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The Mesopotamians, The Hebrews, and the Phoenicians

The Mesopotamians, The Hebrews, and the Phoenicians. Mesopotamia. Early Mesopotamia, 3000-2000 B.C.E. “Between the Rivers” Tigris and Euphrates Modern-day Iraq Sumerians dominant culture The peoples who followed the Sumerians adopted their civilization. Sumerian City-States.

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The Mesopotamians, The Hebrews, and the Phoenicians

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  1. The Mesopotamians, The Hebrews, and the Phoenicians

  2. Mesopotamia • Early Mesopotamia, 3000-2000 B.C.E. • “Between the Rivers” • Tigris and Euphrates • Modern-day Iraq • Sumerians dominant culture • The peoples who followed the Sumerians adopted their civilization

  3. Sumerian City-States • Cities appear 4000 BCE • Dominate region from 3200-2350 BCE • Ur (home of Abraham, see Genesis 11:28), Nineveh (see Jonah) • Ziggurat home of the god • Divine mandate to Kings • Defencefrom nomadic marauders

  4. The Ziggurat of Ur

  5. Political Decline of Sumer and the Transition to Empire • Semitic peoples from northern Mesopotamia overshadow Sumer • Sargon of Akkad (2370-2315 BCE) • Destroyed Sumerian city-states one by one, created empire based in Akkad • Empire unable to suppress chronic rebellions • Hammurabi of Babylon (1792-1750 BCE) • Improved taxation, legislation • Used local governors to maintain control of city-states • Babylonian Empire later destroyed by Hittites from Anatolia, c. 1595 BCE

  6. Legal System • The Code of Hammurabi • Established high standards of behavior and stern punishment for violators • lextalionis – “law of retaliation” or an “eye for an eye” • women seen as property, but had some rights

  7. Later Mesopotamian Empires • Assyrians use new iron weaponry • Beginning 1300 BCE, by 8th-7th centuries BCE control Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, most of Egypt

  8. Mesopotamian Empires, 1800-600 BCE

  9. Development of Writing • Sumerian writing systems from 3500 BCE • Pictographs • Cuneiform: “wedge-shaped” • Preservation of documents on clay

  10. Uses for Writing • Trade • Astronomy • Mathematics • Agricultural applications • Calculation of time • 12-month year • 24-hour day, 60-minute hour

  11. The Phoenicians • City-states along Mediterranean coast after 3000 BCE • Extensive maritime trade • Dominated Mediterranean trade, 1200-800 BCE • Development of alphabet symbols • Simpler alternative to cuneiform • Spread of literacy

  12. Israel and Phoenicia , 1500-600 BCE

  13. The Early Hebrews • Patriarchs and Matriarchs originated from Babylon, c. 1850 BCE. Nomadic way of life • Parallels between early biblical texts, Code of Hammurabi • Early settlement of Canaan (Israel), c. 1300 BCE • Biblical text: slavery in Egypt, divine redemption • On-going conflict with indigenous populations under King David (1000-970 BCE) and Solomon (970-930 BCE)

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