1. Southwest Asia, North Africa, and Central Asia History and Religion

2. Objectives Students Will Be able to:
Name and describe the civilizations in the Ancient Middle East
Compare and contrast the major religions of the region
Explain the reasons for the Arab-Israeli Conflict

3. Mesopotamia Present-day Iraq 4000 B.C. Sumer People began to settle
Used water for irrigation
3000 B.C.E.
Cities began to develop
Sumer

4. Sumer Region in Mesopotamia City-states Polytheistic
Areas in Sumer that developed their own government
Polytheistic
Polytheism- worship of more than one god
At first was a theocracy. Later, military leaders took over
Theocracy- government controlled by religious leaders

5. Achievements of the Sumerians
Very early calendar
First people to use the wheel and plow
Developed cuneiform, an early form of writing

6. Disadvantages of Mesopotamia
Floods could damage crops and homes
Few natural barriers
Led to attacks

7. Hammurabi Hammurabi King who conquered Mesopotamia in 1790 B.C.E.
Code of Hammurabi
Meant to protect people and their property
One of the world’s first codes of law

8. Ancient Egypt Relied on Nile River Social Status Very important Top
Rulers
Nobles
Priests
Middle
Business and craftspeople
Lower
Most people
Farmers and unskilled workers

9. Ancient Egypt Religion System of writing Center of Egyptian life
Theocracy
Ruled by pharaohs
Egyptian rulers whom the people believed were gods
Owned land and ordered thousands of people to build temples, tombs, and pyramids
System of writing
Hieroglyphics- Egyptian picture writing

10. Connection of Ancient Lands
Trade very important to Mesopotamia and Egypt
Mediterranean
Phoenicia
1000 B.C. E.
Trade very important to them

11. Three Religions Three major world religions began in Southwest Asia
All three monotheistic
Monotheism- belief in one god

12. Judaism Oldest of the three religions Practiced by Israelites
Today, known as Jews
Holy book- Tanakh, or Hebrew Bible
Beliefs:
Descended from Abraham
Herder in 1800 B.C.E.
Covenant with God
Move to Canaan
Follow laws
Revealed to Moses
Given 10 Commandments
King David
1000 B.C.
Had Jewish kingdom in present-day Israel

13. Judaism Diaspora- spreading of Jews throughout the world
In many places, Jews treated poorly

14. Christianity Comes from Judaism A.D. 30 Jesus Christ
Taught that God loved all people
Placing trust in God would forgive sins
Some people followed him, known as Christians
Others feared Christianity
Holy Book: Bible
Old Testament- Judaism holy book
New Testament- teaching of Jesus
Spread to Europe and became dominant religion
World’s largest religion today
2.1 Billion followers

15. Islam C.E. 600s on Arabian Peninsula Teachings of Muhammad
Belief in one God, Allah
Holy Book: Quran
After death in 632, caliphs took over as leaders of Muslim empire
Conquered places around area
Asia
North Africa
Parts of Europe

16. Contributions of Islam
Great traders
Mathematics
Astronomy
Chemistry
Medicine
The number 0

17. Judaism
Christianity
Islam