People of Southwest Asia

1. People of Southwest Asia • A. The Middle East is home to many different people and traditions. The majority of the people are Arab. There are several different descriptions of what an Arab is. • B. What is an Arab? • 1. In the mid 1600’s, Arabs where people from the Arabian Peninsula. They were conquered by the many different peoples of the Middle East and North Africa. • 2. Over time, the conquered peoples adapted the Arabic language and the religion of Islam. • 3. Arab is used to describe anyone whose native language is Arabic.

2. C. Islam is the religion for the majority of people that live in the Middle East. However, many non-Muslim people live within in the region as well. How did the Middle East come to be the birthplace of 3 of the world’s most practiced religions???? To better understand this, we must look at the first civilizations that lived in this region…

3. HOW TO IDENTIFY HISTORY DATES • Our calendar is based on the birth of Christ; all years before Christ's birth have traditionally been designated B.C. (before Christ) and those after his birth as A.D. • Some historians have adopted an alternative dating system, referring to B.C. as B.C.E. (before the common era), and to A.D. as C.E. (common era) to make it more palatable to non-Christians.

4. Early Civilizations of the Middle East that gave rise to 3 RELIGIONS(and are the Roots of Western Civilization)600,000 – 1100 B.C.E. THE BIG PICTURE (MIDDLE EAST & EUROPE) TECHNOLOGY: Paleolithic, 600,000 – 10,000 B.C.E. Neolithic, 10,000 – 3,000 B.C.E. Bronze Age, 3,000 – 600 B.C.E. Iron Age, 1,300 – 400 B.C.E. MIDDLE EASTERN CIVILIZATIONS: Sumer and Akkadia, 4,100 – 1,700 B.C.E. Ancient Egypt, 3,100 – 1,000 B.C.E. Assyria, 2,400 – 612 BC.E. Babylonia, 1,900 – 539 B.C.E. Hittites, 1,650 – 1,180 B.C.E. Early Hebrews, 1,500 – 587 B.C.E. Phoenicia, 1,200 – 539 B.C.E. Persia, ca. 550 – 330 B.C.E. OTHER WORLD CIVILIZATIONS: Mesoamerica: Maya, 1,800 B.C.E. – 900 A.D. Olmec, 1600 – 400 B.C.E. China: Shang Dynasty, ca. 1,700 – 1046 B.C.E. Zhou Dynasty, 1045-256 B.C.E.

5. VIII. Ancient Civilizations • Mesopotamia, ca. 3000 – 1000 B.C.E. • Ancient Greek: “meso” = between/ “potomos” = river • Mesopotamia: Present-day… Iraq, and parts of Turkey, Syria, and Iran • “The Fertile Crescent” • Different civilizations hailed from this area: • Sumer • Akkadia • Babylonia

6. Religion: • Sumerians saw themselves and their gods as struggling against a mysterious chaos, like the sudden flood of a river, and had a generally pessimistic outlook. • Sumerians believed the gods were all powerful and they were slaves to their gods… needed to provide them with sacrifices and incense to keep them appeased. • Demons could cause illness and bad fortune. • Priests were important because they keep the gods happy.Priests were called in to treat the sick and practiced augury (the reading of animal entrails) to predict the future. People wore amulets as protection. • Ziggurats: Religious temples to a particular deity that were meant to bridge the gap between humans and gods, but were also administrative and economic centers. Also built as displays of a leader’s power. • Sumerians doubted there could be a happy afterlife, and thought their one chance for happiness was in this life. Sumerian Civilization Emerges Ca. 3200 B.C.E.: • Drier climate leads to more sophisticated organization of irrigation and government. • City of Uruk reaches 10,000 by 2900 B.C.E. .

7. In what ways is the religion of Sumerians similar or different to other religious practices you are familiar with?

8. Accomplishments DEVELOPED: • Writing… Cuneiform • Law-Earliest pertained to families. Divorce was allowed, but adultery was punishable by death. Men could keep concubines. Laws were also passed to make “respectable” women wear different clothing from prostitutes. Do any of these laws sound familiar to practices that occur today?

9. Wheel and sailboat • Plow, irrigation and accurate calendar. • Measurement based on 60. • Trade- Exported textiles in exchange for metal, stone, and luxury goods. Traded with Syria, Arabian peninsula, and even India.

10. Fertile Crescent does not have any natural barriers and invaded many times! ---------------------------- • Akkadiansconqueror and uses religion to unite Akkadians and Sumerians. • Akkadians overpowered by Assyrians to the North and Babyloniansto the South. • Eventually Babylonianstake over Assyria too…first civilization to rule all of Mesopotamia.

12. Hammurabi , a Babylonian, conquered the Fertile Crescent, 1700 BC ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Accomplishments / Culture – • Code of Hammurabi:Asingle legal code which contains 282 laws that regulate economics, family, criminal and civil affairs. The criminal law is based upon equal retaliation, according to the eye-for-an-eye principle. • Many of the laws were quite humane… for example, • no blood feud or any private retribution allowed • marriage by capture not allowed • penalties for unjust accusations and false testimony • All citizens protected under the legal system, even slaves. • Women and children had some protections, but they were still property of their husbands. Husbands needed proof to bring adultery charges and a woman could divorce her husband, but adultery could mean death.

13. Today we have more than one source for the laws, but the most important is now exhibited in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. It is a stone of black diorite, about 2.2 meters high, and was made around 1740 BCE.

14. Hanging Gardens of Babylon… an engineering feat! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfg1YE-BqTc

15. List the civilizations of Mesopotamia, beginning with the oldest:

16. Mesopotamia and Egypt ca. 2000 B.C.E.

17. Ancient Egypt, ca. 3100-1000 B.C.E. • Society grew along the banks of the Nile, a 4000-mile African river that flooded from June to October every year, creating fertile lands and good growing season. • Egyptian society developed in a more isolated state than the societies of Mesopotamia • Egyptians felt their lives were structured by a consistent pattern provided by the Nile. • According to tradition, a king named Menes consolidated Egypt as a unified kingdom for the first time around 3100 B.C.E. • Divided into 3 blocks of time or kingdoms…

18. The Old Kingdom, 2700 – 2181 B.C.E. • Pharaohs had absolute power… • Pharaohs were buried in pyramids only during this time period in history.  • An important concept to Egyptians was ma’at, a belief in truth, justice, and order… • Trade with Nubia gave Egypt goods from Sub-Saharan Africa. • Prosperous families could afford sculpture portraits that idealized family life.

20. Developed a religion focused on several deities: the sun god Re, the Nile spirits Isis, Osiris, and Horus. Believe that these gods had blessed Egypt with many gifts. The Goddess Isis

21. The Old Kingdom, 2700 – 2181 B.C.E. • Developed a system of writing known as hieroglyphs, which means “sacred writing” in Greek. • Hieroglyphs were used for religious purposes and tended to be carved in stone; for more day-to-day use, Egyptians used papyrus, durable paper made from reeds. • Rosetta Stone – Key to hieroglyphics which was found by Napoleon’s army.

22. Middle Kingdom, 2060 – 1785 B.C.E. • A severe drought brought political and social chaos to the Old Kingdom, bringing it to end around 2080 B.C.E. • After a twenty-year period of chaos, King Amenemhat I of Thebes restored order and another prosperous period known as the Middle Kingdom commenced. • Egyptians of the Middle Kingdom conquered Nubia and began trade with the peoples of Mesopotamia. • Pharaohs realized pyramids showed people where they and all their riches were… people would loot their tombs. So Pharaohs began to hide their tombs. • Weakening leadership led to Nubian revolt and the conquest of Egypt by people probably from Central Asia

23. New Kingdom, 1570 – 1085 B.C.E. • Adopting new technology, after about 200 years Egyptians at last return to power • Pharaohs of the New Kingdom seemed bent on preventing conquest by expanding Egyptian power and conquering new lands, including the Fertile Crescent. • Built new public works • Pharaoh Akhenaten (1377-1360 B.C.E.) tried to replace the traditional worship of rival gods—especially the priests of Osiris who offered immortal life in exchange for money—with the worhsip of single god called Aten, the sun disk. This attempted reform caused turmoil. • Egyptian society enjoyed a resurgence under Ramses II (1279-1213 B.C.E.), but subsequent leaders proved incapable of holding the fragile empire together.

24. New Kingdom, 1570 – 1085 B.C.E. Accomplishments – 1. Number system based upon 10. 2. Geometry and surveying 3. 365 day calendar Hatshepsut and Ramses II

25. C. Hittites • The Hittites establish a kingdom in what is now modern-day Turkey around 1650 B.C.E. • Eventually take over much of Mesopotamia (@ 1380-1345 B.C.E.) • Mastered Iron… made weapons and conquered others • Integrated many aspects of Mesopotamian culture—like writing—but remained a violent and warlike people. • Developed a potent new weapon: the war chariot. • In addition, Hittites were skilled archers. • 1299 B.C.E. Hittites clash with Egyptians.

26. D. Phoenicians • Successful oceangoing trading people located in what is now Lebanon. • Created a major trading colony at Carthage, in what is now Tunisia. • Traded beyond the Straits of Gibraltar, down the African coast, Spain, and up to Britain in search of metals for tools and weapons, and also for luxury goods. Hence known as “Carriers of Civilization”.

28. Improved on Sumerian writing by creating a purely phonetic alphabet of twenty-two letters, a system later adopted by Greeks (who add 4 characters), Romans and most Western languages. Phoenician Alphabet

29. E. Persians, 550-330 B.C.E. • Unlike the Assyrians and Babylonians, the Persians ruled by tolerance rather than fear. • Cyrus kept local officials but installed Persian governors called satraps • The Persians used Aramaic as a language of commerce, expanded road systems to enable better trading, and adopted the use of coins. • Persian tolerance allowed for a long period of peace. However, the Persians also had a great army of 10,000 soldiers.

31. Persians developed their own form of monotheistic religion called Zoroastrianism, which is still practiced today. • Zoroaster founded Zoroastrianism around 600BC. His ideas influenced many people including the ancient Greeks, Hebrews, and Christians. • Zoroastrian music- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2LA6zrGnXI

32. Beliefs: Farmers believed that many gods controlled the forces of nature. They relied on priests called magi to win the favor of the gods. According to legend, the magi learned that a child was born to destroy their idols and magic. That child was Zoroaster. He sought to understand why misery and suffering existed alongside God. • Proclamations: "From good must come good; and from evil must come evil." He became convinced that were was a battle between good and evil on Earth. Ahura Mazda was the god of good. Ahriamnwas the god of evil. Each person must choosewhether to fight on the side of good or evil. Zoroaster traveled the land spreading the message. The Persians treated conquered peoples in a humane way due to the beliefs of Zoroastrianism. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4ezRTvDrqw

33. What is the main concept of Zoroastrianism? • -Be kind to others • Is this concept present in other religions? If yes, what religions? -Christianity, Islam and Judaism • What modern day name is related to Zoroastrianism? -Mazda

34. Early Hebrew History, 1500-900 B.C.E. • Early Hebrews were semi-nomadic and moved from Mesopotamia to the land of Canaan: the modern states of Israel, Lebanon, and western Syria from 2000-1700 B.C.E. • The Patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—led tribes in their wanderings; Jacob took the name “Israel,” marking his people’s special relationship with one God. • Drought forced move to Egypt around 1800 B.C. They were later enslaved there. • According to the scriptures, Moses led a group out of Egypt around 1250 B.C.E., thus helping to forge the Hebrews into a national group with a religious purpose.

35. The Hebrew scriptures came into being from 1250 to 150 B.C.E., collected from oral and written tradition; the first five books constitute the Torah, or law code. • Hebrews settled around Jerusalem between 1200 and 1050 B.C.E.. • Jerusalem became the center of worship for the Hebrews. • Larger kingdom broke into two : the states of Israel and Judah, the first being more prosperous, and the second more adherent to the religious laws.

36. Beliefs: • Adopted idea of monotheism • One God – Yaweh- The scriptures say Moses bound his people to a special covenant with God: they would become the “chosen people” in return for worship of one God. • 10 commandments- according to scripture, were given to Moses during the exile from Egypt. • God demands obedience and in turn, protects his people

37. Israel split up by Assyrians and Babylonians – many Jews were exiled, this was the first Diaspora (586 BC) • Eventually the tolerant Persians allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem in 583 B.C.E. and build a “Second Temple” in 515 B.C.E.

39. Judaism

40. Judaism is the main religion of Israel. It is based upon the Torah which is the Jewish Holy Book. It is also known as the Old Testament of the Bible. • The Torah includes the 10 Commandments.The commandments urge people to respect and honor God. It also forbids stealing, lying, cheating, and murder. In general, the laws of the Torah outline standards of conduct for everyday life. • 10 Commandments– Ethical and moral laws • to live by

41. Prophets – Religious teachers • Abraham • Abraham is considered to be the first patriarch of Judaism. He entered into a covenant with God. • Covenant – • An agreement • -Under the covenant, Abraham and his descendants must only worship God. God would bless his descendants and allow them to multiply. • - Abraham moved the people to Canaan. However, they were forced out due to a drought. They then relocated to Egypt and were forced into slavery. The Hebrews then became known as the Jews.

43. Moses • leads the Jews out of slavery, • unleashes the Ten Plagues against Egypt • guides the freed slaves for forty years in the wilderness • carries down the law from Mount Sinai • prepares the Jews to enter the land of Canaan. Moses parts the sea- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tydEwNEmmKU

44. Jewish Holy Days • A. Sabbath - Sundown Friday to sundown Saturday • Shabat- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyRrM6KNtQg • Challah- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI6sjjugawY • Hamotzi- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uaUeDQ7maQ • B. Rosh Hashanah • 1. Jewish New Year • 2. September or October • *Honey is an important symbol of • Rosh Hashanah. It represents • wishes for a sweet New Year.

45. Sukkot Yom Kippur 1. Nine days after Rosh Hashanah 2. It is the holiest of all days 3. Day of Atonement - Fast for 24 hours Prayer Repentance F. Passover 1. March or April 2. It is the deliverance of the Jewish people from Egypt. 3. The Seder service on the first two evenings recounts the story of the Exodus.

46. E. Hanukkah 1. November or December 2. Festival of Lights 3. It is the celebration of conquering the temple from the Syrians. 4. They only had enough oil for one day but lasted for eight. Menorah - Candelabra 1. Light one candle for each day 2. Receive gifts for each day. F. Bar/Bat Mitzvah. 1. Bar - boy becomes an adult 2. Bat - girl becomes an adult

47. G. Holy Sites 1. Synagogues - Houses of prayer 2. Western Wall or the Wailing Wall – It is one wall of a temple which was destroyed by the Romans which still stands today. H. OTHER- see Judaism Packet!

48. There are three types of Judaism. 1. Orthodox a. Everything is conducted in Hebrew. b. Attendance is expected every week. c. Men and women attend separate services. d. Women may not lead services. 2. Conservative a. Services are conducted partially in English b. Attendance is not mandatory c. Men and women may attend services together. 3. Reformed a. All services are conducted in English. 4. Reconstructionist

49. Diaspora – Scattering of the Jews throughout the world.

50. G. Greeks and Romans Greek History – • Alexander the Great was able to conquer Persia & create an empire from Asia Minor into the Indus Valley. • Greek education and culture was spread through the Middle East – more cultural diffusion Hellenistic Civilization – New blended culture Roman History – • Romans exerted control over Egypt, Syria and Turkey • But Roman empire became too large to be effectively ruled by one man- so split the empire in half. That way, it would be easier to manage. This created two Roman empires - the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire.