Post on 29-Dec-2015
transcript
EMPIRES OF ANCIENT MIDDLE EASTThe Hittites
The AssyriansThe Nubians
THE HITTITES
Main Idea: To identify the Hittites and the effects of their
technology on other societies
THE HITTITES
Essential Question:Who were the Hittites?
The Hittites By 2000 B.C.E., they
occupied most Anatolia (or Asia Minor)
City-states formed into an empire by 1650 B.C.E.
Capital: Hattusas Controlled much of
Mesopotamia for 450 years Fought with Egypt to
control ancient Syria Eventually signed peace
treaty
THE HITTITES
Essential Question:What influenced their law system and
how was it different?
The Hittites Borrowed ideas about literature, art,
politics, and law from Mesopotamian peoplesGave each own distinctive twist
Legal code similar to Hammurabi’s Code, but less harshMurderers not automatically punished by
deathConvicted murderer could make up for
death by giving the family a slave or own child
THE HITTITES
Essential Question:How was the Hittites war technology
superior?
The Hittites Excelled in war
technology Superior chariots
Light and easy to maneuver
Iron weapons Around 1500 B.C.E., first in
Mesopotamia to smelt iron and harden it into weapons
Iron technology spread to areas conquered
Fell suddenly in 1190 B.C.E. due to waves of invasions, and the burning of the capital
THE ASSYRIANS
Main Ideas:Assyria built a military machine that was
greatly feared by others in the region.Assyria used several different methods
to control its empire.
THE ASSYRIANS
Essential Question:How was Assyria able to build an
empire?
The Assyrians – A Powerful Army Assyria was located in
hilly northern Mesopotamia Built powerful horse and
chariot army to protect lands
Soldiers were only ones in area to use iron swords and spear tips
Used battering rams, ladders, tunnels to get past city walls
Inside cities, feared Assyrians slaughtered enemy inhabitants
Harsh Treatment of Captured People
Assyrians were cruel to defeated peoples
Enemies who surrendered were allowed to choose a leaderEnemies who resisted were taken captive
and killed and enslaved Enemy leaders were killed, and cities
were burned Captured peoples were sent into exile
Exile: forced to move from homelands to other lands, often far away
ASSYRIAN BUILDS A HUGE EMPIRE
Essential Question:How did Assyria control its empire?
A Huge Empire From 850 to 650 B.C.E., Assyrians conquered most
of the Fertile CrescentIncluding Syria, Egypt, Babylonia, Palestine
Reached peak under Ashurbanipal (668-627 B.C.E.)Known for creating libraries to collect documents
Assyrians chose native kings and governors to rule conquered lands
Conquered rulers paid tribute (payment for army’s protection)Assyrians destroyed cities if no tribute was paid, and
exiled people Assyrians made many enemies by their cruelty
Exiled peoples tried to gather forces to fight the Assyrians
Assyrians put down many revolts
Assyria Crumbles
Assyrian empire fell in 609 B.C.E.Defeated by combined forces of the
Medes and ChaldeansVictors burned Assyrian capital city of
Ninevah
WHY LEARN ABOUT THE ASSYRIANS?
The Assyrian Empire showed that to control large areas of land with
many people, an empire must have a highly organized government
and a strong military.
NUBIA AND THE LAND OF KUSH
Main Idea:The region of Nubia had connections
with Egypt.
THE REGION OF NUBIA
Essential Question:In what ways were Nubia and Egypt
connected?
Upper and Lower Nubia Nubia: African region
south of Egypt, includes modern Sudan and South Sudan
Nubia was divided into two areas Upper area was southern or
upstream Lower area was northern or
downstream People of Nubia lived
along the Nile River Southern Nubia’s moist
climate didn’t limit farming to Nile River Valley
Cultural Relations Between Egypt and Nubia
Egypt controlled parts of Nubia between 2000 and 1000 B.C.E.
Egyptian art, architecture, and religion influenced Nubia
Egypt went through a period of decline, and Nubian kingdom Kush became powerful
Kushite nobles went to Egypt and brought back rituals and writing system Adopted Egyptian customs,
clothing styles, adapted pyramids
The Decline of Kush (Nubia) Taharqa, a later Kushite ruler of
Egypt, fought Assyrian invasionAssyria conquered Egypt in 671 B.C.E.
with iron weapons, bows and arrowsKushite bronze weapons were too
weak