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Rise and Fall of Ancient Empires in Egypt and Mesopotamia

Explore the ancient empires of Egypt, Nubia, Assyria, Babylon, Kush, and Persia from 1570 BC to 200 BC. Witness the powerful rule of pharaohs, conquests, trade expeditions, and the legacy of Zoroastrianism. Learn how these empires flourished and ultimately declined, leaving behind lasting impacts on history.

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Rise and Fall of Ancient Empires in Egypt and Mesopotamia

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  1. Chapter 4 First Age of Empires 1570 BC – 200 BC

  2. Egyptians & Nubians • Nomadic Invaders Rule Egypt • Hyksos ruled Egypt from 1640 to 1570 BC • Had chariots • Hebrews Migrate to Egypt • Arrived around 1650 BC • Expulsion Slavery • By 1600 BC, the Egyptians grew strong • Under Queen Ahhotep & Pharaoh Kamos • Drove Hyksos out

  3. The New Kingdom in Egypt • 1570-1075 BC • Built an empire: control of several peoples or states under one ruler • Hatshepsut's Prosperous Rule • began rule in 1472 BC • Encouraged trade instead of war • major trade expedition to Punt (Somalia) • Thutmose the Empire Builder • Stepson-may have murdered Hatshepsut • Thutmose III armies took Syria & n part of Euphrates • Pushed into Nubia • Conquered an empire • no longer isolated

  4. The New Kingdom • Egyptians & Hittites • Conflict over Syria & Palestine • Battle at Kadesh-1285 BC • Peace treaty • became allies • Age of Builders • Hidden tombs in desert cliffs • Valley of Kings near Thebes • Ramses built monumental statues/temples • tomb found in 1995- 50 of his 52 sons buried with him

  5. The Empire Declines • Invasions by “Sea People”-1208 • Palestinian revolts & Libyan invaders • Empire Fades • never recovered power/ prestige • Libyans ruled- 950 to 730 BC • Adopted Egyptian culture • Nubians did too

  6. Kushites Conquer Nile • Egypt dominated Nubia & Kush for centuries • Conquered Egypt • Interaction of Nubia & Egypt • Forced rule on Nubia during New Kingdom • Heavily influenced Nubia • Nubian princes lived in Egypt- adopted their culture • Regained independence around 1200 BCE

  7. Kushites • Piankhi Captures Egypt-751 BCC • overthrew Libyan pharaoh • United Nile River valley • Began 25th dynasty of Egypt • Erected monument in Kush to celebrate • Assyrians conquered Egypt- 671 BCE-ended dynasty

  8. Golden Age of Meroë • Kushite royal family moved to Meroë • Wealth of Kush • Traded with Africa, India, Arabia • Plentiful rainfall & iron supplies • The Decline of Meroë • Declined around 250 to 150 BC • Another city, Aksum, dominated their trade

  9. The Assyrians • Mighty Military Machine • Learned to fight while defending their land • Most feared/hated empire in region • Foot soldiers, chariots, iron weapons, cavalry • Treated People poorly • Burned cities, tortured/killed captives, heavy taxes • Deported entire populations • One king, Sennacherib, claimed to destroy 89 cities and 820 villages • Military Organization and Conquest • Nineveh the capital • Start conquering 900 BC • Well equipped with iron weapons • Tiglath-pileser & Ashurbanipal led campaigns

  10. The Assyrians • Empire Expands • Conquered Syria, Palestine, Babylonia, Anatolia, and Egypt • Assyrian Rule • Peaked around 650 BC • Royal Roads • Divided empire into provinces w/ local rulers • Well organized military • State of the art technology • Ruled through fear/terror • Left markers so others wouldn’t revolt • Destroyed cities-exiled people who refused to pay tribute • Burned cities, hung skin on walls, piled skulls • Built large library at Nineveh

  11. Empire Crumbles • Enemies formed alliance- conquered Nineveh in 612 BC • Babylon reborn under Chaldeans • Started a revival for Babylon • Built into a monumental city • Reached height under King Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562) • Extended empire • Deported Jews • Built Hanging Gardens • Loved astronomy & maps • Poor harvest & slow trade hurt them

  12. The Persians • Rise of Persia • Modern day Iran • Cyrus I. was founder • Conquered the Medes in 540s • Swept down from mountains of Iran in 539 BC • Cyrus II conquered Babylon • Allowed Jews to return to homeland in 538 BCE-allowed to rebuild temple • Eventually took over Mesopotamia, Syria, Canaan, Phoenicia, Lydia, and Greek city-states of Asia Minor (Ionia) • Tolerant to others cultures • Allowed to retain their own language, religions, and customs • Killed in battle on eastern border

  13. Persian Rule • Cambyses and Darius • Conquered Egypt in 525 BC • Ruled harshly, unlike his father • Died eight years later, revolts erupted • Darius seized the throne with the help of the Ten Thousand Immortals in 522 BC • Spent the next three years putting down revolts • Then began conquering Afghanistan • Empire went from the Nile to the Indus River, 3,000 miles with 50 million people

  14. Persian Rule • Divided it into provinces or satraps • Military officials & tax collectors were “eyes & ears” of king • People paid tribute & soldiers • Crushed rebellion quickly • Brought artisans from all over empire to build Persepolis • Encouraged trade: used coins • Royal Road- 1,677 miles - stops every 14 miles with food, water, horses • Messengers could travel in 7 days

  15. Persian Legacy: Zoroastrianism • Before 500s BCE, polytheistic • 570 BCE, Zoroaster reformed religion • Strict moral code • Struggle between good & evil-human choice • Ahura Mazda: good, Ahriman: Bad • achings linked to glorifying kings • Pomp & pageantry • Zoroaster influenced Judaism, Christianity, Islam: heaven, hell, Last Judgment • Political Order • Tolerance & good govt. brought order & stability to the region

  16. Unification of China • Confucius and the Social Order • Born Kongfuzi in 551 BC • Confucius Urges Harmony • Good govt. & social harmony achieved if people used ethics • Reciprocity • Golden Rule • Five Relationships • For moral behavior • Learn by example • Stressed filial piety • Family a mini society • After his death, 479 BC, work collected into The Analects • Confucian Ideas About Govt. • Education could transform anyone into a gentleman • Laid the groundwork for bureaucracy • A trained civil service

  17. Legalism • Rejected Confucianism • Strict laws/harsh punishments • Hanfeizi • Humans evil by nature • Favored by Qin Emperor • Helped unify China • Too harsh, never used again

  18. A. Confucius cont. • Harmony w/ nature • 4. Taoist Ideas • Laozi, 500s BC • Could be a Taoists and Confucianists • Govt. vs. individual • 5. Yin and Yang • Two opposing forces • Yin: cool, dark, female, submissive • Yang: warm, light, male, aggressive • Need balance

  19. The Qin Dynasty • Local lords revolted against the Zhou • 1. A New Emperor • By 221 BC, Qin wiped out the Zhou • Qin Shi Huangdi • United the area under a strong, central govt. • Attacked invaders north of the Huang He and pushed as far south as Vietnam • 36 Military districts, standardized coins, laws, and writing • Commanded all nobles live in his capital • Uprooted 120,000 families • Forced labor for roads and canals • Legalists murdered hundreds of Confucian scholars to prevent criticism • Burned useless books

  20. B. The Qin cont. • 2. A Program of Centralization • Built a network of 4,000 miles of roads • Trade boomed • Set standards throughout China for writing, law, currency, and weights and measures • 3. Great Wall of China • 300,000 troops worked to build the 4,000 mile wall • Keep Mongolians out • Thousands died • 4. The Fall of the Qin • Cruel tyrant • 210 BC, Qin died, so did the dynasty • Peasants rebelled against the son • By 202 BC, the Han Dynasty replaced the Qin

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