The Fertile Crescent Empires: The Hittites

As the Babylonian Empire Declined, other civilizations prospered around the Fertile CrescentNomadic tribes from the mountains and deserts moved into the region as wellTribes battled each other for landPower and control passed from one group to the next

Indo-EuropeansThe Indo-Europeans were one of the tribes who invaded MesopotamiaEach of these tribes spoke a related languageIndo-Europeans came from the Steppes, or grasslands north of the Black Sea. They left the area because of possible drought, social conflict, or lack of resources

Hittite Military

The Hittites were a warlike Indo-European tribeThey settled in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) around 2000 BCEThey conquered the area and created a strong empire

Why was their Military successful?Horse-drawn war chariot; it was heavy and slow, but powerfulAt that time most chariots only had two soldiers, but the Hittites held three soldiers (i.e., one man drove, a second fought, and a third held shields)This allowed them to get closer in battleThis allowed them to expand their empire beyond Asia MinorIn 1595 BCE, they destroyed BabylonBabylon fell to the Kassites, who ruled the area for nearly 400 years

Hittite Culture

The Hittites, much like the Akkadians and Babylonians, blended their culture with the cultures around them (Assimilation)They used Sumerian Cuneiform to write their languageDeveloped a code very similar to Hammurabi’s code

Hittite Contributions

First people to master iron working techniques – eventually turned into Iron tools and weaponsHittite rule reached its peak around 1300 BCE, and stuck around until 1200 BCETheir empire fell to powerful raiders, known as the “Sea Peoples”

The Assyrians and the Chaldeans

After the Hittite Empire fell, other peoples fought for dominance in western AsiaEventually the Assyrians emerged as a power

The AssyriansOriginally from northern Mesopotamia, near the city of Assur along the upper Tigris RiverGrew barley and raised cattleAdopted much of Sumerian cultureAssyrians’ land received fairly good rainfall and was in the midst of major trade routes – this caused many tribes to invade as an attempt to control the areaThe Assyrians briefly gained power in the 1300s BCE and built an empire but it didn’t lastThen again in 900 BCE the Assyrians regained strength and built a new empire (included Mesopotamia, Asia minor, and Egypt)

Assyrian Empire: Map

The Assyrians: Military Machine

Assyria’s power relied on its military (because of their location, frequent rain, and fertile soil)Constant warfare turned them into a warrior societyTheir army included chariots, foot soldiers, and cavalry – all had iron weaponsSIEGE WARFARE, AND TERROR!!!!! DID I SAY SIEGE WARFARE?

Assyrian RuleKings ruled through local leaders, each of whom governed a small area of the empireLocal leader collected taxes, enforced laws, and raised troops for the armyA system of roads linked the distant parts of the empireMessengers and merchants traveled these roadsTo maintain peace, the Assyrians punished anyone who opposed them.

Assyrian AchievementsLibrary of Nineveh, which had more than 20,000 cuneiform tablets, which were collected across the empire – one being the Epic of Gilgamesh

Assyrian decline

As the empire grew larger, it became harder to controlThe Chaldeans and the Medes saw an opportunity and joined forcesIn 612 BCE, they captured and burned their capital, NinevehThe Assyrian empire came to an end

The Chaldeans

As Assyrian was destroyed, the Chaldeans picked up the piecesThe Chaldeans formed their own empireThe Chaldeans made the old City of Babylon the capital of their new Babylonian empireNebuchadnezzar II was the most famous Chaldean king

Nebuchadnezzar IIMost famousWarrior and builderFought the Egyptians the JewsTook JerusalemRebuilt BabylonArchitecture was believed to be amazing The grand palace was where the Hanging Gardens were believed to be

Chaldean Culture

Admired ancient Sumerian culture, studied Sumerian language, and built temples to Sumerian godsThe Chaldeans developed a calendar based on the phases of the moonChaldeans were short livedIn 539 BCE, less than a century later, the Persians conquered Babylon and the Chaldean Empire ended

The Phoenicians

Small city-states like Sidon and Tyre emerged as trading citiesAlthough they were usually under a foreign empire, they became quite wealthy

Growth of a Trading SocietyPhoenicia is located on the western end of the Fertile Crescent (today’s Lebanon)Geographic makeup - narrow coastal plain, rugged hills and mountainsFarming was difficult and resources were limitedTurned to the sea and became excellent sailors and dominated trade in the Mediterranean and sailing to ports in Egypt, Greece, Italy, Sicily, and SpainAs trade grew, they founded colonies along their trade routesCarthage – was one of the most famous Phoenician colonies, which later becomes quite powerful

The Phoenician Alphabet

One of the first alphabets22 letters, all consonants This made writing easierGreeks borrowed and modified it