1. BELLWORK: September 6th
List THREE things that all ancient river valley civilizations have in common. (Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, China)
List the achievements of the Shang dynasty.
List the achievements of the Zhou dynasty.
THINKER: Today we will begin our study of the Israelites who were unique in their practice of monotheism. Make a prediction  How will other empires interact with the Israelites based on their religious beliefs? Why? Explain!

2. Shang Dynasty 1750BC – 1045BC Government was based off land ownership
King appointed leaders to rule local territories (aristocracy)
Religion: Believed in the afterlife and worshiped ancestors; believed priests could communicate with gods (oracle bones)
Used large armies, bronze weapons and chariots to conquer territory
Cultural achievements: bronze objects, ivory, pottery, and the creation of cities.

3. Zhou Dynasty
In 1045BC, the Shang king was killed (tyrant!) and a new dynasty came to power, the Zhou. (JOH)
Ruled by the Mandate of Heaven
Priests had the authority to call upon the gods and predict the future
Agricultural system: nobles owned the land and peasants worked it.
Technological advances: roads, horses, cross-bow, iron plows, irrigation & expanded foreign trade (silk)
Under the Zhou, China became the most populated country in the world.
After 800 years of rule, internal violence & civil wars challenged the king’s rule.

4. Ancient River Valley Civilizations

6. DISCUSSION
THINKER: Today we will begin our study of the Israelites who were unique in their practice of monotheism. Make a prediction  How will other empires interact with the Israelites based on their religious beliefs? Why? Explain!

7. The Israelites
The Israelites were another early civilization who lived in the Middle East & Asia.
Eventually, they permanently settle in Israel, but it was a difficult journey.
Although they did not make large contributions to politics, their religion influenced Christianity and Islam.
In this period, history intertwines with religion – do not make judgments!

8. Israelites & Judaism
The teachings of the Israelites exist as Judaism today.
The Israelites’ history/beliefs are outlined in the Hebrew Bible, or the Torah (Christians = Old Testament)
Disclaimer: This history is from a religious text!

9. Origins Abraham: A herder/trader who lived in Mesopotamia
Prophet: holy messengers who received commands from God
God (Yahweh) made a covenant, or agreement, with Abraham.
In 1900BC, he left Mesopotamia and settled in Canaan.

10. Move to Egypt Causes: Effects: Severe drought and famine in Canaan
Pharaohs enslaved them

11. Exodus out of Egypt Moses was an Israelite leader in the 1200’s BC.
He led his people out of Egypt in an exodus across the Sinai desert.

12. The Ten Commandments
On the trek across the Sinai, Moses and the Israelites pledged to reject all other Gods.
Also promised to obey God’s laws, or the Ten Commandments.
Influenced modern laws and religion.

13. Creating a Kingdom
David, a military leader, became King of the Israelites in 1012B.C - united the kingdom & organized a government.
His son, Solomon, set up a capital at Jerusalem, expanded the army and encouraged trade.

14. The city of Jerusalem has been occupied continuously for centuries
The city of Jerusalem has been occupied continuously for centuries. According to tradition, King David built the city in 1000BC. This section of Jerusalem (known as the City of David) is where Jerusalem was believed to be founded.

15. Under King Solomon, ancient Israel reached the height of its power.

17. The First Temple built by King Solomon was viewed as the symbolic center of their religion. (It was destroyed in 587BC during a siege….)

18. HOMEWORK
Finish your Venn Diagram!

19. BELLWORK: Block 2
After the Assyrians, both the Chaldeans and Persians take over Mesopotamia. The Chaldeans (like the Egyptians) enslave the Israelites while the Persians take a different route… Read about “The Rise of the Persian Empire” on pages
How was Persian rule different than other empires? (Consider the treatment of Babylonia)
Why was Cyrus the Great of Persia a successful ruler?
How did the Persians rule their massive empire?
How did the Persians improve trade and travel?
THINKER: On your Israelite notes, read the Ten Commandments… why were these so important? Consider both the religious and political impact!

20. Chaldeans

21. Persians

22. Division of Kingdom
After Solomon’s death, tension among Israel’s people led to the creation of two separate kingdoms:
Kingdom of Israel
Kingdom of Judah

23. Why did so many groups compete for control of Mesopotamia?

24. Mesopotamian Takeover
722 BC  Assyrians conquered Kingdom of Israel.
Merged with neighboring peoples and gradually lost identity
586 BC  Chaldeans conquered the Kingdom of Judah
Destroyed Jerusalem and enslaved the people
Next, they were exiled to Babylon (Chaldean capital)

26. Return to Jerusalem In 539 BC, the Persians conquered the Chaldeans.
The Persian King allowed the people of Judah to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their city and temple.
The people of Judah survived, eventually becoming known as the Jews and giving rise to Judaism.

27. Middle Eastern Empires – 540BC

28. Persian Empire – 539 BC

29. Importance of the Israelites
10 Commandments
Foundation of Monotheism
Jesus of Nazareth (a Jew from northern Israel)  foundation of Christianity
Impacted success of Western civilization

30. Importance of the Israelites
The religion of Israel was unique compared to the religions of Western Asia & Egypt
Monotheism
No leader of Israel could claim they had direct access to God
Knowledge was available to everyone
Jews were able to maintain their identity after their loss of independence
Would not accept the gods of their conquerors or neighbors
Society based on Jewish law
Other people resented the Jews’ firm commitment to their faith which is why they were continually oppressed

31. What is Judaism?
For the rest of class (potentially homework), you are going to read about the basic beliefs, rituals and practices of Judaism.
As you read the handout, complete your Israelite note worksheet.

33. The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments were an important part of the Israelite empire.
These were God’s laws that Moses and all the Israelites began to practice.
Besides historically shaping the Israelite empire, the Ten Commandments also had an influence on religion in the West.
We are now going to read the Ten Commandments and historically translate them.

34. The Ten Commandments 1.Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2.Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, for I the Lord, thy God am a jealous God,
3.Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
4.Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.
5.Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
6.Thou shalt not kill.
7.Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8.Thou shalt not steal.
9.Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10.Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

35. Discussion
Compare/Contrast the Ten Commandments and Hammurabi’s Code.