1. Judaism

2. BELLWORK: 10 minutes
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!

3. Chaldeans

4. Persians

5. 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

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

7. 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)

9. 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.

10. Middle Eastern Empires – 540BC

11. Persian Empire – 539 BC

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. Look on pages and identify the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. There are approximately 30.

19. Homework: Intro To Ancient Greece
“The Impact of Geography” page 
List two ways the mountainous terrain of Greece impacted their society.
List two ways access to the sea impacted Greece’s development.
“Tyranny in the City-States” page 82 
Define tyrant.
Define oligarchy.
What is a democracy?