THE FERTILE CRESCENT/ MESOPOSTAMIA Chapter 2

1. THE FERTILE CRESCENT/ MESOPOSTAMIA Chapter 2

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

3. Desert Climate - Flooding enriched the soil. • Farming possible by: • irrigation canals • drainage ditches

4. City-States • A city-state has political and economic control over the surrounding country side. • Theocracy - religious rule • Polytheistic - many gods

5. SUMERIANS • cuneiform - wedge shaped writing • The Sumerians also made technological advancements: • Wagon wheel Arch • Potter’s wheel Bronze • Sun dial • Number system based on 60 • Geometry to measure fields and erect buildings

6. AKKADIANS Conquered Sumer Created the first Empire (King Sargon)

7. BABYLONIANS • King Hammurabi’s Code • 1. 1st to record all laws for an empire • 2. 282 laws (p. 41 & 44) • 3. “eye for an eye” - very harsh

8. HITTITES A. Conquered Babylon B. First to have Iron weapons

9. Pastoral Nomads 1. Roamed with herds of animals. 2. Traded with cities and spread goods and ideas. 3. “cultural diffusion”

10. The Phoenicians 1. Built a trade empire. 2. Made glass & purple dye. 3. Alphabet of 22 characters. (basis for Latin & English)

11. Israelites Lasting contributions: 1. Judaism 2. 10 Comandments 3. Monotheism 4. King Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem Conquered by Assyrians

12. ASSYRIANS 1. By 850 B.C. conquered all of the Fertile Crescent and Egypt 2. Brutal (used terror p. 62) 3. communication 4. built library

13. EGYPTIANS 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

14. Hieroglyphics - on tomb walls, buildings and paper called papyrus.

15. Harrapan 1. Well organized government and cities. 2. Sewage 3. Trash chutes 4. Streets ran NSEW

16. Shang 1. Famous for their Bronze casting. Unit 1 ends here. Time to Study for the Test.

17. 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.

18. INVADERS After Ramses, civil war in Egypt left the country weak and open to a series of invasions: 1. Persians 2. 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.

19. 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. EDUCATION At 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.

20. EGYPTIAN ACCOMPLISHMENTS Hieroglyphics Papyrus to make paper Geometry for land surveying Engineering skills Stone columns in architecture Calendar - 365 days Medicine Mathematics Number system based on 10 (with fractions) Grew cotton and made cloth

21. 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 laws • 3. _____ are sent out by king to watch governors • (eyes and ears of the King) • ______ unified the empire by building roads and • using standardized ___________ • D. Religion: ______________ • 1. Ahura Mazda - ____ / Ahriman - ____ (constant struggle) • 2. Ahura Mazda wins final battle • 3. Those who were good - paradise / bad - eternal suffering • 4. ___________ - book of prayers and hymns Cyrus 20 provinces governor (satrap) Spies Darius coin money Zoroastrianism good evil Zend Avesta

22. CHALDEAN BABYLON (612 B.C.) A. Rebuild the old city of Babylon under _____________________ B. _______________ C. Absorb Culture of conquered and add advancements in __________________ KingNebuchadnezzar Hanging Gardens astronomy and math

24. Fertile land to grow crops Water source Source of transportation Current flows North Wind blows South

25. Mesopotamia Mediterranean Sea Egypt Nile River Red Sea