World History
Chapter 3
Kingdoms and Empires in the
Middle East
Chapter 3, Section 1
Civilizations in Mesopotamia and
Egypt trade and spread cultural
influences throughout the region
Setting the Scene
• Terms to Define: confederation, alphabet,
colony, barter
• People to Meet: the Aramaeans, the
Phoenicians, the Lydians,
• Places to Locate: Syria, Damascus, Tyre
The Aramaeans
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Highly active in Middle East trade
Settled in Central Syria, 1200 B.C.
Capital at Damascus
Controlled trade route, Mesopotamia to
Egypt
• People in region spoke Aramaic, language
of Aramaeans
The Aramaeans
• Until A.D. 800s, most
people in Fertile
Crescent spoke
Aramaic
• Parts of Bible written
in Aramaic
The Phoenicians
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Originally from Arabian Peninsula
Settled in north Canaan
Neighbors were Philistines
Canaan was later called Palestine by the
Greeks
• They sailed the seas for a living
The Phoenicians
• Harvested timber from nearby forests to
build strong ships
• Built a string of towns and cities along the
coast
– Many grew to city-states—most significant
was Tyre
– Loose union of city-states forming a
confederation.
The Phoenicians
• Sailed from their coast city-states
throughout the Mediterranean
• Expert navigators using stars and sun
• Reached southern coast of Spain and
possibly England
• Took charge of Mediterranean shipping
and trade
The Phoenicians
• Had advantage over business competitors
because they had improved t alphabet
• Phoenician system became foundation of
several alphabets including Greek
• Set up temporary colonies along the
Mediterranean coasts
• The colony of Carthage became the most
powerful in the Mediterranean
The Lydians
• Lydians lived in Asia Minor
• Developed wealthy kingdom
• Neighboring cultures relied on system of
trade called barter—exchanging their
wares for other goods
• Lydians established money system, using
coins as a medium of exchange
• The concept of money soon spread
The Israelites were an exception among the polytheistic
cultures of the ancient world. They were monotheistic,
or believed in one all-powerful God. They called him
Yahweh. The teachings of the Israelites influenced
Christianity and Islam
EARLY ISRAELITES
CHAPTER 3, SECTION 2
The Land of Canaan
• The Bible traces the origins of the
Israelites to Abraham
– Herder and trader
– Lived in Ur in Mesopotamia
– Believed God made covenant with Abraham
– Would build a great nation around him if he
remained faithful to God
The Land of Canaan
• Descendents of Abraham shared land with
Phoenicians and Philistines
• Rocky hills and deserts
• Fertile plains and grassy slopes
• Many lived as nomad herding sheep and
goats
The Exodus From Egypt
• Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, raised 12
sons and each son led a separate family
group
– The 12 tribes of Israel
– Severe drought forced migration to Egypt
– They lived peacefully for several generations
until the Egyptians decided to enslave them
The Exodus From Egypt
• In 1200s B.C., Moses led people from
Egypt
– Exodus into Sinai Desert
– During Passover, Exodus story is retold
• God renewed the covenant with Moses
– Israelites ledged to reject all gods
– Received Ten Commandments
• God promised them safe return to Canaan
Settling the Land
• Moses died before reaching Canaan
• Joshua led Israelites into Canaan
• For 200 years, the Israelites fought the
Philistines and Canaanites who now
occupied the land
The Davidic Monarchy
• Israelites united under one king—Saul
• Unable to defeat the Philistines, David
became king
• David had once defeated Goliath
• David ruled for next 40 years
• King David set up capital in Jerusalem
• Israelites enjoyed prosperity under David
The Davidic Monarchy
• David’s son Solomon succeeded his father
– Founded new cities and constructed
magnificent temple in Jerusalem
– Israelites resented Solomon’s high taxes
– Ten tribes broke away from the other two
• Two in the north broke away from southern tribes
• Ten in the south kept the name of Judah as a
kingdom and kept Jerusalem as the capital
• “Jew” comes from the term Judah
Exile and Return
• Politically split, tribes kept same religion
• Too weak to resist invasions
• In 722 B.C., the Assyrians of Mesopotamia
conquered the 10 tribes
• IN 586 B.C., the Chaldeans of
Mesopotamia gained control of Judah and
destroyed the temple
Exile in Babylon
• During the difficult period, prophets arose
from the Israelites
• Some like Jeremiah blamed the Jews for
leaving God
• Without a temple, Jews met in small
groups—the rise of synagogues came
from these gatherings
Rebuilding Jerusalem
• In 539 B.C., the Persian conquered the
Chaldeans
– Persian king Cyrus II allowed the Jews to
return to Judah and rebuild the temple
– First five books of Bible were placed in Torah
• Some Jews remained in Babylon and and
other went to other regions—the
Diaspora—Greek word for scattered
Lasting Legacy
• Jews saw God-directed purpose and
continued to record their history
• Torah recorded concept that humans were
made in the image of God
• People were accountable for what
happens in the world
Warlike neighbors came to rule the Fertile Crescent
EMPIRE BUILDERS
CHAPTER 3, SECTION 3
Setting the Scene
• Terms to Define: satrap
• People to Meet: the Hittites, the Assyrians,
the Chaldeans, Nebuchadnezzar, the
Persians, Cyrus II, Darius I, Zoroaster
• Places to Locate: anatolia, Babylon,
Nineveh, Persepolis
The Hittites
• Presumably from areas beyond the Black
Sea, conquered Asia Minor 2000 B.C.
• Established city-states in central plain
called Anatolia
• Custom of wearing hair in long, black
pigtail
• First to Wield iron weapons
The Hittites
• Two soldiers on a chariot—fast, light,
mobile, strong
• Conquered Babylon about 1595 B.C.
• Established less harsh legal system than
Hammurabi
The Assyrians
• Subject of constant attacks to their home
in north Mesopotamia
• Built strong force and starting attacking
others
– Most lethal fighting force in Middle East
– Chariots, cavalry, foot soldiers
– Used iron weapons and battering rams to
knock down wall of foes
The Assyrians
• Treated conquered people cruelly
– Burned cities
– Tortured and killed thousands
– Deported people to other parts of their
kingdom
– Resettled other people into conquered
territories
The Assyrians
• By 650, Assyrians governed empire from
Persian Gulf to Asia minor
• Established capital in Nineveh, along
Tigris River
• Alliance between Chaldeans and Medes
brought down the Assyrian empire
The Chaldeans
• Descended from Hammurabi’s Babylonian
empire
• Height of empire was during reign of King
Nebuchadnezzar
• Conquered Canaan and Syria
• Built Babylon into beautiful city
The Chaldeans
• Among seven wonders of the world,
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
– Made for the king’s wife
– Walls 50 feet high around the city
• Study of stars laid foundations of study in
Astronomy
• Persians under Cyrus II conquered them
The Persians
• From central Asia, leaving about 2000 B.C
• Settle between Persian Gulf and Caspian
Sea
• Between Cyrus and his son, Cambyses,
they brought all of the Middle East under
Persian control
The Persians
• Darius I was best organizer
– Reigned 522 B.C. to 486 B.C.
– Divided the realm into provinces—satraps—
provincial governors
– Military officials and tax collector chosen from
the conquered people
– Inspectors made tours—”eyes of the king”
– Believed in loyalty over fear
The Persians
• Persian did not participate in trade—their
conquered people could
• Expanded network of roads for trade
– Royal road stretched more than 1500 miles
across Persian Empire
– Stations every 14 miles
The Persians
• Darius waged war against the Greeks
• After Darius death, his son Xerxes led
disastrous campaign against Greeks in
Greece in 480 B.C., crippling the Persian
empire (partly against the “300”)
The Persians
• Followed strict code of bravery and
honesty
– Taught riding, use of the bow and speaking
the truth
• Worshiped many deities
• Prophet, Zoroaster, began speaking of a
world divided into good and evil
The Persians
• Zoroaster
– Humans caught up in the struggle
– Humans must choose
– Eternal life was the reward
– Written in book called Avesta
• Persian kings led by good god, Ahura
Mazda
The Persians
• Zoroaster’s teachings linked to glorification
of Persian monarchy
• Zoroaster’s teachings on paradise, hell,
and Last Judgment may have influenced
other religions
• Persians mixed with Greek culture when
Alexander the Great absorbed them