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Empires of the Ancient Near East

Empires of the Ancient Near East. Akkadian s. What makes an Empire?. Empire A large political unit or state United under 1 leader Usually controls other peoples or territories Easy to create but difficult to maintain. The first Empire in history. Empire is north of the Sumerians

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Empires of the Ancient Near East

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  1. Empires of the Ancient Near East Akkadians

  2. What makes an Empire? • Empire • A large political unit or state • United under 1 leader • Usually controls other peoples or territories • Easy to create but difficult to maintain

  3. The first Empire in history Empire is north of the Sumerians 2340 BC: Sargon (leader) defeats the Sumerians The former rulers of the Sumerian city-states became the governors of each territory All power was based on control of the military (5,400 men) Empire covered: Mesopotamia and extended to Med. Sea Naram-Sin (Sargon’s grandson) claimed “ King of the 4 corners of the universe” and a god Empire fell in 2150 BC because of attacks

  4. Babylonian Empire • Hammurabi • The leader of the Babylonians • Method of war: Divide and conquer • United all of Mesopotamia • Death in1750 led to the fall of Babylon • Hammurabi’s Law Code • The 1st real law code • Penalties for criminal offenses • Varied based on severity and by social class • Higher the class, the more severe the punishment • Eye for an eye was a basis of it (Retaliation) • Officials unable to solve crimes had to pay restitution to family of victim • Judges could be penalized for making wrong ruling • Everyone held accountable

  5. Babylonian Empire • Hammurabi’s Law Code (Cont.) • Builders were held responsible for the construction of buildings • Could be held accountable if building collapsed and killed someone • Largest part focused on marriage and family • Arranged marriage • Both sides signed a marriage contract • Women had fewer rights than men • Reasons for a man’s ability to divorce: • Failure to fulfill duties • Unable to bear children • Leaving home to engage in business • Fathers could disown sons if they committed crimes or where disrespectful

  6. Chapter 3: Early Empires in ancient near east Egypt

  7. The new kingdom • 1550-1070 BC • Hyksos Influence • Chariots • Horse drawn carts • Allowed for conquests in war • Bronze • Used to make farm tools and weapons • Military skills • Hyksos Influence actually allowed pharaohs to drive out the Hyksos

  8. Feats of new kingdom pharaohs • Ahmose I • Responsible for expelling the Hyksos • Developed a professional army • Thutmosis I • Conquered the kingdom of Nubia • Expanded the borders of Egypt • Thutmosis III • 17 military campaigns in Canaan and Syria • Occupied Canaan but allowed locals to run government • Amnhotep III (1412-1375 BC) • Creation of temples at Karnak and Luxor

  9. Amenhotep iv • Extreme change to religion in Egypt • Introduced the worship of Aten, the god of the sun disk • Made Aten the only god in Egyptian religion • Changed his own name to Akhentaten • Closed all temples to all other gods • Moved capital of Egypt to Akhetaten (“Horizon of Aten”) • People felt removing the gods was destroying culture • King Tutankhamen replaced Akhentaten • King Tut, the boy-pharaoh • Restored all the old gods

  10. Hatsheput • 1st Female pharaoh in Egypt • Started out as a regent (advisor) to Thutmosis III • Built and dedicated a temple to herself • Endeavors • Encourage mining • Trading routes on Nile River • Military expeditions • Sometimes depicted as a man in statues • Being in unique spot of first female ruler, she did not know how the people would respond

  11. End of egyptian empire • Religious upheaval caused by Akhentaten led to collapse of empire and loss of Canaan and Syria • Ramses II (1279-1213 BC) • Regained control of Canaan • Could never reestablish the early empire borders • Sea People invade in 1200’s and took control of Canaan • Egypt forced back into original territory • Cleopatra VII (1st century BC) • Built relationship with Rome • Ultimately Rome took over • Committed suicide • Egypt became province of Rome

  12. Chapter 3: Early Empires in the ancient near east Kingdom of Kush

  13. Kingdom of kush • 1000 BC-150 AD • Established in Nubia • Based off of trade of ivory, ebony wood, frankincense, and leopard skins • 750 BC: Conquered the Egyptians • 663 BC: Assyrians drove Kush out of Egypt with use of iron weapons • Kush still stuck in the Bronze and Stone Ages

  14. Kush Economy • Initially based on farming • Main crops were millet and other grains • Eventually trading became the main economy • Meroe was the trading city • Sat in the middle of a travelling route across desert • Also contained a large deposit of iron ore • Allowed for weapons to be made and sold • Exported ivory, gold, ebony wood, and slaves • Could act as middle passage between Europe and India • The state authority most likely controlled trade • Kingdom of Kush eventually declined most likely due to the rise of a new nation with better trading routes

  15. Chapter 3: early empires in the ancient near east Assyrian Empire

  16. Assyrian Empire (700-612 BC) • Empire included: Mesopotamia, Iran, Syria, Israel, and Egypt • Well organized leadership • King’s power was absolute • All local officials were directly under the power of king • Staging posts were established to relay messages to and from king via horse • Answers were generally given within a week from anywhere in kingdom • Could amass armies in the 100,000’s • Used both guerrilla warfare and traditional warfare • Even used total warfare (destroying everything in sight) • Better at conquering than ruling and empire fell in 612 to the Chaldeans • Culture was a mixture of Mesopotamian and Babylonian • Established one of the first libraries in history

  17. Chapter 3: early empires in the ancient near east The Persians

  18. Persian Empire • 539-330BC • Ran from Asia Minor to India • Cyrus “the Great” (559-530 BC) • 539 BC captured Babylon and set up Persian Empire • Returned the captive Jews back to Israel • Established both Persian and native office holders in the Empire • Accepted as ruler because he showed mercy • Sought to involve foreign design in palaces and temples to strengthen empire

  19. Descendants of Cyrus • Darius (521-486 BC) • Extended the empire to the Indus River • Conquered Thrace (Greece) • Divided government into 20 satrapies (provinces) • Each satrap (governor) ran a province and was responsible for collecting taxes, providing justice, and recruiting soldiers • Military strength • Established a standing army of professional soldiers • Maintained a cavalry unit of 10,000 • The Immortals • Elite fighting unit of 10,000 • Given this name because whenever one was killed, he was replaced immediately • The “Great King” • Title gave him the power of life and death over all subjects of empire

  20. Persian Religion • Zoroastrianism • Named after the prophet Zoroaster • Teachings written in the book ZendAvesta • Monotheistic (belief in one god) • Ahuramazda (the “Wise Lord”) • Created all things • Was the good spirit (Ahriman was the evil spirit) • Gave all humans the right choose right from wrong • Struggle between good and evil would end with Ahuramazda winning • If a person performed good deeds, they were sent to paradise • If a person had performed evil deeds, their soul was sent into the abyss

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