4 Ancient River Civilizations

Mesopotamia• Ham and Shem

descendants

• Mesopotamia = Land between rivers (Greek Term)• Tigris and

Euphrates

Sumerians

• Established civilization around 3000 B.C.

• Independent city-states

• Cities ruled by priests

• Life revolved around temple buildings, ziggurats

• Polytheistic

Sumerians

Sargon = Akkadian ruler (2350 B.C.)

Established 1st ever empire

Kings power greater than priest People began

viewing kings as gods

Ur – Why familiar?

Sumerian Accomplishments

Amorites

Hammurabi

United land under rule

Military & administrator

Code of Laws

did not create them

compiled them

placed them throughout empire

282 laws of retaliation

Punishment different based on social status

Epic of Gilgamesh Babylonian literature

Supports Bible story of worldwide flood

Gilgamesh seeks eternal life

Build boat

Many ancient civilizations have flood story

Blames flood on angry god not mans’ wickedness

Amorite Accomplishments

• Nile flooded yearly

• Rich soil deposit for

crops

• Nile River

• Important highway

Egypt The Land

Upper Kingdom South area Cut off from

world by desert Close to Nile

River

Egypt The land

Lower Kingdom North area Spread across Nile

delta Easy contact with

other people Mediterranean Sea Sinai Peninsula

Egypt- The History

Descendants of Ham’s son

3,000 B.C. Menes united North & South under rule

Old Kingdom

“Age of Pharaohs”

pharoahs = gods

They could do anything they wanted

Built pyramids

Khufu (Cheops) Great Pyramid at Giza

Middle Kingdom

“Age of the People”

Age of Peace and Construction Canals and ponds from Nile River

Israelites move to Egypt Escape famine Joseph in position of power Stayed 400 years (1876 B.C. – 1446 B.C.) Israelites grew in number

Hyksos

Asian peoples

Invaded and ruled Egypt

Taught Egyptians art of war Horses, chariots, bronze weapons

Began enslaving Israelites

Ruler did not know Joseph (Exodus 1:8)

New Kingdom

1570 BC – 1075 BC Expelled foreign rulers

“Age of Empire” Palestine, Syria, Upper

Egypt

Pharaohs became warrior king

Rulers of New Kingdom

Egypt- The Culture

Social Structure like a pyramid People could advance in society if gain favor

of Pharaoh (i.e.. Joseph in Egypt)

Women favored in society!

Egyptian Accomplishments

Egyptian Downfall

Polytheism- worship many gods

Believed life after death Judgment based on bad or

good works Can only enjoy afterlife if body

is preserved well Mummification

Empire fell to: Assyrians Persians Greeks Romans

• Named after one of Ham’s sons

• Land of promise for God’s chosen people (Joshua 1:3-4)• People rebel in

fear• Israelite wander

desert 40 years before enter land

• Upon entering, encounter:• Hittites• Phoenicians• Aramaens

“I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.”

Joshua 1:3-4

Hittites Descendants of Ham

settle Asian Minor 2000 B.C.

Bible mentions them: Abraham buys grave David kills Uriah, Hittite to hide his sin with

Bathsheba

Not ruled by priest or gods

King = army commander

Iron production and great military skill Established great empire Conflict with Egyptian Empire led to downfall of both Absorbed my more advanced civilizations

Phoenicians

and say to Tyre, who dwells at the entrance to the sea, merchant of the peoples to many coastlands, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “O Tyre, you have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty. “Your borders are in the heart of the seas;Your builders have perfected your beauty.

‘When your wares went out from the seas,You satisfied many peoples;With the abundance of your wealth and your merchandiseYou enriched the kings of earth.

Ezekiel 27: 3-4, 33

Phoenicians

Merchants of the Sea Greatest merchants of their day Traded with Egypt, Greece, Sicily, Spain and

North Africa (planted colonies along shore) Traveled to end of Mediterranean Sea, even to

Britain

Natural Resources Mollusk used to make purple dye

Phoenician = purple people (in Greek) Cedar and fir trees found in mountains

King Solomon used material from them to build temple in Jerusalem

Phoenicians

Alphabet A symbol for each

sound Greeks and Romans

adopted this system

Tyre Major port city Brought paganism to

Israel Jezebel married King

Ahab

Arameans Syria = crossroads of civilizations

Link between Asia and Africa

Commercial trade by land Damascus = international capital of trade

Aramaic language used by all in trade routes Probably language Jesus and disciples spoke

Neighbors with Israel (North) God used them to to punish Israel

Wickedness led to their downfall 732 Assyrians invaded and took them captive

Hebrews Call of Abraham

Out of Mesopotamia & paganism Abraham born around 2166 B.C. Probably living in idolatry

God chose him because of grace Abraham believed and obeyed

Sarah submitted and obeyed Through son Isaac God would fulfill covenant

promises Great number of descendants and Messiah Land of Canaan Would bless all people of Earth through descendants

Bondage in Egypt

Joseph and family went to escape famine in Canaan

God would make Israelites out of 12 sons of Jacob (name changed to Israel) Greatest tribe = Judah (Jesus would come

from this tribe)

Became numerous in Egypt

Moses led people out in 1446 B.C.

Covenant of Sinai

One of most important events in Hebrew history

Theocracy = people governed by God

Covenant Promise God would always be with them Gave them law

Moral Civil Ceremonial

Perfect moral standard to distinguish right/wrong

Conquest of Canaan

Israel fell into sin Grumbled and complained

Moses sent spies into Canaan People rebelled in fear

40 years to wander in desert

Entered Canaan under new leader – Joshua Conquered land Divided land to 12 tribes

Judges Israelites supposed to be a witness that there is only one

true God Monotheism Repeated for 350 years

around 1380 to 1050 BC

Enslaved by: Mesopotamia Moab Canaanites Midian Ammon Philistia

In the end, they as for a human king, Saul Unites 12 tribes under one rule Disobeys God in the end

David

“man after God’s own heart”

Messiah will come from David’s line

Established Hebrew kingdom Conquered enemies Established borders Peace throughout land Jerusalem capital city

Solomon

Hebrew kingdom at its greatest

Wisest man alive

Led astray by pagan wives

Built temple at Jerusalem

Began to allow idol worship

God’s judgment = split kingdom in 2

Division & Judgment

Kingdom divided over taxation

10 tribes rebelled and went north Made Jeroboam king

2 southern tribes = Benjamin and Judah Remain loyal to Reheboam

Lost greatness and peace Constant warfare

Prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah People ignored their warnings

Division & Judgment

Judgment 722 B.C. - Assyrians invade north & take captives 586 B.C. – Babylonians invade south & take

captives

God did not forsake His people Persians rise to power and release Israelites home Restored to their lands

Assyrian

Biggest empire until that time Nineveh = capital city

Built by nimrod shortly after flood

Adopted culture from Sumerians & Amorites

Military power Iron weapons Siege towers Battering rams War chariots

Assyrian Judgment

God used them to bring judgment to Israelites

722 B.C. – Sargon II invade and take 10 Northern tribes into captivity Boasted in military conquests

God sent Jonah to preach repentance They repented and God turned His wrath

away Turned their back on God

Chaldeans and Medes defeated them 612 BC

Chaldean Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon

Babylon = oldest and grandest city of ancient empire

God caused them to prosper God used them to bring judgment

Egypt Israel

Diaspora = dispersion or scattering of Jews

Built up Babylon to be “glory of kingdoms” 300 ft. high walls surround city Thickness 2 chariots can ride side by side Hanging gardens built for wife who was homesick

Watered with water from Euphrates river

1 of Seven

Wonders of the World

Astronomy Charts with positions

of stars and planets

Named constellations

“Wise men”- astrologers Frequently called on to

advise king or interpret dreams

Not able to do this very well (Joseph and Daniel)

Daniel Interprets Dream

Nebuchadnezzar’s Insanity

You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.” Daniel 4:32

God’s Wrath Nebuchadnezzar knew of God from Daniel

Heart full of pride

God poured judgment on him Temporary insanity until he recognized greatness of

God After Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon fell under God’s

wrath

Belshazzar Party, blasphemed God God’s finger wrote on wall

Kingdom will fall to Medes and Persian

Persian Empire

Persian Empire Cyrus the Great

One of greatest conquerors EVER After Assyrian empire fell to Medes 612 B.C.

He took advantage of rebellion in army and attacked Conquered all the way to Turkey and Greece

Lydians (Turkey) Mineral resources = gold First time coins used for exchange

Before this barter system= exchange items for items

Persian Empire Croesus

King of Lydians Confronted Cyrus and army 546 B.C. Taken into captivity and enjoyed life at Persian court

Cyrus Some self rule To remain in own land To keep own religion Free Israel from captivity (Isaiah 45:13)

Directed them to rebuilt temple

Persian Government Divided empire into provinces or satrapies

Ruled by satraps (governors) Darius the Mede a satrap of Babylon (Daniel) Had a secret police that reported to king

Rood Road System Mail traveled throughout empire Modeled USPS

Esther’s time Decrees throughout empire

Persian Government

Persian Culture Much adopted from previous civilizations

Coinage Lydians Writing Sumerians Navy Pheonicians Calendar Egyptians

Zoroastrian Religion one god Ahura Mazda

Sacred writings = Avesta (Myths, Regulations, Hymns ) Good vs. Evil = all people take part in this battle

Judged by good or bad works *** All false religions of this world have this in common)

Persian Empire Darius the Great

200 years after Cyrus Ruled empire at its peak

Conquered by Alexander the Great (300 B.C.)