Eastern Mediterranean Societies: Monotheism, Trade, and Writing

1. Eastern Mediterranean Societies: Monotheism, Trade, and Writing SSWH1: The student will analyze the origins, structures, and interactions of complex societies in the ancient Eastern Mediterranean from 3500 BC to 500 BCE.

2. Monotheism • SSWH1 c: Explain the development of monotheism, include the concepts developed by the ancient Hebrews, and Zoroastrianism.

3. The Development of Monotheism • The oldest monotheistic religion was created by the Hebrew people. • Its foundation lies in the original covenant made between Abraham and God, ~1900 BCE • Abraham’s Sons • Ishmael by Hagar would be the ancestor of the Arab people • Isaac by Sarah would be the ancestor of the Israelites (Jews) and eventually Christians

4. The Development of Monotheism Abraham Ishmael Isaac Esau Jacob Reuben Simeon Levi Judah Dan Nephtali Gad Asher Issachar Zebulun Joseph Benjamin

5. The Development of Monotheism • Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers (jealousy) • His gift in dream interpretation made pharaoh give him position of vizier • He was in a position to bring his whole family to Egypt during the famine. • Israelites stay in Egypt for 400 years

6. The Development of Monotheism • The second and chief covenant of Judaism was made when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. • God gave Moses the 10 Commandants and other rules to live by (contained in the Torah) marking the beginning of Judaism as a structured monotheistic religion. • Dates are unknown – anywhere from 1600-1200 BCE.

7. Hebrew Monotheism • Main Beliefs of Judaism • There is one God, Yahweh • created and ruled the world. • determined right and wrong (what is sin) • expected people to deal justly with each other and accept moral responsibility for their actions. • Role of Humanity: All people were Yahweh’s servants, not just a certain tribe or nation.

8. Hebrew Monotheism • 3 important aspects of the Hebrew religion • Covenant was the agreement between God and his people. • Law of God stated in the 10 Commandments • Holy messengers called prophets were sent by God. • Unjust actions brings punishment • New element • concern for all humanity • hope that someday all people would follow the law of the God of Israel in a time of peace.

9. Hebrew Monotheism • The religion of Israel was unique among the religions of western Asia and Egypt. • Its most distinctive feature was its monotheism. • Ideas of Judaism were written down • would not accept the gods/goddesses of neighbors.

10. Hebrew Monotheism • Main Beliefs of Judaism • Afterlife: • Primary focus of Judaism is here and now, not afterlife. • Called Olam Ha-Ba (The World to Come) • They believe in an afterlife but there is no official dogma. Open to personal opinion. • Paradise, temporary punishment to purge soul, reincarnation, resurrection • Role of Humanity: All people were Yahweh’s servants, not just a certain tribe or nation.

11. Hebrew Monotheism • Main Beliefs of Judaism • Role of Humanity: • Created to be companions for God. • All people were Yahweh’s servants and companions • Jews are “chosen people” in that theylive their lives fully in accordance with God’s will as an example to others • Books of Judaism: • Torah (Old Testament), particularly the Pentateuch • Talmud – rabbinic teachings

12. Persia • Persia is the name used to describe the people who moved into the Iran area of the Assyrian Empire as it was in decline. • It rose in influence under great leaders like Cyrus the Great and Darius the Great and created a great empire as it conquered territories in the region. • Would come to interact with the Greeks later on.

13. Persian Monotheism • Zoroastrianism • Beginning uncertain, possibly as early as 1200 BCE. • Existing frameworks were formalized through the work of prophet Zoroaster. • Was dominant religion in Persia until the Muslims came through in 700s CE. • Zoroastrian refugees from Persia brought the religion into India, where most of the modern practioners live today.

14. Zoroastrianism • Main Beliefs of Zoroastrianism • One Supreme and Universal God, called Ahuramazda, who created the world • Duality of Existence: good versus evil (morally and cosmically) • Ongoing battle between good (Ahuramazda) and evil (Ahriman). Good will win with rewards, evil will lose and suffer punishment. • Ethics of ‘Good Words, Good Thoughts and Good Deeds’ • Sacredness of creation – ecological concern

15. Zoroastrianism • Main Beliefs of Zoroastrianism • Afterlife: soul remains near body 3 days then goes to 1st judgment, which gives temporary residence in heaven or hell. Last Judgment comes at end of time when Ahuramazda judges for permanent place. • Role of Humanity: to stay away from evil and enhance the good amongst us through religious practice and following teachings of Zoroaster. • Holy book: ZendAvesta, the teachings of Zoroaster

16. Trading Networks SSWH1 d. Identify early trading networks and writing systems existent in the Eastern Mediterranean, including those of the Phoenicians.

17. Trade Network • Mesopotamian trade: • Foot (local) • Donkey (most common, long distance) • Gulf boat (from southern Mesopotamia to Gulf) • Raft (local river trade) • Coracle (up & down river) • River boat (down river trade; had to be towed back) • cart • Egyptians traded primarily by way of the Nile River, but also using some overland trade along the Mediterranean coast.

19. Trade Networks • Egyptian trade: • cheapest and fastest way was by ship (river, canal, and sea coast) • departure and return journeys dictated by seasons due to sails • Overland caravan possible using horse and oxen • Trade went north and east through Sinai into Mesopotamia.

20. Trade Networks • Other civilizations of the Fertile Crescent and their trade contributions: • Aramaeans • Nomadic people who eventually settled along trade routes in Mesopotamia. • Largest center was Damascus, Syria • Came to dominate overland trade between Egypt and Mesopotamia • their language, Aramaic, became widespread

22. Trade Networks • Phoenicians • They settled in Canaan (modern day Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan) • They began to sail the seas because they did not have good farmland for crops • Could plot voyages using the sun and stars. • reached southern Spain, Western Africa and maybe even the British Isles. • Controlled Mediterranean shipping and trade. • Created an alphabetic writing system and introduced bills of sale (receipts) and contracts.

24. Trade Routes • Lydians • Introduced a money system so that the barter system (trading goods for goods) was no longer needed.

25. Writing Systems SSWH1 e. Explain the development and importance of writing; include cuneiform, hieroglyphics, and the Phoenician alphabet.

26. Cuneiform • dates to 3100 BC and was developed by the Sumerians • wedge-shaped markings on clay tablets • Over # symbols • Pictograms that eventually developed into symbols representing complex ideas. • scribes • studied at schools called Eddubas. • Scribes rose to high position in society • produced business records, listed historical dates and some literary works were written.

27. Cuneiform • Uses of Cuneiform • originally developed to keep accounts and trade documents. • business records • listed historical dates • some literary works • most famous literary work in cuneiform was Epic of Gilgamesh • Oldest story in the world: 1850 BC • It is based on an actual king in the city-state of Uruk.

29. Hieroglyphics • Egypt’s earliest writing system • picture symbols into slate. • Over 2000 symbols at its height • The picture symbols stood for objects, ideas and sounds • Also had a class of scribes to record things • No modern man understood hieroglyphics until AD 1799. • Jean-François Champollion deciphered the hieroglyphics using the Greek on the Rosetta Stone.

30. Hieroglyphics • Uses of Hieroglphics • Original hieroglyphics was used for sacred writing, inscribing monuments and recording religious texts and rituals. • hieratic script was a cursive script used for sacred writing on papyrus • Demotic text used for administrative, legal and commercial texts • Best Known Example of Literature : The Book of the Dead • It contained more than 200 prayers and magic formulas.

31. Hieroglypics Vertical Horizontal

32. Hieratic Script

33. Demotic Egyptian

34. Phoenician Alphabet • a series of symbols that represent sounds • It was developed around 1000 BC • It had 22 characters and each represented a consonant sound • the reader mentally supplied the vowels in the proper places • It later became the foundation of several alphabets including Greek, which in turn became the basis of all western alphabets including ours. • Because the alphabet was easy to learn the merchants no longer needed scribes to keep records.