1. Kingdoms and Empires in the Middle East
World History Chapter 3
Kingdoms and Empires in the Middle East

2. Chapter 3, Section 1
Civilizations in Mesopotamia and Egypt trade and spread cultural influences throughout the region

3. 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

4. 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

5. The Aramaeans
Until A.D. 800s, most people in Fertile Crescent spoke Aramaic
Parts of Bible written in Aramaic

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Early Israelites Chapter 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
Early Israelites Chapter 3, Section 2

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. Empire Builders Chapter 3, Section 3
Warlike neighbors came to rule the Fertile Crescent
Empire Builders Chapter 3, Section 3

24. 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

25. 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

26. The Hittites Two soldiers on a chariot—fast, light, mobile, strong
Conquered Babylon about 1595 B.C.
Established less harsh legal system than Hammurabi

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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”)

36. 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

37. The Persians Zoroaster Persian kings led by good god, Ahura Mazda
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

38. 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