the fertile crescent/ mesopostamia chapter 2. the fertile crescent is known as the crossroads of the...

THE FERTILE CRESCENT/ MESOPOSTAMIA

Chapter 2

•The Fertile Crescent is known as the Crossroads of the world because• it links three continents together: Asia, Europe and Africa

•The Fertile Crescent is made up of two rivers: Tigris and Euphrates•Mesopotamia is a Greek word meaning “The land between two rivers”

•The Fertile Crescent is made up of two rivers: Tigris and Euphrates.

•Mesopotamia is a Greek word meaning “The land between two rivers”

ASIA

EUROPE

AFRICA

•Desert Climate - Flooding enriched the soil.•Farming possible by:

irrigation canalsdrainage ditches

City-StatesCity-States

A city-state has political and economic A city-state has political and economic control over the surrounding country side.control over the surrounding country side.

Theocracy - religious ruleTheocracy - religious rule Polytheistic - many godsPolytheistic - many gods

SUMERIANSSUMERIANS cuneiform - wedge shaped writingcuneiform - wedge shaped writing

The Sumerians also made technological advancements:The Sumerians also made technological advancements: Wagon wheelWagon wheel ArchArch Potter’s wheelPotter’s wheel BronzeBronze Sun dialSun dial Number system based on 60Number system based on 60 Geometry to measure fields and erect buildingsGeometry to measure fields and erect buildings

Conquered SumerCreated the first Empire (King Sargon)

AKKADIANS

A.King Hammurabi’s Code1. 1st to record all laws for an empire2. 282 laws (p. 41 & 44)3. “eye for an eye” - very harsh

BABYLONIANS

HITTITES A. Conquered BabylonB. First to have Iron weapons

Pastoral Nomads

1. Roamed with herds of animals.

2. Traded with cities and spread goods and ideas.

3. “cultural diffusion”

The Phoenicians

1. Built a trade empire.

2. Made glass & purple dye.

3. Alphabet of 22 characters. (basis for Latin & English)

Israelites

Lasting contributions:

1. Judaism

2. 10 Comandments

3. Monotheism

4. King Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem

Conquered by Assyrians

ASSYRIANS

1. By 850 B.C. conquered all of the Fertile Crescent and Egypt

2. Brutal (used terror p. 62)3. communication4. built library

1. The Pharaoh was considered to be divine (god-like) and held absolute power. 2. considered a THEOCRACY

3. Nile River flooded and provided fertile soil

EGYPTIANS

Hieroglyphics - on tomb walls, buildings andpaper called papyrus.

Harrapan

1. Well organized government and cities.

2. Sewage

3. Trash chutes

4. Streets ran NSEW

Shang

1. Famous for their Bronze casting.

Unit 1 ends here.

Time to Study for the Test.

The Hyksos invaded Egypt around 1652 B.C. These invaders were able to conquer and rule the Egyptians for 100 years because of the horse drawn war chariot.

NEW KINGDOM (1570-1075 B.C.)Hyksos are driven out. Egypt uses the chariot and other military tactics obtained from the Hyksos and begin to conquer other civilizations that include Syria and Palestine. They create an empire.

First woman ruler: Queen Hatshepsut 1472-1458 B.C.

Ramses II 1304-1237 B.C. Expanded Egyptian Empire to its greatest size. Signed first peace treaty in history (Hittites). Ramses II was the last great ruler of the New Kingdom.

INVADERSAfter Ramses, civil war in Egypt left the country weak and open to a series of invasions:

1. Persians2. Greeks - Alexander the Great in 331 B.C.

Cleopatra was a descendant of one of Alexander's generals (Ptolemy). She was the last Egyptian Pharaoh.

3. Romans - 31 B.C. Egypt became a Roman province.

WOMEN The status of women was relatively high. By the New Kingdom they could buy and sell property, testify in court and seek divorce. Property descended through the female line. Women still were considered their husband's property.

EDUCATIONAt first only priests were trained in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Eventually sons of nobles were educated……no girls. Centers for higher learning were opened for medicine, astronomy and engineering.

EGYPTIAN ACCOMPLISHMENTSHieroglyphics

Papyrus to make paperGeometry for land surveying

Engineering skillsStone columns in architecture

Calendar - 365 daysMedicine

MathematicsNumber system based on 10 (with fractions)

Grew cotton and made cloth

PERSIA (550 B.C.)A. Empire under _____ (toleration to conquered people)B. Divided empire into ____________ (satrapies)

1. A province was ruled by a _________________2. The government taxes and administers uniform laws3. _____ are sent out by king to watch governors (eyes and ears of the King)

C.______ unified the empire by building roads and using standardized ___________

D. Religion: ______________1. Ahura Mazda - ____ / Ahriman - ____ (constant struggle)2. Ahura Mazda wins final battle3. Those who were good - paradise / bad - eternal suffering4. ___________ - book of prayers and hymns

Cyrus20 provinces

governor (satrap)

Spies

Dariuscoin money

Zoroastrianismgood evil

Zend Avesta

CHALDEAN BABYLON (612 B.C.)A. Rebuild the old city of Babylon under _____________________B. _______________C. Absorb Culture of conquered and add advancements in __________________

King NebuchadnezzarHanging Gardens

astronomy and math

Fertile land to grow crops

Water source

Source of transportation

Current flows NorthWind blows South

Mediterranean Sea

Red Sea

Egypt

Nile R

iver

Mesopotamia