Chapter 2

1. Chapter 2 Western Asia and Egypt

2. Civilizations Begins in Mesopotamia • Civilization depends on large permanent settlements. Fertile river valleys that can support a large population are ideal locations. • What did all of the early civilizations have in common? Were located by_________. ( Who can fill in the blank for me)

3. The Fertile Crescent • Was an area of land from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian sea. • Mesopotamia was the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. • Rich soil and abundant crops allowed the land to sustain an early civilization.

4. Maintaining the land…. • The soil was rich in nutrients from the deposits of both rivers. • The people in ancient Mesopotamia learned to control the floods and flow of the rivers by using irrigation and drainage ditches. • An abundance of food allowed many people to live together in cities and civilization emerged. • The first creators of the Mesopotamian civilization are called…Sumerians

5. The Growth/Power of Religion • In Mesopotamia, people looked to religion to answer their questions about life. • Powerful spiritual beings known as gods and goddesses controlled all aspects of the universe. • The Mesopotamians believed in nearly three thousand gods/goddesses. (polytheistic)

6. City States of Ancient Mesopotamia • As the cities expanded, they gained political and economic control over the countryside. This would lead to the creation of city-states.( the basic units of Sumerian civilization.

7. Sumerian Cities • Sumerian cities were surrounded by walls. City dwellings built of sun-dried bricks were used for sternness. • People in Mesopotamia were remarkably creative with mud bricks. They invented the arch and dome.

8. Religion and Rulers • The most prominent building in a Sumerian city was one built for the god or goddess. • The people devoted much of their wealth/time to these buildings. They served as the center of city. • Theocracy- a government by divine authority. Kings held great power and were in charge of armies and all activity within the city.

9. Economy and Society • They had a traditional economy based chiefly on: farming, trade, and industry. • They imported tin, copper, and timber. What would these be used for? • Sumerian city-states contained three major social groups: Nobles, commoners, and slaves.

10. Nobles: royal and priestly officials and their families. • Commoners: worked for palace and temple estates such as farmers and fishers.( About 90% of the people were farmers/ commoners) • Slaves: were used as free labor to farm the lands and to build.

11. Writing and Literature • Cuneiform- “wedge-shaped” system of writing. • Would use reeds from plants and write on clay tablets. When finished, they would bake in the sun to dry. • Used primarily for record keeping.

13. Cuneiform (continued) • Scribes- members of learned class who served as copyists, teachers, and jurists. • Scribes came to hold the most important positions in Sumerian society. Many times this position was passed down form generation to generation. • Writing was important because it allowed a society to keep records and to pass along knowledge from person to person. Also, allowed for the new ideas to be communicated between groups.

14. Technology • The Sumerians invented several tools and devices that made daily life easier and more productive. • They developed the wagon wheel, pottery wheel, the sundial, and the arch. • They also made outstanding achievements in math and astronomy. They devised a number system based on 60. ( What does this sound similar to?)

15. Empires in Ancient Mesopotamia • As the number of Sumerian city-states grew and the city-states expanded, new conflicts arose. They fought over control of land and water. • The north of the Sumerian city-state were the Akkadians led by Sargon. They set up the first empire, a large political unit or state usually under a single leader that controls many people or territories.

16. North vs. South • BABYLON- was south of Akkad and ruled by Hammurabi. • Sargon vs. Hammurabi ( who wins?) • The answer is________________?

17. The Code of Hammurabi • Was based on a system of strict justice. • Penalties were severe, and they varied according to social class. • “ An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”, was a fundamental part of this system. • Hammurabi’s code took seriously the duties of public officials. Example- if judges ruled incorrectly in a case they were penalized.

18. More on Hammurabi • The law code also included what we would call consumer-protection laws. Builders were held responsible for the buildings they constructed. If a house collapsed and caused a death, the builder was put to death. • Do we still have consumer-protection laws around? If so, what are some examples?

19. Hammurabi Part III • The largest category of laws in the code focused on marriage and the family. • Parents arranged marriages for their children. Imagine that today, what would happen with the divorce rate?

20. A Patriarchal Society • Patriarchal- a male dominated society. • Women had fewer rights in marriage than men did. There place was in the home and fulfilling her duties to her husband. • Hammurabi’s laws clearly covered almost every aspect of people’s lives.

21. Some harsh examples: • A wife who neglected her home or humiliated her husband could be drowned. • If a son struck his father, he shall have his hand cut off.

22. THE END!!!!!

23. Section 2.2 Egyptian Civilization • Geography and Religion • Nile River- the longest river in the world. It splits into 2 major branches causing a delta. Lower Egypt= the Nile delta, Upper Egypt= the land upstream to the south.

24. The Nile and its Importance • The Nile river was the main water source for the Egyptians. • It would flood every year and was referred to as the “miracle of Nile”. • Served as the main transportation system and made communication easier. • Allowed farmers to grow a surplus of food.

25. Geography • Egypt was blessed by natural barriers that gave it protection from invasion and a sense of security. Included the deserts and rivers.

26. The Growth of Religion • Egyptians were polytheistic ( belief in more than one god/goddess). • Two groups: Sun and Land/River Gods came to have special powers.

27. The Sun God • Was the “ source of life” • Known as “ Son of Re” • Took on different names and forms based on his role.

28. The River/Land Gods • Included “ Osiris” and “ Iris” • Became symbols of resurrection and rebirth. • They were associated with the flooding of the Nile each year.

29. Egyptian Kingdoms • Scholars divide Egyptian history into three major periods: • The Old Kingdom • The Middle Kingdom • The New Kingdom These were periods of long-term stability marked by strong leadership, freedom from invasion, great building projects, and rich cultural activity.

30. When did history begin for Egypt? • Around 3100 B.C. when King Menes united Upper/Lower Egypt into a single kingdom. • Q: What is a dynasty? • A: a family of rulers whose rights to rule is passed on within the family. • A very common theme that we will see in Global I. ( the idea of a dynasty)

31. The Old Kingdom 2700B.C.-2200B.C. • Key points: • Pharaoh- originally meaning “ great house”, was a powerful ruler • Building of pyramids/tombs • See next slide

32. Building of pyramids • Were built as part of a larger complex of buildings dedicated to the dead. The tombs were well prepared for their resident with: weapons, jewels, food, riches. • The Egyptians believed that human beings had two bodies- a physical and spiritual one. • To preserve the physical body after death, the Egyptians practiced mummification, a process of slowly drying out the dead body to prevent it from rotting.

33. Mummies

34. Giza • The largest and most magnificent of all pyramids.

35. The Middle Kingdom 2055B.C.-1650B.C. • The Old Kingdom would finally collapse and after a period of 150 years of disorder, the Middle Kingdom took control. • Middle Kingdom was known as a “ Golden Age of Stability”, ( was a period of expansion) • ***Major feature of the Middle Kingdom was that the pharaohs were seen as shepherds of their people and were more approachable. Still had absolute power, but not seen as “removed” from their people.

36. The New Kingdom 1550B.C.-1070B.C. • Led by the Hyksos- they used horse-drawn chariots to defeat the Egyptians. • During this period of the New Kingdom, Egypt created an empire and became the most powerful state in Southwest Asia. • Powerful pharaohs during this time: • Hatshepsut • Tutankhamen • Ramses II • Cleopatra VII

37. Egyptian Society • The Upper Class- pharaohs, nobles, priests • Middle Class- merchants, artisans, scribes, and tax collectors ( lived comfortably but not elegant) • Lower Class- peasants who farmed the land. ( lower class made up the largest % of population in Egypt)

38. Egyptian Accomplishments • Hieroglyphics- system of writing which used both pictures and more abstract forms. Used both stone and papyrus( a paper made from the reeds along the Nile)

39. Art and Science • Pyramids, temples, and other monuments expressed their architectural achievements. • Math- calculate area/volume and used geometry to survey the flooded land. • Developed an accurate 365-day calendar based on movements of the moon and the star Sirius. • Medical- preserving a dead body, records recovered of directions of “how to use” splints, bandages, compresses for various treatments. Other ancient civilizations acquired medical knowledge from the Egyptians.

40. Section 3.3New Centers of Civilizations • Hittites- created an empire in Western Asia and threatened the power of the Egyptians. They were the first Indo-Europeans to use iron for weapons.

41. The Phoenicians • They built ships and became great sea traders. They would eventually create a large trade empire. • Phoenician culture is best known for its alphabet. ( used 22 different signs to represent the sounds of their speech.