Kingdoms and Empires in the Middle East

1. Kingdoms and Empires in the Middle East Cultural Diffusion in the Middle East

2. Trading Peoples • The Aramaens: settled in Syria @ 1200 B.C. • Est. Damascus as the capital city • Controlled overland trade (Egypt & Mesopotamia) • Aramaic became the trade language of the Med. • The Phoenicians: Settled in Canaan • Known as Palestine, “land of the Philistines” • Controlled the overseas trade in the Med. Sea • Used an alphabet to keep track of records • Set up colonies and trading posts • The Lydians: Lived in Asia Minor (Turkey) • Prosperous lifestyles • Replaced barter system with a money system

3. The Early Israelites • Lived in Canaan (Abraham) • Monotheistic • Worshiped one God (Yahweh) • A divine covenant w/ Abraham • Lived as nomadic shepherds • Jacob and 12 sons • Joseph was sold into slavery • Fled to Egypt • Later enslaved

4. The Early Israelites • Moses and the Exodus from Egypt • Commemorated Passover • The Ten Commandments & “Promised Land” • Settling in Canaan: Joshua led them into Canaan • Fought against the Canaanites and Philistines • Judges led the Twelve Tribes of Israel • Saul (r. 1020-1012 B.C.): first Israelite king • David (r. 1012-961 B.C.) • Defeated Goliath • Set up the capital in Jerusalem – economic prosperity • Solomon (r. 961-922 B.C.) • Built the Temple in Jerusalem • Very prosperous economically

5. Early Israelites • Israel’s Struggle • 10 northern tribes broke away from the southern 2 • The 2 southern tribes became Judah (Jews) • Exile of Kingdoms • Assyrians and Chaldeans invaded and enslaved Israel • Exile in Babylon – prophets (Jeremiah) rose up • Rebuilding Jerusalem • 539 B.C. the Persians (Cyrus) conquered the Chaldeans • Darius allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild • The Torah was organized (first 5 books of the O.T.) • The Diaspora (the scattering) began

6. Lasting Legacy of the Israelites • The Jews view on occurrences • Everything happened according to God’s purpose • Believe that humans have an infinite worth • Humans are accountable for what goes on in the world b/c we work in a partnership with God

7. Empire Builders

8. The Assyrians • Lived in northern Mesopotamia • Most lethal and ruthless military in the Middle East • Organized the military into different groups • Fought with iron weapons • 650 BC: had created an Empire (capital – Nineveh) • Divided the empire into provinces • Built a sophisticated system of roads • 612 B.C. – the Chaldeans defeated the Assyrians

9. The Chaldeans(New Babylonians) • Descendents of Hammurabi’s Empire • Nebuchadnezzar – the most powerful king • Expanded the empire to include Syria/Canaan • Studied astrology: laid foundation for astronomy • Decline after Nebuchadnezzar • weak kings + poor harvest + slow trade • 539 B.C. – Persians seized Babylon

10. The Persians • Settled in Iran in 2000s B.C. • Cyrus II (540s B.C.) • Developed a strong military • Conquered the Medes (expanded the empire) • Took over land in Asia Minor (Lydia/Greek city-states) • 525 B.C. – Cambyses conquered Egypt • Persian Empire covered 3,000 miles & 50 million people • Darius I (522-486 B.C.) • Empire’s best organizer (satraps and provinces) • “Eyes and Ears of the King” inspectors • Brought artisans in to build Persepolis

11. The Persians • Persian Empire • Treated conquered people fairly • Improved the network of roads • Persian Religion and Culture • Strict moral code • Polytheistic until 500s B.C. • Zoroaster: (Ahura Mazda & Ahriman) • Good vs. Evil – Good will win in the end • Fall of Persia • Darius waged war with the Greeks for control of Asia Minor • 480 B.C. Xerxes lost to the Greeks