Bell Ringer 1 What type of religion did

Bell Ringer 1. What type of religion did most early civilizations have? 2. Generally what social class was at the top of the social hierarchy? 3. What is one example of public works?

Empires of the Middle East Mr. Turner

Fertile Crescent and Mesopotamia

Sumer ● ● 3500 -2300 BCE Southern part of the Tigris and Euphrates river valley Known as the world’s first civilization Made up of 12 city-states - with Ur being the most important

Sumerian Government ● Theocratic government ○ government by divine authority ○ “priest-kings” kings got power from the gods ○ kings led armies, enforced laws, collected taxes

Sumerian Religion ● ● Polytheistic Gods controlled everything - especially nature Every city had a ziggurat- a large stepped platform topped by a temple Believed in a grim and sorrowful afterlife

Sumerian Writing ● Created the earliest known writing form ● Cuneiform- wedge writing style on clay tablets ● The Epic of Gilgamesh- Epic poem, earliest great work of literature

Akkadians ● ● ● 2300 -1790 BCE, central Tigris and Euphrates River Valley Sargon, ruler of city-state Akkad Conquered Sumer in 2300 BCE Adopted Sumerian religion and language First empire in history

Babylonians ● 1790 – 1100 BCE central Tigris-Euphrates river valley ● City-state of Babylon ruled by Hammurabi ○ military leader, diplomat, and administrator ● conquered Akkad in 1790 BCE

Babylonians ● Most known for creating Hammurabi’s Code: civil and criminal law code ○ ○ ○ 282 Laws “Eye for an eye” First law set in writing ● The laws were “set in stone” ● Marduk- Patron god

Assyrians ● ● ● 1100 – 612 BCE, northern Tigris and Euphrates River Valley city-state of Assur Conquered Mesopotamia, Asia Minor and the Levant ruled by absolute kings and royal law Used terror tactics and had a warrior society well planned, wealthy cities and the Library of Nineveh

Chaldeans/New Babylonians ● ● ● 612 - 539 BCE rebuilt city-state of Babylon Led by Nebuchadnezzar Conquered Assyrians in 612 BCE Built Wall of Babylon, the Hanging Gardens and Ishtar Gate most powerful state in SW Asia

Persians ● 539 - 486 BCE ● Largest empire in history, from Indus River to Asia Minor to Egypt ● Cyrus the Great: ○ ○ ○ Conquered Babylon in 539 BCE united tribes into Persians; first “Great King” ● His son Cambyses- took control of Egypt ● Zoroastrianism: heaven and hell, good and evil, judgment

Persians ● Darius: 522 to 486 BCE, conquered northern Greece ● United the empire ● divided empire into 20 satrapies (provinces) ● satraps (governors) collected taxes, provided justice, and recruited soldiers ● centralized authority in king-worship (the “Great King”) ● money economy- exchange coins or tokens for goods instead of trading

Situation 1 What should be done to the carpenter who builds a house that falls and kills the owner? Hammurabi’s Code # 229: If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death.

Situation 2 What should happen to a boy who slaps his father? Hammurabi’s Code # 195: If a son strikes his father, his hands shall be hewn (cut) off.

Situation 3 What should be done about a wife who ignores her duties and belittles her husband? Hammurabi’s Code # 143: If the woman has not been careful but has gadded about, neglecting her house and belittling her husband, they shall throw that woman into the water

Situation 4 What should be done to the man who can not pay his debts? Hammurabi’s Code # 117: If a man be in debt and is unable to pay his creditors, he shall sell his wife, son, or daughter, or bind them over to service. For three years they shall work in the houses of their purchaser or master; in the fourth year they shall be given their freedom.

Situation 5 What should happen if a nobleman dies during surgery? Hammurabi’s Code # 218: If a doctor makes a large incision with an operating knife and kills a nobleman or commoner, or opens a tumor with the operating knife and cuts out the eye of a nobleman or commoner, the doctor’s hands shall be cut off

Situation 6 What should the punishment be for robbery? Hammurabi’s Code # 22: If any one is committing a robbery and is caught, then he shall be put to death.