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.
Monotheism
SSWH1 c: Explain the development of
monotheism, include the concepts
developed by the ancient Hebrews, and
Zoroastrianism.
The Development of Monotheism
The oldest monotheistic religion was
created by the Hebrew people.
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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
The Development of Monotheism
The Development of Monotheism
Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by
his brothers (jealousy)
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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
The Development of Monotheism
The second and chief covenant of
Judaism was made when Moses led the
Israelites out of Egypt.
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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 16001200 BCE.
Hebrew Monotheism
Main Beliefs of Judaism
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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Paradise, temporary punishment to purge soul,
reincarnation, resurrection
– Role of Humanity: All people were Yahweh’s
servants, not just a certain tribe or nation.
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 they live 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
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.
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.
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
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: Zend Avesta, the teachings of
Zoroaster
Trading Networks
SSWH1 d. Identify early trading networks
and writing systems existent in the
Eastern Mediterranean, including those of
the Phoenicians.
Trade Network
Mesopotamian trade:
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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.
Trade Networks
Egyptian trade:
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cheapest and fastest way was by ship (river, canal,
and sea coast)
departure and return journeys dictated by seasons due to
sails
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Overland caravan possible using horse and
oxen
Trade went north and east through Sinai into
Mesopotamia.
Trade Networks
Other civilizations of the Fertile Crescent and
their trade contributions:
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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
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their language, Aramaic, became widespread
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.
Trade Routes
– Lydians
Introduced a money system so that the barter
system (trading goods for goods) was no longer
needed.
Writing Systems
SSWH1 e. Explain the development
and importance of writing; include
cuneiform, hieroglyphics, and the
Phoenician alphabet.
Cuneiform
dates to 3100 BC and was developed by
the Sumerians
wedge-shaped markings on clay tablets
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Over # symbols
Pictograms that eventually developed into
symbols representing complex ideas.
scribes
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studied at schools called Eddubas.
Scribes rose to high position in society
produced business records, listed historical
dates and some literary works were written.
Cuneiform
Uses of Cuneiform
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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
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Oldest story in the world: 1850 BC
It is based on an actual king in the city-state
of Uruk.
Hieroglyphics
Egypt’s earliest writing system
picture symbols into slate.
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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.
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Jean-François Champollion deciphered the hieroglyphics
using the Greek on the Rosetta Stone.
Hieroglyphics
Uses of Hieroglphics
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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.
Hieroglypics
Vertical
Horizontal
Hieratic Script
Demotic Egyptian
Phoenician Alphabet
a series of symbols that represent sounds
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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
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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.