1. Kingdoms and Empires in the Middle East
Cultural Diffusion in the Middle East

2. Trading Peoples The Aramaens: settled in Syria @ 1200 B.C.
Est. Damascus as the capital city
Controlled overland trade (Egypt & Mesopotamia)
Aramaic became the trade language of the Med.
The Phoenicians: Settled in Canaan
Known as Palestine, “land of the Philistines”
Controlled the overseas trade in the Med. Sea
Used an alphabet to keep track of records
Set up colonies and trading posts
The Lydians: Lived in Asia Minor (Turkey)
Prosperous lifestyles
Replaced barter system with a money system

3. The Early Israelites Lived in Canaan (Abraham) Monotheistic
Worshiped one God (Yahweh)
A divine covenant w/ Abraham
Lived as nomadic shepherds
Jacob and 12 sons
Joseph was sold into slavery
Fled to Egypt
Later enslaved

4. The Early Israelites Moses and the Exodus from Egypt
Commemorated Passover
The Ten Commandments & “Promised Land”
Settling in Canaan: Joshua led them into Canaan
Fought against the Canaanites and Philistines
Judges led the Twelve Tribes of Israel
Saul (r B.C.): first Israelite king
David (r B.C.)
Defeated Goliath
Set up the capital in Jerusalem – economic prosperity
Solomon (r B.C.)
Built the Temple in Jerusalem
Very prosperous economically

5. Early Israelites Israel’s Struggle Exile of Kingdoms
10 northern tribes broke away from the southern 2
The 2 southern tribes became Judah (Jews)
Exile of Kingdoms
Assyrians and Chaldeans invaded and enslaved Israel
Exile in Babylon – prophets (Jeremiah) rose up
Rebuilding Jerusalem
539 B.C. the Persians (Cyrus) conquered the Chaldeans
Darius allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild
The Torah was organized (first 5 books of the O.T.)
The Diaspora (the scattering) began

6. Lasting Legacy of the Israelites
The Jews view on occurrences
Everything happened according to God’s purpose
Believe that humans have an infinite worth
Humans are accountable for what goes on in the world b/c we work in a partnership with God

7. Empire Builders

8. The Assyrians Lived in northern Mesopotamia
Most lethal and ruthless military in the Middle East
Organized the military into different groups
Fought with iron weapons
650 BC: had created an Empire (capital – Nineveh)
Divided the empire into provinces
Built a sophisticated system of roads
612 B.C. – the Chaldeans defeated the Assyrians

9. The Chaldeans(New Babylonians)
Descendents of Hammurabi’s Empire
Nebuchadnezzar – the most powerful king
Expanded the empire to include Syria/Canaan
Studied astrology: laid foundation for astronomy
Decline after Nebuchadnezzar
weak kings + poor harvest + slow trade
539 B.C. – Persians seized Babylon

10. The Persians Settled in Iran in 2000s B.C. Cyrus II (540s B.C.)
Developed a strong military
Conquered the Medes (expanded the empire)
Took over land in Asia Minor (Lydia/Greek city- states)
525 B.C. – Cambyses conquered Egypt
Persian Empire covered 3,000 miles & 50 million people
Darius I ( B.C.)
Empire’s best organizer (satraps and provinces)
“Eyes and Ears of the King” inspectors
Brought artisans in to build Persepolis

11. The Persians Persian Empire Persian Religion and Culture
Treated conquered people fairly
Improved the network of roads
Persian Religion and Culture
Strict moral code
Polytheistic until 500s B.C.
Zoroaster: (Ahura Mazda & Ahriman)
Good vs. Evil – Good will win in the end
Fall of Persia
Darius waged war with the Greeks for control of Asia Minor
480 B.C. Xerxes lost to the Greeks