History of Governance

Governments in the Ancient World

Learning Targets

I Can…• Identify examples of monarchy in the

ancient world (i.e. Hammurabi’s Babylon, monarchies of the Fertile Crescent and ancient Egypt);

• Discuss the roles and impacts of hereditary succession and dynastic rule in the ancient world (particularly in Egypt and China);

• Explain the importance of early bureaucracies in the ancient world (i.e. Darius’ Persia).

InstructionsInstructions

• You are going to explore the PPT as a class.– The teacher will facilitate discussions.

• As you move through the PPT, complete the Notes 17 handout.– After #22 you will need to turn to page 2

of Notes 17. Complete the Lion King task, and then return to #23 on the first page.

• End of class: Content practice.–Not for a grade. Complete it on your own.

Rise of Monarchy: Fertile Crescent• The Akkadians: A military dictator

named Sargon conquered the city-states of Sumer.– Sargon: The First Empire-Builder

Rise of Monarchy: Fertile Crescent• The Babylonians: After Sargon’s

death a people called the Babylonians took control of the Akkadian Empire. A king named Hammurabi created a strict code of laws that became the heart of Babylonian society.– Hammurabi:

The Lawgiver

Case Study: Hammurabi’s Code• If a robber is caught while stealing, he will be killed.• If a wife has a relationship with another man, both shall

be tied and thrown into water, but the wife can be pardoned by her husband and given to the king as a slave.

• If anyone strikes a man whose rank is higher than his, the man shall be whipped 60 times in public.

• If a builder builds a house that falls and kills the owner, then the builder shall be killed. If the son of the owner is killed, then the builder’s son shall be killed.

• If a son strikes his father, his hands shall be cut off.• If a man put out the eye of another, his eye shall be put

out.• If one accuses another with a capital offence, but cannot

prove the charges, the accuser will be killed.

Video Analysis: Aladdin• In the movie Aladdin, the main character is accused of

stealing from a market vendor. The penalty for such

a crime: Removal of one’s hand.

• Does the legal code in Aladdin appear more strict or less strict than the Code

of Hammurabi?

• Do you think Princess Jasmine would face the same

penalty for committing the same offense in ancient

Babylon? Explain.

Discussing Essential Questions• According to King Hammurabi of

Babylon:

–What is the tragic flaw of humanity?

–How much control is necessary to keep order in human society?

– Are cruel and unusual punishments acceptable if they lead to order and stability?

Rise of Monarchy: Fertile Crescent• The Hittites: After the death of Hammurabi,

other civilizations rose to power. One of them, the Hittites, created a strong army powered by iron weapons. Their knowledge of ironworking lifted the Hittites to great power – enough to even challenge to mighty Egyptians.

Case Study: Hittite Law• Hittites changed the laws they received from the

Babylonians.

• Hittite laws were more merciful and “kind” than the laws of Hammurabi’s Babylon. It is possible that Hittite officials did not think their kings needed to be feared.

• Still, Hittite laws gave a lot of authority to the monarch. The laws gave Hittite kings total ownership of all the land under their control. Hittite citizens were given some control over the king’s land only if they served in his army.

• In Hammurabi’s Babylon, one could face the death penalty for even minor offenses. But under the Hittites only a small number of crimes were punishable by death. Even premeditated murder only resulted in a fine.

The Assyrians

In strife and conflict I besieged and conquered the city. I felled 3,000 of their fighting men with the sword. I carried off prisoners, possessions, oxen, and cattle from them. I burnt many captives from them. I captured many troops alive: I cut off some of their arms and hands; I cut off of others their noses, ears and extremities. I gouged out the eyes of many troops. I made one pile of the living and one of the dead. I hung their heads on trees around the city. I burnt their adolescent boys and girls. I razed, destroyed, burnt, and consumed the city. - King Assurbanipal

Rise of Monarchy: Fertile Crescent

What do these pictures What do these pictures teach you about the Assyrians?teach you about the Assyrians?

Rise of Monarchy: Fertile Crescent• The Chaldeans: After the death of Assurbanipal,

the Chaldeans of Babylon rose up and created a new Babylonian Empire. The famous Chaldean King Nebuchadnezzar was known for his cruelty and intolerance (he did not act kindly toward others who were different). His history with the Jews was particularly violent. Nebuchadnezzar conquered the Jewish kingdom of Judah in 586 BCE and forced the Jews into slavery in Babylon.

Rise of Monarchy: Fertile CrescentThe Persians: The Babylonians were eventually defeated by a strong civilization called the Persians. The Persians created an enormous empire – the largest the world had ever seen to that point. Famous Persian kings like Cyrus the Great and Darius I were known for their tolerant treatment of conquered peoples. They did not enslave the people they captured, nor did they force conquered people to give up their traditional religious beliefs and customs. Instead, the Persian monarchs allowed all people to live as they wished… as long as they paid taxes to the Persian government. To manage the large empire, Persian monarchs created strong bureaucracies – teams of officials, governors, and tax collectors who assisted the monarchy.

Rise of Monarchy: Ancient EgyptThe first great king of Egypt was King Menes of Thebes. Some historians say that Menes was the famous “Scorpion King” written about in legendary Egyptian texts. King Menes united Upper and Lower Egypt into one kingdom in 3100 BCE. After Menes, pharaohs ruled Egypt with absolute power (control over everything). The Egyptians believed the pharaohs were gods with “divine authority,” meaning their power came from the gods. By obeying the pharaohs Egyptians thought they were helping to create a better world. If disorder existed, then Egyptians believed it was because they had upset the gods. Egyptians believed that when pharaohs died they rose into the heavens and watched over Egypt with the other gods. A dead pharaoh’s son gained power by hereditary succession. A ruling family that has control for a long time is called a dynasty.

The Pharaoh and Priest of AmunEgypt was ruled by pharaohs. Chief priests of the sun god were very influential.

Hereditary SuccessionEgyptian pharaohs passed the throne to their oldest son when they died.

Video Analysis: Lion King

Divine Right of Kings

The pharaoh is subject to no earthly authority; he gets his power directly from the gods.

Bureaucracy

The pharaoh relied on his royal advisors and officials for help in running the kingdom.

Video Analysis: Lion King

Theocracy

The pharaoh was considered by the Egyptians to be a god.

Video Analysis: Lion King

Dynasty

The pharaoh’s son gained power and continued his father’s dynasty.

Dynastic rule in ancient China

• Shang China. One of the earliest ruling families in ancient China was the Shang dynasty. Much of what is known about Shang culture comes from oracle bones. On turtle shells or other animal bones, Shang priests wrote questions for the gods or ancestors. The priests then heated the bones until they cracked. The crack patterns were interpreted to determine the will of the gods or the wisdom of the ancestors.

Dynastic rule in ancient China• Zhou China. The Shang were eventually

overthrown by the Zhou. The Zhou said they gained their power from the Mandate of Heaven. The Mandate of Heaven gave rulers divine authority (power sent by the gods) as long as they ruled well and brought strength and security to China. When a ruling family stopped governing, or when natural disasters ruined the land, or when greed began to distract the king in power, then another family usually rose up to challenge the monarchy. The new family claimed the Mandate of Heaven for itself, and it overthrew the ruling family. The Zhou claimed the Shang family had lost the Mandate because the final Shang king did not treat his people well.

Summary

• In the pre-classical age (3000 bce – 500 bce), monarchs controlled the governments of the first civilizations. These monarchs all ruled with different degrees of cruelty. Some favored harsh laws and strict punishments; others treated people with more trust and tolerance. Nearly all of these monarchies were established through hereditary succession and claims of divine authority.