The Last Word: No homework FrontPage: Staple map and Reading Guide 25.1 together and turn in.

Early Civilizations of the Middle East

Objectives for today:  Identify and locate the earliest civilizations found in the Middle East  Describe the significant contributions to history made by these civilizations

Location of the Earliest Civilizations

The Sumerians

 Earliest group to settle in the Fertile Crescent – about 3500BC –Farming communities developed into competing city-states –Each had special god, ruler, army, high walls, and surrounding farmland  Religion – polytheistic; priests important –Ziggurat – multi-tiered temple in each city- state; center of religious life

Contributions of the Sumerians  Cuneiform (“wedge-shaped”) –A written language **Scribes were trained to read and write this language **The Epic of Gilgamesh – perhaps the oldest recorded story  First to use the wheel and invented the sail –Made communication/ transportation easier

Cuneiform Symbols

Cuneiform Tablet

The Babylonians

 About 1700BC, King Hammurabi and Babylonians move into and conquer the Fertile Crescent –Adopted/absorbed beliefs and ideas of conquered people and added their own

Contributions of the Babylonians  Hammurabi’s Code – system of laws for governing of the empire –Carved into stone and placed throughout the empire –First major collection of laws in history; became an example for later people

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The Hittites  About 1500BC, this group invades the Fertile Crescent… –After conquest, they adopt cuneiform and other practices of the Babylonians

Contributions of the Hittites  Best known for their mastery of iron –Gave them an advantage over their enemies’ bronze spears and shields –Tried to keep this a secret, but were unable to…

The Phoenicians  Seafaring people who lived in city states along the Mediterranean Sea  Reached height around 1500BC

The Phoenicians  Known as the “carriers of civilization” –Spread culture of the MidEast across a large area.

Other Contributions of the Phoenicians  Alphabet - Simpler than cuneiform; only 22 “letters” –Eventually becomes part of Greek alphabet, which was passed to the western world

The Persians

The Persians  By 500BC, had conquered a huge empire that stretched across the MidEast –Greatest ruler – Darius I –Set up an efficient system of government for the empire…

Achievements of Darius I –Tolerance: allowed conquered people to keep their language, customs and traditions. Why? –Governing: divided empire into 20 provinces Satrap – leader of local people; governor of province; responsible for collecting taxes –Transportation: built and improved upon the roads already in existence –Trade: set up a standard system of coinage; made trade easier

Summing it all up…  List 3 significant contributions made by any of the civilizations we have learned about today.