1. Early Civilizations of the Middle East
World Studies
April 11

2. I. Fertile Crescent Called Mesopotamia (land between the rivers)
Curved slice of land from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf
Bound by the Jordan River in the west, Tigris and Euphrates in the east = good soil

4. II. The Sumerians were the first civilization ~3000 BC
Displayed the characteristics of a civilization
Cities (trade)
Specialized workers (scribes, artisans)
Writing (cuneiform)
Advanced technology (plow, sailboat, bronze tools, irrigation)
Complex institutions (government, religion)
Political fighting weakens the city-states; nomadic raiders conquer them

6. III. The Phoenicians Peak ~1100 BC Very wealthy from trade
Natural purple dye from snails
Cedar
Became excellent sailors, may have circumnavigated Africa
Set up trade colonies on Mediterranean isles
Simplified cuneiform into a 22 letter alphabet around 900 BC
Basis for the later Greek and Roman alphabets

8. IV. The Assyrians Lived in northern Mesopotamia
Started expanding ~850 BC
Became strong by surviving multiple attacks by invaders and became invaders themselves
Moved the people they conquered around to prevent uprisings
Fell after 200 years when they lost a strong leader, Assurbanipal

10. V. The Chaldeans took their place
Took up Babylon as the center of their empire ~500 BC
Nebuchadnezzar was an early king who oversaw great building projects
Hanging gardens = Wonder of the world
Had a 7 story ziggurat, 300’ tall
Used to observe stars, constellation movements, moon phases
Mark time and predict the future