Ancient Civilizations
(River Valley Civilizations)
Asian Studies II
*NOTES*
WHAT IS A CIVILIZATION???
CIVILIZATION- (1) group of people living and working
together for the purpose of creating an organized society.
(2) “the highest cultural grouping of people which
distinguishes humans from other species”
(3) “complex systems or network of cities that emerge
from pre-urban culture”
*NOTES*
EIGHT BASIC FEATURES
OF A CIVILIZATION:
(1) Writing Systems
(2) Infrastructure- public works such as
bridges, roads etc.
(3) Government / Laws
*NOTES*
(4) Art / Architecture
(5) Social Classes
*NOTES*
(6) Organized Religion
(7) Job Specialization
(8) Development of
Cities
An agricultural surplus led to the emergence of
civilization
Rise of cities
Artistic Activity
Temples, Pyramids,
Palaces, Painting, and
Sculpture
Culture
The way of life of a
group of people
Growth of
Government.
Usually monarchs
Use of Writing
First was Cuneiform in
Sumer
New Social
Structure
Different social
classes emerge
Emergence of
Religion
Priests take an
active role.
Seatwork 2.3:
In one paragraph (5-7
sentences), discuss two negative (bad) and
two positive (good) consequences of
civilization building. What types of issues do
complex societies deal with???
ASIAN CIVILIZATION
Social Studies II
Archaeologists believe this is where one of the world’s first civilizations arose.
Mesopotamia (today’s Iraq) – is known as the cradle of Civilization.
TODAY’s OBJECTIVES:
• Summarize how geography affected the cultural development in the Fertile Crescent.
• Describe city-states and how other cultures learned from them.
• Describe Sumerian religious beliefs, social structure, and technology.
• Explain the influence of Sumer on later civilizations.
Chapter 2 Lecture Outline: 4 early River Valley Civilizations
• Sumerian Civilization - Tigris & Euphrates Rivers (Mesopotamia)
• Egyptian Civilization - Nile River
• Harappan Civilization - Indus River
• Ancient China - Huang Ho (Yellow) River
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
Chapter 2 Lecture Outline:
“The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”
• Sumerian Civilization - Tigris & Euphrates Rivers (Mesopotamia)
City-States in Mesopotamia
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
Chapter 2 Lecture Outline: “The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”
City-States in Mesopotamia
I. GEOGRAPHY
A. Mostly dry desert climate in SW Asia (Middle East)
1. Except in region between Tigris / Euphrates rivers
2. a flat plain known as Mesopotamia lies between the
two rivers
3. Because of this region’s shape and the richness of its soil,
it is called the Fertile Crescent.
- the rivers flood at least once a year,
leaving a thick bed of mud called silt.
SW Asia
(the Middle East)
Fertile
Crescent
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
Chapter 2 Lecture Outline: “The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”
City-States in Mesopotamia
I. GEOGRAPHY
3. Because of this region’s shape and the richness of it’s soil,
it is called the Fertile Crescent.
- the rivers flood at least once a year,
leaving a thick bed of mud called silt.
Sumerians were first to settle in this region, attracted by the rich soil.
B. Three Disadvantages / Environmental Challenges
1. Unpredictable flooding / dry summer months
2. No natural barriers for protection
- small villages lying in open plain were defenseless
3. Limited natural resources
- stone, wood, metal
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
Chapter 2 Lecture Outline: “The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”
City-States in Mesopotamia
I. GEOGRAPHY
Sumerians were first to settle in this region, attracted by the rich soil.
B. Three Disadvantages / Environmental Challenges
1. Unpredictable flooding / dry summer months
2. No natural barriers for protection
- small villages lying in open plain were defenseless
3. Limited natural resources (stone, wood, metal)
C. Solutions
1. Irrigation ditches
Sumerian innovations in achieving civilization
2. Built city walls with
set example others would follow.
mud bricks
3. Traded with people
around them
But to arrive at these solutions,
for the products
they lacked.
required organized government.
Initiated Bronze Age.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
Let’s now look at the type of government the Sumerians had.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
Chapter 2 Lecture Outline: “The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”
City-States in Mesopotamia
II. The City-State Structure of Government
A. Although all the cities shared the same culture …
B. each city had its own government / rulers, warriors,
it’s own patron god, and functioned like an independent country
C. includes within the city walls and also the surrounding farm land
D. Examples include Sumerian cities of Ur, Uruk, Kish, Lagesh
E. At center of each city was the walled temple with a ziggurat –
a massive, tiered, pyramid-shaped structure.
Define
type of
government
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
The Ziggurat at Ur was first excavated by British archaeologist Woolley in 1923.
The Iraqi Directorate of Antiquities restored its lower stages in the 1980s.
Chapter 2 Lecture Outline: “The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”
City-States in Mesopotamia
II. The City-State Structure of Government
A. Although all the cities shared the same culture …
B. each city had its own government / rulers, warriors,
it’s own patron god, and functioned like an independent country
C. includes within the city walls and also the surrounding farm land
D. Examples include Sumerian cities of Ur, Uruk, Kish, Lagesh
E. At center of each city was the walled temple with a
ziggurat – a massive, tiered, pyramid-shaped structure.
F. Powerful priests held much political power in the beginning.
Define
type of
government
Right: Standing nude
"priest-king,"
ca. 3300–3000 B.C.;
Uruk.
Left: Bas-relief
depicting priests
intervening between
worshipers and gods.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
Chapter 2 Lecture Outline: “The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”
City-States in Mesopotamia
II. The City-State Structure of Government
A. Although all the cities shared the same culture …
Define
B. each city had its own government / rulers, warriors,
type of
government
it’s own patron god, and functioned like an independent country
C. includes within the city walls and also the surrounding farm land
D. Examples include Sumerian cities of Ur, Uruk, Kish, Lagesh
E. At the center of each city was the walled temple with a ziggurat – a massive,
tiered, pyramid-shaped structure.
F. Powerful priests held much political power in the beginning.
G. Military commanders eventually became ruler / monarch
- then began passing rule to their own heirs, creating a new
structure of government called a
Define
Dynasty – a series of rulers descending from a single family line.
type of
government
Historians wonder…
Did the Sumerians develop this new type of government on their own, or
did they learn and adopt it only after contact with other peoples –
cultural diffusion?
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
Cultural diffusion is the spread of elements of one culture to another people,
generally through trade.
Take the spread of writing. Similarities between the pictograms of Egyptian hieroglyphics,
Sumerian cuneiform, and the Indus script are striking.
Can you give examples of cultural diffusion in your society today?
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
Chapter 2 Lecture Outline: “The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”
City-States in Mesopotamia
II. The City-State Structure of Government
A. Although all the cities shared the same culture …
B. each city had its own government / rulers, warriors,
it’s own patron god, and functioned like an independent country
C. includes within the city walls and also the surrounding farm land
D. Examples include Sumerian cities of Ur, Uruk, Kish, Lagesh
E. At center of each city was the walled temple with a ziggurat –
a massive, tiered, pyramid-shaped structure.
F. Powerful priests held much political power in the beginning.
G. Military commanders eventually became ruler / monarch
- then began passing rule to their own heirs,
creating a new structure of government called a
Dynasty – a series of rulers descending from a single family line.
H. Through their trade with neighboring peoples, the Sumerians
spread their new innovations. This is cultural diffusion – the
spread of one culture’s ideas, products, traditions, beliefs etc.
to another people.
Let’s now examine Sumerian beliefs and other elements of their culture.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
Chapter 2 Lecture Outline: “The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”
City-States in Mesopotamia
III. SUMERIAN CULTURE
A. RELIGION
1. Belief in many gods - polytheism
God of the clouds / air was Enlil – the most powerful god.
(Nearly 3,000 others – with human qualities.
The Sumerians viewed their gods as hostile and unpredictable –
similar to the natural environment around them.)
Reflection Time:
How does every event
happening to people
at any given moment
affect how they think
about their God(s)?
A Sumerian warrior-god, gold figurine, ca.
Marduk,
2,400-2,500
the Dragon
B.C.E. god
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
Chapter 2 Lecture Outline: “The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”
City-States in Mesopotamia
III. SUMERIAN CULTURE
A. RELIGION
1. Belief in many gods - polytheism
God of the clouds / air was Enlil – the most powerful god.
(Nearly 3,000 others – with human qualities.
They were viewed as often hostile and unpredictable – similar to the
natural environment around them.)
2. Gilgamesh Epic, one of the earliest works of literature.
Contains a “flood story” that predates the Hebrew Old Testament story
of Noah by at least 2,000 years.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
Chapter 2 Lecture Outline: “The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”
City-States in Mesopotamia
III. SUMERIAN CULTURE
A. RELIGION
1. Belief in many gods - polytheism
God of the clouds / air was Enlil – the most powerful god.
(Nearly 3,000 others – with human qualities.
They were viewed as often hostile and unpredictable – similar to the
natural environment around them.)
2. Gilgamesh Epic, one of the earliest works of literature.
Contains a “flood story” that predates the Hebrew Old Testament story
of Noah by at least 2,000 years.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
Chapter 2 Lecture Outline: “The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”
City-States in Mesopotamia
III. SUMERIAN CULTURE
B. SOCIETY
1. Three social classes
a. Priests and royalty (kings)
b. Wealthy merchants
c. Ordinary workers
[Slaves] –were not free citizens and thus not included in class system
2. Women
a. Had more rights than in many later civilizations
(could own property, join lower ranks of priesthood)
b. But not allowed to attend schools
(could not read or write)
Left: Statue of Sumerian woman with hands clasped at chest,
ca. 2600-2300 B.C.
Right: Gypsum statue of man and
woman at Inanna Temple at Nippur, circa 2600-2300 B.C.
Chapter 2 Lecture Outline: “The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”
City-States in Mesopotamia
III. SUMERIAN CULTURE
C. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
1. One of the first writing systems - Cuneiform
Cylinder seals and their ancient impressions on
administrative documents and locking devices are
our richest source for a range of meaningful subject matters.
A wealth of these have been discovered at Sumerian sites. *
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
Chapter 2 Lecture Outline: “The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”
City-States in Mesopotamia
III. SUMERIAN CULTURE
C. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
1. One of the first writing systems - Cuneiform
2. Invented wheel, the sail, the plow and sickle
3. First to use bronze.
Other Sumerian Achievements
• one of the earliest sketched maps
• astronomy
• a number system in base 60
from which stems our modern units of measuring time
and the 360 degrees of a circle.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
SUMERIAN
EDUCATION
 Sumerian Schools: EDUBBAS or Tablet houses
Used in writing: STYLUS . Clay tablets: TEXTBOOKS
Numerical System: based on 60,
FRACTIONS
Development of WEIGHTS and MEASURES
 Set Laws
First Law From Ur-Nammu, ruler of Ur: Sumeria
 Use
Shell coins
 Develop Banking System
SUMERIAN
ORNAMENTS
Bust of Lady Pu-abi
Reconstructed with golden earrings and elaborate headdress
DEATH
PIT
OF
UR
A Mesopotamian statue known as "The Ram in the
Thicket". This object was found in the Great Death
Pit at the Royal Cemetery at Ur and dates from the
third millenium BC.
SUMERIAN REFERENCES
http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/MESO/SUMER.HTM
http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org
http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/sumer.htm
http://www.nlcs.k12.in.us/oljrhi/brown/mesopotamia/meso.htm
http://www.earth-history.com
AKKADIANS
AKKADIA , CITY
OF
AKKAD
THE VERY FIRST EMPIRE IN HISTORY
1800 – 1530 B.C.
Chapter 2 Lecture Outline: “The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”
City-States in Mesopotamia
IV. First EMPIRE Builders
A. 3,000 – 2,000 B.C.E. the City-States began to war with each other.
These internal struggles meant they were too weak to ward off an attack
by an outside enemy.
B. Sargon of Akkad (ca. 2,350 B.C.E.)
Define
1. Took control of the region, creating world’s first empire type of
when several peoples, nations, or previously independent
government
states are placed under the control of one ruler.
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2. The Akkadian Empire lasted about 200 years, 2350 – approx. 2150 B.C.E.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
Chapter 2 Lecture Outline: “The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”
City-States in Mesopotamia
IV. First EMPIRE Builders
A. 3,000 – 2,000 B.C.E. the City-States began to war with each other.
These internal struggle meant they were too weak to ward off an attack
by an outside enemy.
B. Sargon of Akkad (ca. 2,350 B.C.E.)
Define
1. Took control of the region, creating world’s first empire type of
bringing together several peoples, nations, or previously
government
independent states and place them under the control
of one ruler.
2. The Akkadian Empire lasted about 200 years
3. Spoke a Semitic language (related to Arabic and Hebrew)
Invasions,
internal fighting,
and a severe famine
all contributed to the end of the Akkadian Empire.
sample Akkadian text
Arabic
Hebrew
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
AKKADIAN’S INTERNAL DISSENTION
 Sargon abolished the
local dynasties
 Sargon diverted the
Persian Gulf trade of
copper, precious stones
to Agade which resulted
to Sumer’s
impoverishment.
 Sargon was of
different race.
Chapter 2 Lecture Outline: “The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”
City-States in Mesopotamia
C. Babylonian Empire
1. Overtook Sumerians around 2,000 B.C.
2. Built capital, Babylon, on Euphrates river
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
Chapter 2 Lecture Outline: “The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”
City-States in Mesopotamia
C. Babylonian Empire
1. Overtook Sumerians around 2,000 B.C.E.
2. Built captial, Babylon, on Euphrates river
3. Reign of Hammurabi [1792-1750 B.C.E.]
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
3. Reign of Hammurabi
a. Famous Code of Law
• he wisely took all the laws of the region’s city-states
and unified them into one code. This helped unify
the region.
• Engraved in stone, erected all over the empire.
And why
Why
do you
do think
you think
Hammurabi
he believed
thought
it important
it
important
to
place thetolaws
placeinall
prominent
the citieslocations
within hisso the
Empirecould
people
undervisibly
the same
seeuniform
them? code of laws?
A total of 282 laws are etched on this 7 ft. 5 in. tall black basalt pillar (stele). The top
portion, shown here, depicts Hammurabi with Shamash, the sun god. Shamash is
presenting to Hammurabi a staff and ring, which symbolize the power to administer
the law. Although Hammurabi's Code is not the first code of laws (the first records
date four centuries earlier), it is the best preserved legal document reflecting the
social structure of Babylon during Hammurabi's rule.
This amazing find was discovered in 1901 and today is in the famous Louvre
Museum in Paris, France.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
3. Babylonian Reign of Hammurabi
a. Famous Code of Law
• he wisely took all the laws of the region’s city-states
and unified them into one code. This helped unify
the region.
• Engraved in stone, erected all over the empire.
• Strict in nature –
“the punishment fits the crime” / “eye for an eye”
Such laws were adopted by neighbors – many
similar found in Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament)
• His act set an important precedent – idea that the
government was responsible for what occurred in
society.
A total of 282 laws are etched on this 7 ft. 5 in. tall black basalt pillar (stele). The top
portion, shown here, depicts Hammurabi with Shamash, the sun god. Shamash is
presenting to Hammurabi a staff and ring, which symbolize the power to administer
the law. Although Hammurabi's Code is not the first code of laws (the first records
date four centuries earlier), it is the best preserved legal document reflecting the
social structure of Babylon during Hammurabi's rule.
This amazing find was discovered in 1901 and today is in the famous Louvre
Museum in Paris, France.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
CH 2 Sec. 1
Primary Source Document Analysis: “Hammurabi’s Code” (see handout)
Cute website
http://www.phillipmartin.info/hammurabi/hammurabi_situation_index.htm
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
Partnered Students
Hammurabi, the king of righteousness,
On whom Shamash has conferred the Law,
am I.
When Marduk sent me to rule over men,
to give the protection of right to the land,
I did right and in righteousness brought about
the well-being of the oppressed.
Below are situations Hammurabi faced.
You and your partner decide what you think to be a fair way to deal with the problem.
Then together we’ll view what Hammurabi actually declared.
We’ll find out if Marduk, the supreme god, will be pleased with your decisions?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
What should be done to the carpenter who builds a house that falls and kills the owner?
What should be done about a wife who ignores her duties and belittles her husband?
What should be done when a "sister of god" (or nun) enters the wine shop for a drink?
What should be done if a son is adopted and then the birth-parents want him back?
What happens if a man is unable to pay his debts?
What should happen to a boy who slaps his father?
What happens to the wine seller who fails to arrest bad characters gathered at her shop?
How is the truth determined when one man brings an accusation against another?
BABYLONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS
 First to Study the
Planets
 Divided the week into
7 days
 Invented the clock
and sundial to
measure time
OLDEST MAP IN
HISTORY
WITH BABYLON
AT THE CENTER
BABYLONIAN
BELIEF
SOOTHSLAYERS
make predictions by studying internal organs of butchered animals
CODE OF HAMMURABI
 laws which dealt with
crimes against the state.
 LEX TALIONIS
“Law of Retaliation”
 Law of JUSTICE
Hammurabi –
1st King of
Babylonian Empire
GILGAMESH
 The oldest known copies of
these Sumerian versions
royal court entertainment
in the reign of the Third
dynasty of Ur and King
Shulgi.
 Gilgamesh, King of Uruk
author’s name : Shin-eqiunninni, who is now the
oldest known human author
BABYLONIAN REFERENCES
http://www.deeperstudy.org/link/babylonian_empire.html
http://www.maverickscience.com/archaeoastronomy.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonia
http://www.utexas.edu/courses/gelbmyth/babylonianflood.jpg
HITTITES
1100. – 612 B.C.
The Hittites were a
Hamitic race. They are
called "the sons of Heth"
 Indo – European Speaking
People from Asia Minor
 Hattic Language
 Living in Hatti
(Anatolia, Turkey)
 First Hittite Kingdom
founded by King Labarnas
HITTITES
GOVERNMENT
 MURSILIS I –
King lead in to the
victory over the
Babylonians
 SUPPILULIUMAS I –
Made the Hittite Kingdom
reach its height
 SUPPILULIUMAS II –
Last King of the Hittites
HITTITES
POLITICS
KADESH PARITY PEACE
TREATY
 Very First Treaty signed by
two great empires: Hittite
and Egypt (Hatussili III)
(Ramses II)
H I T T I T E ARCHITECTURE
Lion Gate of Hattusa, the capital of Hittites,
H I T T I T E MINING AND
FIRST IRON WEAPONS
Hittite (bull) Rhyton
HITTITE EXPERT HORSE
RIDERS
THE THREE MAN CHARIOT
Assyrians (1176-612 B.C.)
They were semetic people living in the
North Mesopotamia
Important People:
A. Shanishi-Abad (Monarch)attempted to build an empire.
B. Tukulti-Ninurta – began their
first conquest
C. Ashurnasirpal II – started the
policy of territorial expansion
D. Tiglat- Pileser – extended their
control to Syria and Armenia
Ashurbanipal
E. Sargon II – divided the
expanded domain to
manageable areas
Ashurbanipal-last great
monarch. He assembled a
library of all literature in
Mesopotamia
Contributions:
1.Experts in carving stones
2.Perfected the use of iron
3.Skilled hunters
4.Professional soldiers (science and art of war)
ASSYRIAN CARVING STONES
CHALDEANS
612 – 539 B.C.
For behold, I am rousing up the Chaldeans, that bitter and
impetuous nation who march through the breadth of the
earth to take possession of dwelling places that do not
belong to them. [II Kings 24:2.]
Chaldeans (612-539 B.C.)
• They were also
called the “New
Babylonians”
• They forced a large
part of Jewish
population to
relocate.
• Contributions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Hanging Garden
Tower of Babel
The system of
1hour=60minutes
Lunar and Solar
Calendars with days,
months and year
High level of Algebra,
Science and Astronomy
Hanging garden
CHALDEAN ARCHITECTURE
HANGING GARDENS
- KING
NEBUCCHADNEZZAR
CHALDEAN ARCHITECTURE
TOWER OF BABEL
Important Leaders
• Eriba Marduk- founder of
the Chaldean dynasty
• Merodach Baldenattempted to seize the
Babylonian crown with the
help of the Elamites
• Mushezib Marduk – the
prince who revolted with
the support of the Elamites
Eriba Marduk
PHOENICIANS
SEA
FARERS
"shipmen that had a
knowledge of the
sea.“
(I Kings
9:27)
KNOWN AS THE CANAANITES AND
SIDONIANS
PHOENICIAN
LIFE
 Semetic people living
in Mediterranean
Coast (Lebanon, some
part of Syria and
Israel)
 most skillful
shipbuilders and
navigators of their
time
 seafaring,
manufacturing, and
trading nation
When sailing at night,
sailors kept their ship
in the right direction
by observing
constellations and the
North Star, or what
the ancient world
called the
"Phoenician
Star." There were
other voyages
undertaken by
Phoenician explorers
PHOENICIAN
PORTS
SIDON
TYRE
CENTER OF GLASS
INDUSTRY
CENTER OF DYE
INDUSTRY
PHOENICIAN
Coastal city on the Gulf of Tunisia founded
by the Tyrian Phoenicians in 814 B.C.
COLONY
PHOENICIAN
TRADE
METAL
WORK
GLASS
From a snail, the murex, they
obtained a crimson dye called
TYRIAN PURPLE.
CEDAR TREES FOR
SHIP BUILDING
GOLD
PHOENICIAN BUST,
EGYPTIAN INFLUENCED
ORNAMENTS
PHOENICIAN
COINS
PHOENICIAN
NEW WRITING SYSTEM
PHOENICIAN
Phoenician religion was
inspired by the powers
and processes of
nature. Many of the
gods they worshiped,
however, were localized
and are now known
only under their local
names. A pantheon was
presided over by the
father of the gods, but a
goddess was the
principal figure in the
Phoenician pantheon.
RELIGION
BAAL:
KING OF
EARTH
ASHERAH:
QUEEN OF
HEBREWS
". . . I will bless you and make your name great ;
and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who
bless you, and I will curse him who curses
you; and in you all the families of the earth
shall be blessed“ (Genesis 12:2-3)
HEBREW HISTORY
Hebrews went to the
land of Canaan, under
Joshua’s leadership
 Hebrews settled at Mt. Sinai
 Great Exodus from Egypt, under
the rule Ramses II
 During the famine, some Hebrews went to
Egypt
 Hebrews travelled to Canaan with leader,
‫ישי מלך ישראל דוד‬-‫בן‬
David ben Yishai, Melekh Ysra’el
HEBREW KINGDOM
KING SAUL
KING DAVID
KING SOLOMON
HEBREW RELIGION
ARC
OF THE
COVENAN
T
YAHWEH
 SUPREME
 ETERNAL
 AGELESS
MONOTHEISM
HEBREW EMPHASIZES
MORAL BEHAVIOR
1. I am the Lord your GOD
2. You shall have no other
gods before me. You shall
not make for yourself an
idol.
3. You shall not make
wrongful use of the name
of your God.
4. Remember the Sabbath
and keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and
mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit
adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false
witness against your
neighbor.
10. You shall not covet
anything that belongs
to your neighbor.
10 COMMANDMENTS
PROPHETS
EXPRESS HEBREW BELIEFS
Messenger of God
 Preached obedience to
God’s Law
 Warned of Dangers of
breaking any of God’s
Law
Urged Hebrews to
remain firm to their
Faith
Star of David or Shield of David
symbol of
Jewish
Identity and
Judaism
named after
King David
of ancient Israel.
God's Lamp, Man's Light:
Mysteries of the Menorah
Hanukkah,
Menorah
celebrates the
rededication of the
Temple after the
successful Jewish
revolt against the
Seleucid monarchy
PERSIANS
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to
fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the
LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make
a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it
in writing (EZRA 1:1)
529 B.C
.
PERSIAN SOCIETY
INDO – EUROPEAN
SPEAKING TRIBE
 SOUTHWESTERN
IRAN
CONTROLLED BY
MEDES
PERSIAN RULERS
CYRUS THE GREAT
 1ST PERSIAN RULER
 DECLARATION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS
 DEFEATED ASSYRIAN
TRIBE: MEDES
 CAPTURED LAND OF
CHALDEANS
 EXTENDED PERSIA TO
BORDERS
OF INDIA(EAST) AEGEAN
PERSIAN RULERS
CAMBYSES
 TOOK OVER PERSIA
AFTER
FATHER’S DEATH
 EXPANDED
TERRITORY TO
EGYPT
 SUFFERED MENTAL
ILLNESS:
SOCIAL ANXIETY:
SUICIDE
PERSIAN RULERS
DARIUS THE GREAT
EMPIRE INTO
PROVINCES
DIRECTED SATRAPS
(GOVERNORS)
PUBLIC WORKS
SYSTEM
GOLD COINS “DARICS”
PERSIAN RELIGION
Z
O
R
O
A
S
T
R
I
A
N
I
S
M
AHURA
MAZDA:
DIVINE GOD
ZOROASTE
R:
PERSIAN PUBLIC WORKS
PERSIAN ARCHITECTURE
PERSIAN BEHISTUN ROCK
DISCOVERED
BY HENRY
RAWLINSON IN
1835 - 1852
imperishable stone of a 4,000-foot Iranian mountain, artisans of Darius the Great
carved his vainglorious autobiography almost 2,500 years ago
Two centuries after Hammurabi’s reign, the Babylonian Empire fell to nomadic raiders.
New groups would rule over the Fertile Crescent in the future. However, the innovative
ideas of the Sumerians and their descendants in the region would be adopted by the later
peoples – including the Assyrians, the Persians, Phoenicians and the Hebrews (Jews).
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.