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“Mesopotamia” is Greek for
“between the two rivers,” the Tigris and Euphrates. Found in the Fertile Crescent
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Sumerians (ca. 3800–2400 BC)
- the first great Mesopotamians
- invented the wheel
- plow and cultivating first orchards
- system of writing: CUNEIFORM
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cuneiform
- “wedge-shaped” in Latin
- developed by the Sumerians
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MONARCHY
- means rule by one
- most Mesopotamia Monarchs were kings
- judicial authority, legislator, representative of gods and patron
- responsible for bulidings and temples being built
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Hammurabi (r. 1792-1750 BC)
- king of the Amorites in Babylon
- famous for law Code of Hammurabi
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Code of Hammurabi
- eye for an eye codes, however freed men and slaves not exactly treated equal
- strike father and lose hands
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Mesopotamians were POLYTHEISTIC
they worshiped “many gods.”
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Mesopotamian gods were ANTHROPOMORPHIC
- meaning they resembled humans (ie. god Shamash)
- represented by images, idols
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ZIGGURATS
Mesopotamian buildings that served a religious purpose
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Mesopotamian Lit
- The Epic of Gilgamesh (ca. 2500 BC) - king Gilgamesh's journey for immortality
- Enuma Elish (ca. eleventh cent. BC). - creation in the light of a cosmic battle among the gods.
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Nile River
- Longest river n the world
- Flooded every your and like a god to the Egyptians
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Upper and Lower Egypt
- Upper was actually south of Lower, but river flowed south to North
- Upper Egypt councered Lower
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Pharaoh
- Egypt's divine monarchical ruler
- Worshipped after death
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Egyptian Religion
- Worshipped many gods of human and animal forms
- "Ka" life-force lived on after death
- Mummification and Canopic jars
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Egyptian History: The Old Kingdom (2695–2160 BC)
- Pyramids were Pharoh tombs and a way for rulers to glorify themselves
- Great Sphinx was possible protector of the tombs
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Egyptian History: The New Kingdom (ca. 1550–1075 BC)
- Empire and Expansionist
- Thebes was the Capital
- Woman Ruler Hatshepsut (r. 1479–1457
- BC) false beard
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Egyptian History: The Decline of Egypt (ca. 1076 BC)
- Pharaohs lost power to priests
- Easy prey for invasions of foreigners
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The system of writing the Egyptians used is called
- HIEROGLYPHICS (Written on Papyrus)
- Rosetta stone helped to decipher
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Isreal
- The Hebrews
- Sacred History God was actively involved
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MONOTHEISM
belief in “one god.”
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Israel’s History: The Patriarchs (ca. 2000–1500 BC)
- Abraham 1st Patriarch
- Jacob and 12 tribes
- Joseph rose to Pharaoh
- All have 1 generation gap
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Israel’s History: The Exodus and Mt. Sinai (ca. 1300 BC)
- Moses lead people out of Egypt
- Settled in Promised Land (Land of Canaan)
- TEN COMMANDMENTS
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TEN COMMANDMENTS
- example of “legislation” in the ancient
- world
- 5. “Honor your father and your mother…”
- 6. “You shall not murder.”
- 8. “You shall not steal.”
- Placed in Ark of the Covenent
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Hebrew Religion
- monotheistic
- YHWH (Yahweh)
- Tabernacles
- Ark of the Covenent
- Torah (aka the Pentateuch) ("law") first 5 books of bible
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Israelite History: The United Monarchy (ca. 1020-928 BC)
- Judah tribe
- greatest king of Israel was David (r. 1004-965 BC)
- Jerusalem Capital
- King Solomon (son of David) built first Temple in Jerusalem
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Israelite History: The Divided Kingdom (928-722 BC)
- Kingdom of Isreal (northern) fell first
- Later Judah by Nebuchadnezzar
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The Persian Empire (559-331 BC)
- Persian King Cyrus the Great (r. 559-530 BC) conquered the Medes
- Greatest empire world has seen yet
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The Persian Army
- 300,000 soldiers
- 10,000 Immortals
- 1st great navy
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The Persian King
- monarchical ruler "the King of Kings"
- khvarna "kindly glory"
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Governing the Persian Empire
- “ruling with a velvet glove.”
- twenty regions called “satrapies,” and two of its capitals were Susa and Persepolis
- “Royal Road” 1600 miles
- Aramaic language
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Persian Religion
“Zoroastrianism” light vs. evil
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