1. Phoenicians, Lydians,
& Hebrews

2. The Phoenicians 3000 BC – First settlements
1100 BC – After domination by Egyptians & Hittites
Phoenician cities gain independence
814 BC - Carthage founded
790+/-BC –Conquered by Assyria
612 BC – Falls to Chaldeans (Nebuchadnezzar)
600BC - Phoenician seafarers circumnavigate Africa
539 BC – Conquered by Persia
333 BC – Conquered by Alexander the Great
64 BC - Conquered by Romans, term Phoenicia no
longer used

3. The Phoenicians Government – Independent City States, loosely
united
Achievements –
- Superb Traders
Developed colonies across the Mediterranean
Carthage, Cadiz, Sicily, Sardinia, etc.
Major natural resource –Lebanon Cedar
Skilled artisans in Gold & Silver
Invented art of glassblowing
From a shellfish developed a purple dye whose
color became known as “Royal Purple”
Exported wine, linen, olive oil, & dried fish

4. The Phoenician Alphabet
The Phoenicians
The Phoenician Alphabet
Achievements – cont’d
Culture:
Imitated other cultures (cultural diffusion)
Patterned customs & gov’t after Egyptians & Babylonians
RELIGION: Believed in no afterlife, were polytheistic
It was the model for Western alphabets:
adopted by the Greeks
trade spread it through Mediterranean area
later copied by Romans
Major Achievement

5. The Lydians So, why is this important? So What!?
Located on the West coast of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey)
Known as the first people to coin money (around 600BC)
Used barter system previously
So, why is this important?
So What!?

6. The Hebrews Ancestors of modern day Israeli’s and Jew’s
First great leader Abraham born in Sumer
Abraham lead his people to Canaan (no natural defenses, easily conquered
Descendants of Abraham (Jacob, Joseph) moved into Egypt (Land of Goshen)
Fell out of favor with Egyptians, Moses lead Hebrews through wilderness (Sinai Peninsula)
Finally back to Canaan

7. The Hebrews What other written code for behavior have we studied?
While in the wilderness . . .
Moses received the Ten Commandments
Moral laws governing moral conduct
Ethical monotheism
What other written code for behavior have
we studied?
What are the similarities?
Differences?

8. The Hebrews Government: Monarchy –Saul was the first King
Subdivisions – Twelve Tribes – determined by heredity
Capital – Jerusalem (United Kingdom)
King David – Succeeded Saul, made Jerusalem capital,
established dynasty
King Solomon – son of David, built royal palace, great Temple
After Solomon’s reign Kingdom divided when 10 tribes revolted
Northern Kingdom – Israel; Capital - Samaria
Southern Kingdom – Judah: Capital - Jerusalem

9. The Hebrews 722 BC- Assyrians conquered Samaria, Hebrews not
slaughtered were deported to Assyria as slaves
587 BC – Chaldeans, under Nebuchadnezzar, conquered
Judah, destroyed the capital, including the Temple,
and enslaved the Hebrews.
538 BC – Persian King Cyrus conquers Chaldeans, allows
Hebrews to return to Israel/Judah

10. The Hebrews Old Testament:
Book of religious beliefs (creation of the world, special
mission of Hebrews, history, etc.)
TORAH- First 5 books of Old Testament, lists Hebrew
code of laws. Named for Moses, called MOSIAC LAW.
“Eye for an Eye” but with greater value for human life.