Chapter 2 – The First Civilizations

12,000 B.C. – 500 B.C.

Pages 18 – 49

Empires of the Fertile Crescent

The Ancient Sumerians

The First Civilization

Sumerian Civilization

• The Land, Geographic Importance– Not geographically isolated– Runs from Suez to Persian Gulf– Known as Fertile Crescent

• See page 30 for map

– Tigris and Euphrates Rivers are the main rivers– Range from 30 – 250 miles apart– Ancient valley was called Babylon– Constantly overrun with invaders– Video

Sumerian CivilizationMap of Ancient Sumeria

Sumerian Civilization

• Sumer and Its Achievements– Began around 5,000 B.C.– Sumer is located on the south end of the

Tigris– People settled there because of good

farmland– People there used metal tools– Developed writing called pictograph

• One of the earliest known form of writing

Sumerian Civilization

• Sumerian writing• Different from

hieroglyphics• Writers use a wedge

called a stylus• Today we call it

cuneiform• There were about 600

signs

Pictures of Cuneiform

Sumerian Civilization• Architecture and

Science– Invented the arch

• Curved over and entrance• Strongest form in a

building• Built many domes shaped

building

– Ziggurats – temples• Made of baked brick• Looked like wedding cake

– Science• First to use the wheel• Used a # system based

on 60

Top – Artist’s conception – Bottom = today

More Pics of Ziggurats

View of the base

Over head view

Sumerian Civilization• Sumerian Society

– Formed city-states (video)• Town or city that controlled surrounding land• Ur, Kesh, and Kish

– Government and Society (video)• Priests and War Leaders were most important• War Leaders would eventually rule as kings• Kings, Priest and High Nobility were atop society• Merchant, Traders and Artisans were the middle

class• Peasants and slavers were at the bottom

– Slaves were captives of war

Sumerian Civilization• Farming and Trade

– Most farmed• Dates, Grains, and veggies

– Also grew flax• Used for linen and woolen goods

– Because of food surplus, trading was occurring by 3,000 B.C.• Mostly with SW Asia

• Education and religion– Only upper class boys went to school

– Based on religion, drawing and mathematics

– Main gods• An (lord of heaven)• Enlil (god of air and storms)• Enki (god of water and wisdom)

– Believed in an afterlife, but not as glorious as Egyptians (video)

Ancient Egypt

Pyramids and Pharaohs

Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile

• The Land: Its Geography and Importance– In ancient times Egypt was covered with

swampland (Video)– The Nile has remained the one constant in the

area– The Nile river

• Longest river in the world – 4,160 miles• Has six sets of cataracts, or rapids• Most of it is smooth flowing and easy to navigate• Ancient Egypt was located along a 750 mile stretch of

the Nile• The Nile would flood every summer• Ancient people used these floods for agriculture

Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile

• The Land: Its Geography and Importance– Other natural advantages

• Egypt has a frost free climate– This made it easy to grow many kinds of food

• Also the wind currents made it easy to navigate• The Nile Valley contains several natural deposits

– Granite– Sandstone– Limestone

• The deserts and seas provided a natural barrier• The isthmus of Suez provided a trade route

Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile

• Early steps towards civilization– Hunter-gatherer peoples entered the Nile

Valley around 12,000 B.C.– A Neolithic culture formed around 6,000 B.C.– By 3,000 B.C. hieroglyphics had been

developed– Early Egyptians developed paper from

Papyrus– The Rosetta Stone became the key to

translating hieroglyphics

Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile

• The Egyptian Kingdoms– Two distinct kingdoms developed in Egypt

• Upper Egypt (Southern Egypt)• Lower Egypt (Northern Egypt)

– Menes• King of Upper Egypt• United all of Egypt around 3,200 B.C.• Started a dynasty (family of rulers)• Gained territory and improved trade• He and his family became regarded as gods• They were called Pharaoh (means – great house)• From Menes until 300 B.C. 30 dynasties ruled Egypt

– Divided into three main kingdoms (Old, Middle, & New)• Video

Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile

• The Old Kingdom– 2,680 B.C. – 2180 B.C.– Many developments in science and art

• Sphinx (video)• Largest pyramids (video)

– Split into two classes• Lower class (peasants and farmers)• Nobility (grew stronger towards the end of Old Kingdom)

– Increase of strength sparked civil wars

– Times between Pharaohs is called Intermediate Periods» This was the first one

Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile

• The Middle Kingdom– 2050 B.C. – 1600 B.C.– Considered the Golden Age for Egypt– Toward the end of the era nobles and priest began to

weaken the power of the Pharaoh– Hyksos (people from Asia) appeared in Egypt during

this kingdom• Some scholars say they conquered Egypt• We do know they ruled lower Egypt for about 100 years• They brought new forms of war tools with them

– Chariots– Compound Bow

Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile

• The New Kingdom– 1750 B.C. – 1080 B.C.– Strong Pharaohs reunited– Drove the Hyksos out of Egypt– Set up Thebes as main city– They built an Empire

• A form of government where one person rules many people and territories

– Hatshepsut was the first female ruler of the time period (video)

• She was a strong leader who controlled the borders– Her stepson, Thutmose III, continued her style of rule

Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile

• The New Kingdom Continued– Another notable Pharaoh was Amenhotep IV

• Tried to bring out religious and social change• Egyptians believed in many gods existed

(polytheism)• Amen believed in one god (monotheism)

– The sun, to him, was god– Represented by a disk called Aton– To honor him Amen changed his name to Akhenaton

• He was unsuccessful in his attempt to change, priest enjoyed power

• After his death, priest would again regain power in Egypt (video)

Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile

• Egypt's Decline– Between the time of Amen and the priests

there were a few strong Pharaohs– Ramses II

• 1279 B.C. – 1213 B.C.• Called Ramses the great• Video

– Eventually other Empires such as the Assyrians began to take over as world powers

– Egypt world dominance finally diminished

Egyptian Life and Culture

• The Achievements of Ancient Egypt– Architecture and the Arts

• Pyramids & Sphinx– Comes to most people’s mind when talking about

Ancient Egypt– There are still about 80 pyramids– The Great Pyramid

» It is the best known pyramid » It covers about 13 acres at its base» It has 2 million stones at 5,000 lbs per stone

• The early Egyptians were also good sculptors and painters

Egyptian Life and Culture

Sphinx and Pyramids The Great Pyramid

Ancient Egyptian Art Ancient ThebesRamses built this for his wife

Egyptian Life and Culture

Kom Ombo Temple

Statue of Amun Head of Ramses

Court of Amenhotep

Egyptian Life and Culture

• Science Math and Medicine– Calendars

• Had a lunar calendar• Realized a bright star with a 365 day interval, that also

appeared before the Nile would flood• Came up with a 30 day / 12 month calendar

– Had a number system based on tens• Similar to the decimal system

– They used geometry to build the pyramids– They used herbs and medicines for treatment of the ill

Egyptian Life and Culture

• Education and Religion– Early education was focused on an elite group

called scribes• Learned to read and write• Would work for government

– Other education was tied to the temples

Egyptian Life and Culture

• Education and Religion Cont.– The afterlife

• Believed only Pharaohs had an afterlife• Eventually they believed everyone did (animals too)• Believed in a scale that would weigh good and bad

– Scale was balanced by a feather

• They believed they had to preserve the body to make afterlife possible

– Mummification – use chemicals to preserve body

– Believed that many objects were also necessary

» Placed them in the tomb

• Place a Book of the Dead to guide them through the afterlife

Egyptian Life and Culture

• Society and Economy– Class was rigidly divided– Women had many legal rights– Seen as equal to their husbands in society

• Could own property• Leave it to her daughter

– Farming• Divided into large estates - cotton still major crop

– Trade• Early form of caravans formed in Ancient Egypt

Ancient Empires in the Fertile Crescent

Beyond the Sumerians

Empires of the Fertile Crescent

AkkadKish

Sumer

Uruk(Erech)

Ur

Babylon

Empires of the Fertile Crescent

• The Akkadians– 2330 B.C. conquered Sumerians– Spoke Semitic language– Sargon was the most powerful Akkadian King– The Empire reached as far west as

Mediterranean Sea– Lasted 150 years– Ur prospered the most after Akkadian fall

Empires of the Fertile Crescent

• Babylonians– 1792 B.C. Hammurabi came to power in

Babylon– Conquered most of the Fertile Crescent– Great leader and lawmaker– Code of Hammurabi

• 288 laws• Some ideas still around today• Concerned all of life

– Regulated work hours– Property rights– “eye for and eye”, rich still had more rights

Empires of the Fertile Crescent

• Babylonians continued– Babylonian Culture (video)

• Most of people farmed• Active traders• Women had some legal and economic rights

– Could be merchants, traders, scribes– Could be divorced by husband– Could not divorce husband– Women could leave a cruel husband and take property

– Religion• Believed in a shadowy afterlife like Sumerians• Mad sacrifices to their gods for good harvest• Believed priests could foretell the future

Ancient Babylon (artist conception)

Empires of the Fertile Crescent

• Other Conquerors– Hittites

• Invaded from Asia Minor• First people to smelt iron• Biggest achievement was law and government

– Only major crimes received death penalty

• Conquered and looted Babylon – Too far away to control it effectively

• Remained a powerful force in Western Fert. Cres. until 1200 B.C.

Empires of the Fertile Crescent

• Other Conquerors– Assyrians

• Semitic speaking people• Settled in Ashur on the Upper Tigris River• Shared cultural elements with Sumerians• Eventually extended power into Egypt• At their peak they controlled

– All of Fertile Crescent– Nile River Valley

Empires of the Fertile Crescent

• Other Conquerors– Assyrians

• Skilled at warfare• First to use cavalry – horses • Enslaved people they defeated• Defeated and destroyed Babylon• First well managed empire

– King answered only to their god– Nineveh was the capital

• Had a great library– Included the Tales of Gilgamesh

• Finally defeated by Chaldeans and Medes

Empires of the Fertile Crescent

• Other Conquerors– Chaldeans

• Led by Nebuchadnezzar • Rebuilt Babylon• Conquered most of Crescent• Built Hanging Gardens• Great astronomers• Advanced in math• Kingdom fell after Neb’s death

Empires of the Fertile Crescent

• The Persians– Spoke and Indo-European Language– Originally ruled by the Medes– Cyrus the Great led a rebellion to win ind.

• Darius and Xerxes I would spread rule of Persia

– It was the mightiest Empire of the time

Empires of the Fertile Crescent

• The Persians– Government

• Rulers concerned with justice• Allowed conquered slaves to keep own religion• King had spies to check regional rulers• Built roads to connect empire

– Religion• Taught by Zoroaster• Zoroastrianism taught of prep. for afterlife• Eternal struggle between good and evil

– Decline• Suffered defeat to Alexander the Great (video)

Pictures of Ancient Persia

Tomb of Cyrus Artist conception of Ancient Persian sculptors

Pictures of Ancient Persia

Rock Carvings

The Phoenicians and Lydians

Moving into the Mediterranean

The Phoenicians and Lydians

• The Phoenicians– No large Empire, but large impact– Modern Day Syria, Lebanon, and Israel– Loose union of city-states– Traded on the sea

• Tyre and Sidon were world famous ports• Carthage (Africa), Sicily, Sardinia, and Malta

– Most important resource was lumber (mainly Cedar)– Skilled workers with gold and silver– Invented glass blowing– Also made purple dye from the shell fish - murex

The Phoenicians and Lydians

• Phoenicians– Culture

• Through trade Egyptian and Babylonian culture was spread by Phoe.

• Believed in afterlife, sometimes sacrificed their own children

• Developed alphabet similar to modern western alpha.

• Good example of Cultural Diffusion• Video

Phoenician Trading Places

The Phoenicians and Lydians

• Lydians– Asia Minor / Turkey was once Lydia– Did not create an empire

• First people to use coined money

– Before coins people would barter• Barter is to exchange goods of = value

– Created a money economy with prices for various items

Origins of Judaism

From Ur to Israel

The Origins of Judaism

• The Hebrews– South of Phoenicia, lived in land of Canaan– Conquered by Assyrians, Babylonians,

Egyptians, Persians, Syrians– Founder of the Hebrew was Abraham

• Had a son Isaac who had Esau and Jacob• Esau – should have received birthright

– Later sold Jacob his birthright for pot of stew

• Jacob deceived father for right – Had 12 sons– Became the 12 tribes of Israel

The Origins of Judaism

• The Exodus– Eventually, because of drought, sons of Jacob

left Canaan for Egypt– Arrived around same time as Hyksos– Eventually enslaved (400 years)– Lead out by Moses

• Wondered in the wilderness of Sinai for 40 years• Video

The Origins of Judaism

• Ten Commandments– While Israelites wondered Moses was given

ten commandments by Yahweh (Jewish God)– Hebrews entered into a covenant with God– Moses told the people of God’s plan to start a

Holy Nation and of the promise land• Modern day Israel

The Origins of Judaism• The Founding of Israel

– Loose confederation of tribes– Ark of the Covenant was a shrine

• Moses’ tablets

– Leaders were known as judges– Other spiritual leaders were prophets– Israelites warred against The Philistines and

Canaanites– The nomadic twelve tribes would unite under one king

• Saul – 1st King• David – 2nd King

– Lineage would lead to Christ– Made Jerusalem the capital and religious center

The Origins of Judaism

• The Founding of Israel– David – 2nd King

• Son Solomon took Israel to its height• Built a great temple to God

– Kingdom eventually split• Northern 10 tribes became Israel

– Conquered by Assyrians

• Southern 2 became Judah– Conquered by Chaldeans– Allowed to return after Chaldeans were conquered by

Cyrus– Leader named Nehemiah rebuilt the city

The Origins of Judaism• Law and Ethics

– Torah – first five books of the Bible (video)• Similar to Hammurabi Code• More sensitive to human rights

• Religion– Worshiped Yahweh as the one, true God– Believed that Yahweh allowed people the right to

choose him– Viewed him as spiritual being having no human

characteristics– Technically it is called a ethical-monotheistic religion– Out of Judaism sprang Judeo – Christianity

• Teaches that Christ was God in Man• Teaches Christ was God’s son and the only way to heaven

Arch of the Covenant King Solomon

Ancient Jerusalem

Cave of the Dead Sea Scrolls

Solomon’s Temple