Chapter 2 Fertile Crescent

Ancient Civilizations Assyrians

EQ 1 How did the geography of the Fertile Crescent support settlement and the growth of civilizations?

EQ 1 - Vocabulary Fertile Crescent – Region in Southwest Asia that was the site of the world’s first civilizations (current day Middle East) Mesopotamia – “Land Between the Rivers”; land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Scribe – A professional writer; kept records for kings and priests

Tigris River – A river in Iraq and Turkey Euphrates River – River that flows south from Turkey through Syria

Mesopotamian Civilizations

Geographic Setting Mesopotamian Geography Between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Rivers supply fish, clay for buildings, and strong reeds to make boats They also flood which brings fertile topsoil but can also cause massive destruction. Rich Soil Part of the Fertile Crescent A region in Southwest Asia that was the site of the world’s first civilizations.

EQ 2 What did the Sumer civilization have that made it unique?

EQ 2 - Vocabulary City-state– a city that is also a separate, independent state (own god, own government) Sumer – site of earliest known civilization; became Babylonia; present day Iraq polytheism – belief in more than one god Ziggurat – temple to the main god or goddess of the city Myths – Stories about gods that explain people’s beliefs

Sumer Established around 3500 B.C. One of the largest regions in Mesopotamia; wealth came from farming Made up of city-states Politically independent but shared a common culture and language Each city-state had its own god or goddess; government; and its own king Ur – largest Sumerian city-state; surrounded by walls Religion – polytheism (belief in many gods) Only wealthy boys were educated

Sumerian Religion The Ziggurat was the pyramid temple of the main god located in the center of the city All religious, social and economic activities took place at the temple site Sumerian people were polytheistic Sumerian myths explained peoples beliefs in the gods They honored the gods through religious ceremonies

Ziggurat in Modern Day Iraq

Sumerian Developments Cuneiform – first form of writing; used stylus to write on clay tablets Wheel Measuring land in squares; paid taxes on squares Irrigation canals

Fall of Sumer Sumerian city-states fought against each other over land and water and became weak. Conquered by the Akkadia then by the Babylonians

EQ 3 What characterized the Babylonian, Assyrian, and Chaldean civilizations?

EQ 3 - Vocabulary empire– many territories and peoples controlled by one government caravan – a group of traders traveling together Hammurabi’s Code – Code of laws/rules for people of Babylon to follow Cuneiform – written language; groups of wedges and lines used to write several languages in the Fertile Crescent

Code – an organized list of laws Bazaar – markets where people would buy goods Battering ram – powerful weapon having a wooden beam mounted on wheels Charioteer - Nebuchadnezzar – King of Babylon who rebuilt the city Built massive walls around the city for protection Built Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Mesopotamia Civilizations

Babylonia Quest for riches Vicious warriors King Hammurabi – developed code of laws; “Hammurabi’s Code” first written set of laws Based on “an eye for an eye” Created a system of roads and became crossroads of trade due to its location in the Fertile Crescent Capital is Babylon Conquered by the Assyrians

Hammurabi Ruler who established the greatness of Babylon 1795 to 1750 BC Code of laws carved on a black stone monument eight feet high Begins and ends with addresses to the gods Regulates in clear and defined terms the organization of society Splits population into three classes

Babylonia

Hammurabi’s Code

Assyrians Skilled warriors who conquered the Babylonians Skilled archers and used slings to hurl stones Had armed charioteers Invented the battering ram; a wooden beam mounted on wheels Could pound city walls to rubble Capital was Nineveh; a city of great learning with a library of thousands of clay tablets with writings from Sumer and Babylon Conquered by the Chaldeans

Assyrians

Chaldeans King Nebuchadnezzar was king and rebuilt the city of Babylon during the reign of the Chaldeans Build massive walls around the city Babylon became a city of learning and science Astronomers charted the paths of stars Measured the length of a year Devised idea of a.m. and p.m. for time Raised honeybees Conquered by the Persians

Chaldean

Extended Thinking Activity Compare Hammurabi’s Code to our modern legal system and laws in the United States. Share your answers with the class.

EQ 4 How did the Phoenicians help spread civilization throughout the Mediterranean region?

EQ 4 - Vocabulary alphabet– set of symbols that represent the sounds of a language monotheism– the belief in one god seafaring– following a life at sea

Mesopotamia Civilizations cont. Sumer Babylonia Assyria Phoenicia Canaan

Phoenician Power Traded dyes and wood to neighboring peoples Sailed ships all over the Mediterranean Sea and out to the Atlantic Ocean Controlled trade throughout most of the Mediterranean Sea Trade created exotic marketplaces Created Phoenician alphabet with 22 symbols; forms basis of many modern day alphabets Simpler than cuneiform Simplified trade between people who spoke different languages

Phoenician Colonies

Phoenician Ships

Phoenician Coin

Phoenicians

EQ 5 What effect did Judaism have on other monotheistic religions?

EQ 5 Vocabulary Abraham – leader of the Israelites who taught his people to believe in one God. Monotheism – the belief in one God Famine – time when there is so little food that people starve Torah – Hebrew bible (Israelites, Jews) Moses– Israelite Leader; given the Ten Commandments by God Exile – to force people to leave and move to another place or country Covenant– a promise made by God

EQ 5 - Vocabulary prophet– a religious leader regarded as someone who speaks for God Ten Commandments – Code of laws God gave to Moses Judaism – monotheistic religion of the Jews diaspora– The scattering of people who share a common background

Judaism First called Hebrews than Israelites First monotheistic religion Torah is the Hebrew Bible; Christians adopted the first five books of the Torah as the Old Testament. God made a covenant with Abraham and the Israelites so they consider themselves God’s chosen people. Covenant renewed by Moses Around 1200 B.C. The Ten Commandments are the basis of Judaism

Jews were exiled from their homeland and scattered to different parts of the world. This is known as diaspora. Both Christianity and Islam had their beginnings in Judaism.

Judaism