ObjectiveObjective

Examine the impact of location and Examine the impact of location and geography on the people and culture geography on the people and culture of the Middle Eastof the Middle East

Big IdeasBig Ideas

Early Civilizations of the Middle EastEarly Civilizations of the Middle East

First CivilizationsFirst CivilizationsDevelopments & AchievementsDevelopments & Achievements

Fertile Crescent: Mesopotamia – Fertile Crescent: Mesopotamia – Crash Course Successful farming settlements had grown into powerful Successful farming settlements had grown into powerful

city-states: city-states: large town that has its own gov’t and controls the surrounding large town that has its own gov’t and controls the surrounding

country side – priest-kingscountry side – priest-kings Sumer: 3500BC – Greek for southernSumer: 3500BC – Greek for southern

Government – laws, armyGovernment – laws, army Religion – special gods - Built Ziggurats - scribesReligion – special gods - Built Ziggurats - scribes System of writing – cuneiform – pass on informationSystem of writing – cuneiform – pass on information Used a wheelUsed a wheel Sailing ships = tradeSailing ships = trade Developed plow and accurate calendarDeveloped plow and accurate calendar Built dams to control floods Built dams to control floods System of measurement – based on 60System of measurement – based on 60

All Influenced later people – All Influenced later people – Rap – – Akkadians after SumerAkkadians after Sumer

The Fertile CrescentThe Fertile Crescent

Gilgamesh is one of the oldest recorded stories in the world. It's about an ancient King of Uruk who may have actually existed and whose name - Gilgamesh - is on the Sumerian King List Hero's Journey

Sumer Website

An artist's rendition of one type of Sumerian sailboat. The rope indicates where the sails would have hung on the wooden mast. The body of the boat is made of bundled reeds covered with leather

Sumerian Irrigation Canal and Plow

Lack of natural barriers Lack of natural barriers around the Fertile Crescentaround the Fertile Crescent

King Hammurabi conquered much of the King Hammurabi conquered much of the Fertile Crescent - BabyloniansFertile Crescent - Babylonians Drew up a code of law – single system of Drew up a code of law – single system of

justice - justice - laws

Mastery of iron: iron weapons - HittitesMastery of iron: iron weapons - Hittites Phoenicians known as carriers of Phoenicians known as carriers of

civilization = tradecivilization = trade Developed an alphabet that evolved into oursDeveloped an alphabet that evolved into ours

Royal portrait - Hammurabi - King of Babylon -1900 BC

Map showing the Babylonian territory upon Hammurabi's ascension in c. 1792 BC and upon his death in c. 1750 BC

Figures at top of stone "fingernail" above Hammurabi's code of laws.

Persian Empire’s Persian Empire’s InfluenceInfluence Conquered the vast empire from Asia Minor to Conquered the vast empire from Asia Minor to

Indus Valley – Iran – Darius I – ruled at peakIndus Valley – Iran – Darius I – ruled at peak Gov’tGov’t

Divided into provincesDivided into provinces Governor/Satrap was responsible for collecting Governor/Satrap was responsible for collecting

taxes and for keeping ordertaxes and for keeping order Tolerance of other peoplesTolerance of other peoples

Trade/CommunicationTrade/Communication Improved & expanded the road system Improved & expanded the road system Uniform system of coinageUniform system of coinage

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.)

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.) Established a tax-

collecting system.

Divided the empire into districts called SATRAPIES.

Built the great Royal Road (video) system.

Greece and Rome Greece and Rome addition to the Middle addition to the Middle EastEast

Hellenism (Hellenistic Civilization)Hellenism (Hellenistic Civilization)

Hellenism Hellenism (Hellenistic Civilization)(Hellenistic Civilization)

Alexander spread the concept of Hellenism Alexander spread the concept of Hellenism throughout his newly-conquered empire.throughout his newly-conquered empire. Hellenism comes from the term Hellenism comes from the term HellenesHellenes, which is what , which is what

the Greeks called themselves.the Greeks called themselves. Hellenism, therefore, is the spread of Greek culture Hellenism, therefore, is the spread of Greek culture

throughout Alexander’s empire.throughout Alexander’s empire.

Under Hellenism Greek art, architecture, literature, Under Hellenism Greek art, architecture, literature, technology, and ideas were blended into the Middle technology, and ideas were blended into the Middle EastEast

This culture diffusion continued well after Alexander’s This culture diffusion continued well after Alexander’s abrupt death in 323 B.C.E.abrupt death in 323 B.C.E.

Alexander the Great Alexander the Great video video 3:003:00 or video or video 7:007:00

Macedonian (Greek) King that laid the Macedonian (Greek) King that laid the final death blow to the Persian Empire final death blow to the Persian Empire and conquered it.and conquered it.

Roman ConquestRoman Conquest Eventually another Mediterranean civilization, Rome, Eventually another Mediterranean civilization, Rome,

conquered all the lands around the Mediterranean rim.conquered all the lands around the Mediterranean rim. Under Roman rule trade flourished throughout the Under Roman rule trade flourished throughout the

Middle East.Middle East. Roman rule also brought with it an extensive law Roman rule also brought with it an extensive law

system, road network, national security force, and system, road network, national security force, and economic stability.economic stability.

By 395 C.E. the Roman Empire split into two halves, By 395 C.E. the Roman Empire split into two halves, the Roman and Byzantine Empires.the Roman and Byzantine Empires. The Byzantine Empire continued to ruler over parts of Asia The Byzantine Empire continued to ruler over parts of Asia

Minor for the next 1000 years.Minor for the next 1000 years.

Constantine’s City--Constantinople

Constantine’s City--Constantinople

Roman EmpireRoman Empire

Greece and Rome Greece and Rome addition to the Middle addition to the Middle EastEast

Hellenistic civilization: 330’s BCHellenistic civilization: 330’s BC Blended Greek culture with cultures of ancient Middle Blended Greek culture with cultures of ancient Middle

EastEast Alexander the Great conquered Persian EmpireAlexander the Great conquered Persian Empire Pursued research in science mathematics, medicine and Pursued research in science mathematics, medicine and

philosophyphilosophy

Rome: by 115 AD ruled much of ME: Rome: by 115 AD ruled much of ME: trade and diffusion flowed trade and diffusion flowed split Byzantine Empire next 1,000 years from split Byzantine Empire next 1,000 years from

Constantinople – split by 330 ADConstantinople – split by 330 AD About 700 years – fall of Rome isolated with EuropeAbout 700 years – fall of Rome isolated with Europe

Even BIGGER Idea:Even BIGGER Idea:

Over thousands of years, migrating Over thousands of years, migrating people, traders, and conquerors have people, traders, and conquerors have brought many ethnic groups and their brought many ethnic groups and their ideas to the region.ideas to the region.