopotamia First EMPIRE Builders

A. 3,000 – 2,000 B.C.E. the City-States began to war with each other.These internal struggles meant they were too weak to ward off an attack

by an outside enemy. B. Sargon of Akkad (ca. 2,350 B.C.E.)

1. Took control of the region, creating world’s first empire - when several peoples, nations, or previously independent states are placed under the control of one ruler.

Definetype of

government

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

The Akkadian Empire lasted about 200 years, 2350 – approx. 2150 B.C.E.

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

Sargon established a dynasty. BUT invasions, internal fighting, and a severe famine all contributed to the end of the Akkadian Empire.

What effect did Sargon’s conquests have?

• The culture of Sumer which had influenced the Akkadians was spread beyond the Tigris Euphrates River Valley.

• This is an example of the idea of cultural diffusion

• Cultural diffusion is the spread of elements of one culture to another people, generally through trade but also through conquest.

City-States in Mesopotamia Babylonian Empire

1. Overtook Sumerians around 2,000 B.C.2. Built capital, Babylon, on Euphrates river3. Reign of Hammurabi [1792-1750 B.C.E.]

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

Reign of Hammurabi Famous Code of Law

A total of 282 laws are etched on this 7 ft. 5 in. tall black basalt pillar (stele). The top portion, shown here, depicts Hammurabi with Shamash, the sun god. Shamash is presenting to Hammurabi a staff and ring, which symbolize the power to administer the law. Although Hammurabi's Code is not the first code of laws (the first records date four centuries earlier), it is the best preserved legal document reflecting the social structure of Babylon during Hammurabi's rule. This amazing find was discovered in 1901 and today is in the famous Louvre Museum in Paris, France.

• he wisely took all the laws of the region’s city-states and unified them into one code. This helped unify the region. • Engraved in stone, erected all over the empire. This set a precedent: the idea that the government was responsible for what occurred in society.

Why do you think Hammurabi thought it important to place all the cities within his Empire under the same uniform code of laws?

And why do you think he believed it important to place the laws in prominent locations so the people could visibly see them?

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

Cute websitehttp://www.phillipmartin.info/hammurabi/hammurabi_situation_index.htm

Primary Source Document Analysis: “Hammurabi’s Code” (see handout)

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

Partnered Students Handout

Hammurabi, the king of righteousness,On whom Shamash has conferred the Law,

am I.

When Marduk sent me to rule over men, to give the protection of right to the land,

I did right and in righteousness brought about the well-being of the oppressed.

Below are situations Hammurabi faced.  You and your partner decide what you think to be a fair way to deal with the problem.

Then together we’ll view what Hammurabi actually declared.  We’ll find out if Marduk, the supreme god, will be pleased with your decisions?

1. What should be done to the carpenter who builds a house that falls and kills the owner? 2. What should be done about a wife who ignores her duties and belittles her husband? 3. What should be done when a "sister of god" (or nun) enters the wine shop for a drink? 4. What should be done if a son is adopted and then the birth-parents want him back? 5. What happens if a man is unable to pay his debts? 6. What should happen to a boy who slaps his father? 7. What happens to the wine seller who fails to arrest bad characters gathered at her shop?8. How is the truth determined when one man brings an accusation against another?

So what do you think?

• Were the laws CRUEL?

• Were the laws FAIR?

Two centuries after Hammurabi’s reign, the Babylonian Empire fell to nomadic raiders. New groups would rule over the Fertile Crescent in the future. However, the innovative ideas of the Sumerians and their descendants in the region would be adopted by the later peoples – including the Assyrians, the Persians, Phoenicians and the Hebrews (Jews).

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

Hittites: Anatolia

The Hittite capital city of The Hittite capital city of HattushashHattushash

The Hittites created their empire between 1600-1200 B.C. (BCE)

*They were the first people to learn to smelt (separate metal from ore) iron. They could then make iron weapons which were very

strong

There were eventually weakened and defeated by the Sea Peoples.

The Sea Peoples is the term used for a mysterious confederacy of seafaring raiders

who sailed into the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, invaded Cyprus, and the Levant, and attempted to enter Egyptian

territory

The end of the Hittite kingdom allowed for the rise of other people in this region

AssyriansAfter the Hittite empire fell, other peoples fought for dominance in

western Asia. In time, the Assyrians became the supreme power in the region

Nineveh: on the Tigris RiverNineveh: on the Tigris River

Assyrians were fierce warriorsthey learned about smelting iron from the Hittites

Military StrengthMilitary Strength

The Assyrian military was one of the strongest in the ancient world.

They used fierce iron weapons and psychological warfare.

If people refused and were defeated they were treated harshly.

King Ashurnasirpal once stated “3,000 of their combat troops I felled with

weapons . . . Many I took alive; from some of these I cut off their hands to the writs, from

others I cut off their noses, ears and fingers; I put out the eyes of many of the soldiers. . . . I

burned their young men and women to death.”

The Assyrians would often attempt to get an area to surrender before attack.

Assyrian Military Power

Assyrian Military Power

Assyrian soldiers carrying away the enemy’s

gods.

Assyrian soldiers carrying away the enemy’s

gods.

Assyrian RulersAssyrian RulersAssyrian kings ruled with absolute power.Kingdoms were well organized and efficient. Use of provinces to ruleKept direct contact with the people who helped administer their empire

Transportation/Courier systemTransportation/Courier systemThey established. a system where they could relay messages by horseback back and forth in a week’s time.

AshurbanipalAshurbanipalConsidered the greatest Assyrian King.He collected the writings of Mesopotamia and established the great library of Nineveh

Babylon under the Chaldeans

Babylon under the Chaldeans

Chaldeans

As Assyria began to decline, the Chaldeans swooped in.

• Babylon, capital of their new empire

• Nebuchadnezzar II

– Warrior and builder

– Hanging Gardens of Babylon

• Chaldean culture

– Admired ancient Sumerian culture

– Developed calendar; advances in astronomy

The Assyrian empire eventually fell and the Chaldeans (Neo Babylonians) under king Nebuchadnezzar made Babylon the most powerful state in the region.

Nebuchadnezzar is most famous for the construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Nebuchadnezzar is also responsible for the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem and beginning the Babylonian Captivity of the Jews and the first Diaspora.

Babylon is defeated and replaced by the Persian Empire in 539 B.C.

Hanging Gardensof Babylon?

Hanging Gardensof Babylon?

LivedLived: The Phoenicians established a trade empire, and colonies,

throughout the Mediterranean.

Made LivingMade Living: They traded several goods including glass and lumber.

GoodsGoods: Their most important product was Tyrian purple, a dye

made from boiling the Murex snail.This purple dye was very difficult and expensive to produce. It was

very valuable to the rich.

Murex snail

Murex ShellPhoenicia means Purple

The Phoenicians spread their alphabet throughout the Mediterranean

Their alphabet consisted of 22 letters, it did not have vowels.

Unlike many early alphabets which were made of pictograms, the Phoenician alphabet was phonic (based on sound). These sounds could be assembled to make words.

The Greeks eventually adopted this alphabet, which influenced the Latin Alphabet which we use today.

Phoenician ArtifactsPhoenician Artifacts

IsraelitesIsraelitesSemitic-speaking people who lived south of the Phoenicians in the land of Canaan

Compared to other groups in the region, they were a small group.

Their religion, known today as Judaism, continues as a world religion and influencedinfluenced the development of Christianity and Islam.

Israel

History of the HebrewsHistory of the Hebrews

AbrahamAbraham

Abraham is seen as the Patriarch, or father, of Judaism as well as Christianity and Islam.

According to Jewish tradition Abraham is brought by God from his home in the ancient city of Ur into a new land, Canaan (the holy land), where he enters into a covenantcovenant (agreement) with God:

in exchange for sole recognition of Yahweh as supreme universal authority, Abraham will be the father of a great nation.

ExodusExodusThe escape of the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt.

Moses was the leader of the Hebrew Exodus. The story goes that the Hebrew God had to curse Egypt with 10 plagues in order for the Pharaoh (Ramses II) to free the Israelites.

10 Plagues10 PlaguesThe Nile turned to bloodFrogsFleas and LiceFliesEpidemic disease which exterminated the Egyptian livestock.BoilsStorm (Hail)LocustsDarknessDeath of the first born son(Passover Holiday comes from this event)

According to the Torah, the Israelites disobeyedGod and wandered the desert for 40 years before reaching the holy land.

King Solomon 970-930 BCEKing Solomon 970-930 BCEUnited the tribes of Israel into the Kingdom of Israel

Solomon was the son of King David, and was known as a wise king.

During this time Jerusalem became the capital of the Kingdom of Israel

Under the leadership of Solomon, Israel reached the height of its power.

He built a great temple in Jerusalem which became the focal point of the Jewish Religion.

The remains of this temple, now known as the Western Wall or Wailing Wall are still a focal point of the Jewish faith.

The Divided KingdomThe Divided KingdomAfter Solomon’s death the kingdom of Israel split into two parts

Division: The Kingdom of Israel was the ten northern tribes with the capital city of Samaria.

The Kingdom of JudahKingdom of Judah was the two tribes in the South with the capital of Jerusalem.

The Assyrians destroyed the kingdom of Israel and scattered the people in 722 B.C., these are known as the lost tribes of Israel.

The Kingdom of Judah remained until it wasdestroyed by the Chaldeans (Neo Babylonians) and King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. beginning the Babylonian captivity which would last until the defeat of the Chaldeans by the Persian Empire and Cyrus the Great.

The Babylonian Captivity of the Jews was known as the first DiasporaDiaspora.

The DiasporaDiaspora is the scattering of the Jewish people.

There have been two Diasporas.

The first was the Babylonian captivity, which ended when the Persians freed the Jews and the Jews returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the temple.

During the Captivity there was an Age of ProphecyAge of ProphecyThe Prophets such as Isaiah and EzekielThe prophets declared that the people needed to return to the original covenant or face punishment.

The Jews stayed in Israel until the Romans destroyed the Temple again in 70 CE beginning the second Diaspora.

After that the Jews were scattered throughout Europe.European anti-Semitism in the Middle Ages and the Holocaust of WWII forced many Jews to emigrate to the United States and many began to return to Israel.

This led to the formation of the state of Israel by the United Nations in 1948 ending the second Diaspora. Many Jews consider any Jew not living in the Holy Land to still be in the Diaspora.

The Western (Wailing) Wall in JerusalemThe most important of all Jewish monumentsIt is the remnants of the Temple of Solomon after its destruction by the Romans in 70 A.D.