The Middle East Early Civilizations Sumerian Civilization l

The Middle East Early Civilizations

Sumerian Civilization l l l 1 st civilization was that of ________ In the Tigris-Euphrates delta Rich ______________source attracted settlers Sumerians Raised grain and dates Farms worked together to drain ___________________________ Farmers Built ______________and______________t o control flood waters

City States l l l By about 3500 BC farming settlements had grown into a powerful ________________ Each city state controlled the ___________________around it City states had its own rulers City states had their own _______________________ City states had their own Laws and Armies Rival city states such as Erech, Ur and Kish often fought each other

Religion l l l Sumerians believed that the gods were ____________ If the Gods were angry they sent__________ The chief building in each citystate was a ____________a huge many tiered temple Priests were very important and collected grain as ______ to tribute to the gods At the temple schools young man learned to read and write These men who could read and write were called_________

System of Writing l l l ____________ was important because it allowed for records keeping With a system of writing the Sumerians were able to transfer ideas to other people Sumerians wrote on clay tabs with a sharpened reed called a ____________ This form of writing was called ____________ by the Romans This form of writing spread across the ____________

Code of Law l l l 1700 BC the Babylonians conquer the Fertile Crescent ________________________ drew up a single code of law for all of his people The Code distinguished between major and minor crimes Had a set ________ to that fit each crime Hammurabi had laws posted in public places Became the foundation for all ____________ in the future

The Spread of Iron l l In about 1500 BC the Hittites __________ _ the fertile crescent They were the first to master iron working This gave them an advantage over people who they fought Most cultures had __________ weapons at this time

The Phoenician Alphabet l l l The ______________ moved into modern day Lebanon and set up small citystates The Phoenicians were _____________ who brought middle eastern culture all over the Mediterranean The Phoenicians greatest accomplish was the creation of a simple ___________ This Alphabet had just __________ characters Eventually became the alphabet we use today

Persian Empire l l Created an empire stretched from Asia Minor to the Indus Valley Had a efficient system of Government Divided Empire into ________ provinces Gave control of these provinces to __________ governors

Persian Communication/ Trade Improved on road systems l Created __________ where royal messengers could get fresh horses creating quicker communication l These roads encouraged _________ in the empire l ____________ were given values set values that encouraged trade l

Zoroastrianism l l l Persian Religion Founded by Zoroaster about ________ Believed the world was a battleground between ___________________. The forces of good were led by the god ___________________ The forces of evil were led by the god ___________________ Principles of this religion played a major role in encouraging the Persians to treat conquered peoples ________________

Greek Influence l l Under Alexander the Great the Greeks conquered much of the world The cultures of the Middle East and Greece blended creating Hellenistic Civilization

Roman Influence l l l The Romans conquered much of the Middle East While they ruled the area trade flourished The ideas of Rome and those of the Middle East were shared

Questions to take away from today l l l l l What was the name of the first civilization to be formed in the Tigris. Euphrates delta? What were the Sumerian Temples called? Who kept records in Sumer? Sumer’s writing system was know as? Who created a code of laws that became an example for later peoples? What group of people first used Iron weapons? What group introduced the alphabet we use today? How did the Persians improve communication and trade? Zoroastrianism is based on the struggle of what two forces? What was the combination of Greek and Middle Eastern culture called?