1. Western Asia (the Middle East) and Egypt
Standard: The student will demonstrate an understanding of life in the classical civilizations and the contributions that these civilizations have made to the modern world.
Western Asia (the Middle East) and Egypt
B.C.

2. Civilization begins in Mesopotamia
Chapter 2; Section 1

3. Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia
Between the Tigris and Euphrates river
In the fertile crescent
Rich soil and abundant crops
3 Major groups of people living there
Assyria
Akkad
Sumer (creators of the 1st Mesopotamian civilization)

4. City-States of Ancient Mesopotamia: Sumerian Cities
City with political & economic control over the surrounding countryside
Surrounded by walls
Defense
Mud bricks
Built some of the largest brick buildings in the world
Created the arch and the dome

5. Bell Quiz: Students will have 10 mins to use notes.
1. What two rivers did civilization begin between ? 2. What is the fertile crescent? 3,4,5. Name the three major group of people that lived in this region. 6. What is a city-state? 7. What help provide for the defense of these city-states? 8. What did built some of the largest building in the world? 9. How were arches and does created? 10. What is this a picture of ?

6. City-states of Ancient Mesopotamia: Gods, Goddesses, and Rulers
Temples
Massive structures built on a ziggurat (stepped tower)
Believed gods and goddesses owned the cities
Theocracy: government ruled by divine authority
Priests & priestesses had a ton of power
Believed kings were granted their power from the gods

7. City-states of Ancient Mesopotamia: Economy and Society
Economy based mostly on farming
Trade and industry also became important
Metalwork, textiles, and pottery
Imported copper, tin, and timber
Exported fish, wool, barley, wheat and metal goods

8. City-states of Ancient Mesopotamia: Economy and Society
Contained three major social groups
Nobles
Royal and priestly officials
Commoners
Worked for palace and temple estates
Farmers
Merchants
Fishermen
Craftsmen
90%+ were farmers
slaves

9. The Code of Hammurabi Based on a system of strict justice
Severe penalties for criminals-varied across social classes
Believed in “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”
Public officials jobs were taken extremely seriously
Fined for not finding murders
Had to replace stolen goods if burglars were not located
Patriarchal society
Dominated by men
Women had far fewer privileges and rights in marriage than men

11. The Importance of Religion
Polytheistic
Believed in many gods
Identified almost 3,000 gods and goddesses
Believed humans were created to do manual labor
Inferior to the gods

12. The Creativity & Technology
Writing and Literature
Cuneiform
Wedge-shaped system of writing
Sundial
Keep time
Wagon wheel
Transport goods

13. Egyptian Civilization: “The Gift of the Nile”

14. The Impact of Geography
Nile River
Longest river in the world
Over 4,000 miles
Yearly flooding
The “miracle” of the
Nile- leaves a deposit
of mud creating rich
soil
Surplus of food = $$$
Travel & transport

15. Importance of Religion
Polytheistic
Believed in multiple gods and goddesses
2 major groups
Sun gods and land gods

16. The Old Kingdom 2700-2200 B.C. Prosperity and splendor
Led by a pharaoh
Divine power/right
Absolute power (complete/unlimited rule of their people)
Bureaucracy
Administrative organization with officials and regular procedures

17. The Old Kingdom (continued)
Built as part of a large complex of buildings dedicated to the dead
Large pyramid: pharaoh
Smaller pyramids: family members
“mastabas”: pharaoh’s officials
Believed humans had two bodies
Physical
Spiritual
If the tomb was properly prepared, the believed the spirit would leave the body and return
Mummification
Process of slowly drying a dead body to prevent it from rotting

19. The Middle Kingdom 2050-1652 B.C. Began expanding its territory
Pharaoh portrayed as the shepherd of his people
Expected to build public works and provide for the public welfare

20. The New Kingdom 1567-1085 B.C. Massive wealth emerged in Egypt
Built new, enormous temples
1st female pharaoh named Hatshepsut
King Tutankhamen/ King “Tut”

21. Society in Ancient Egypt
Structure
God/king at the top
Pharaoh surrounded by upper class nobles and priests
Merchants, artisans, scribes, and tax collectors
Peasants -worked the land

22. Daily Life in Ancient Egypt
Very positive outlook toward life on Earth
Married young
Girls at 12
Boys at 14
Monogamy (marriage to one person) was typical; however polygamy was sometimes accepted
Husband was the master of the home, but wives were very respected
Women in charge of the household and education
Women maintained their inheritance
Some women even owned businesses

23. Writing and Education Hieroglyphics Hieratic script
System of writing employed by the Egyptians
Used pictures and more abstract forms
Written on temple walls and in tombs
Hieratic script
Simplified form, used for business transactions, record keeping, and other daily needs

24. Writing and Education
Age 10= boys of the upper class went to schools run by scribes
Students learned to read and write by copying texts
Extremely strict discipline
Girls remained at home and learned housekeeping skills from their mothers

25. Achievements in Art and Science
Egyptians developed a 365 day calendar based on the bright star Sirius
Sirius rises in the sun just before the annual flooding of the Nile River
Practice of embalming led to medical expertise in human anatomy
Archaeologists have recovered directions from doctors for using splints, bandages, and compresses for treating fractures, wounds, and disease

26. New Centers of Civilization

27. The Role of Nomadic People
Nomadic people depend on hunting and gathering, herding and sometime farming for their survival.
Were often viewed as hostile and barbaric
Nomads traded animals, grains, and vegetables
Indo- Europeans( 2000 BCE)
Moved to areas such as Europe, India, and Western Asia
Created the empire of Hittites, which weakened the power of the Egyptians

29. The Phoenicians
Lived in the area of Palestine along the Mediterranean coast.
Rose after the downfall of the Hittites and fa