1. Phoenicians, Persians and Judaism

2. Role of Nomadic Peoples
On the fringes of early civilizations were nomadic peoples that depended on hunting, gathering
Some groups were pastoral nomads that raised animals for food and clothing
Traded with settled groups and helped long distance trade and passed on new technologies by carrying products between civilized centers
These groups occasionally overran settled communities and created their own empires

3. Role of Nomadic Peoples
Indo-Europeans were one group
Their language became the mother tongue of Greek, Latin, Persian, Sanskrit and Germanic languages
They originated in the steppes of central Asia and moved into Anatolia around 2000 B.C
1750 B.C. they established an empire in western Asia called the Hittite Empire
They used iron to make tools and weapons
1200 B.C. the empire began to fall apart
The end of the Hittites and the weakening of Egypt led to the rise of other small kingdoms and city states in the region

4. Spread of Indo-European Languages

5. Phoenicians
They were a seafaring a trading empire based in the eastern Mediterranean that flourished between 1550 B.C. to 300 B.C.
They occupied a string of cities (city-states) in the Levant region (Lebanon, Syria, Israel)
They were best known for trade – they produced glass and purple dye that was widely distributed across the Mediterranean region
They established colonies throughout the region to promote trade

6. Phoenicians
The Phoenicians developed an alphabet, where symbols represented sounds, not a word or concept.
The alphabet was used to record business transactions.
The Greek alphabet and later the Roman alphabet was based on the Phoenician alphabet

7. Persian Empires
In 539 B.C. Babylon fell to Persian invaders led by Cyrus the Great
Persian Empire eventually became the largest in the world; stretching from Asia Minor to northern India
The empire embraced tolerance of religions and cultures

8. Structure of the Persian Empire
Emperor Darius was responsible for the unification of the empire
The empire was divided into provinces (satrapys) that were ruled by a local governor that collected taxes based on resources and wealth
Special officials were sent out to check on the empire and they traveled on the Royal Road that was maintained by the empire. This road made it easier to communicate and trade across the empire
The Persian Empire used a common system of coins to allow trade
Much of the power of the Persian Empire was based on the military, Persian kings created a standing military

9. Religion
The Persian Religion was one of their unique cultural achievements- Zoroastrianism
According to tradition Zoroaster lived in the 5th century B.C. and was revered for his visions
His teachings were written in the Zend Avesta, the sacred book of Zoroastrianism
It is a monotheistic religion. The supreme deity is Ahura Mazda, who is good and brought all things into being
He is opposed by Ahriman the evil god
People are allowed the freedom to choose between right and wrong and in the end Ahura Mazda will triumph and there would be a judgment
Zoroastrians believed in heaven, hell and final judgment
Zoroastrian beliefs influenced Judaism, Islam and Christianity

10. Roots of Judaism
To the south of the Phoenicians there was a group of Semitic speaking people that were pastoral nomads
Around 2000 B.C. they migrated to Canaan (Israel/ Palestine) and later to Egypt where they were enslaved and led to freedom by Moses
By 1000 B.C. they had emerged as a distinct group united under their king, David
Solomon followed David and strengthened the Israelite kingdom

11. Roots of Judaism
After the death of Solomon the Israelites were divided by the northern (Israelites) and southern (Judah) tribes in the eighth century B.C.
Israelites were defeated and assimilated by other groups in the region and gradually lost their identity
In the sixth century B.C. the Kingdom of Judah was conquered by the Chaldeans
People of Judah were sent to Babylon as captives (Babylonian Captivity)
Babylonian Captivity ended when the Persians took control of the region and allowed the Jews to return to Israel where they reestablished their religion, but they were under foreign control
The Babylonian Captivity made the Jews a people without a land

12. The Spiritual Dimensions of Judaism
Their god Yahweh created the earth and everything in it, God ruled the world and all people in it were his servants
Ten Commandments provided rules to live by and stressed religious duty
God was good and expected goodness from people if they followed the Ten Commandments
Israelites believed that they had a covenant with God and they were his chosen people
The Jews believed that God had sent prophets to be his “voice” to teach and warn people to follow God
The prophets taught a code of ethics, or moral teachings, and that all people were equal before God
Jewish religious beliefs were recorded in the Torah (Old Testament)
Jews maintained their sense of identity by living in close knit communities and obeying religious laws and traditions