Chapter 3
Section 1: The Phoenicians expanded trade and established colonies
Phoenicia- present day Lebanon-
small nation that rose to prominence after destruction of Hittite empire and decline of Egypt
The Phoenicians were great sea traders- lots
of new ideas
Traded as far as Britain- Through strait of Gibraltar
Didn’t farm but still considered civilized because got food from trade
Traded glass around Mediterranean Sea
Starts from Sand
Also traded Tin
To make bronze
Silver- silver ore comes from rocks in the ground
Was more valuable than gold at the time- rarer
Gold is found at the surface of the earth
Ivory- largest source is in elephant tusks
Largest source in North America- walrus- only source in N.A.
Phoenicians were branch of Semitic people called the Canaanites along Mediterranean Sea
Much of their land was conquered by 1200 BC by Arameans (Ancient Syrians)to north and the
Jews to the south
Became greatest traders, shipbuilders, navigators and colonizers
Used sails for ships- no wind use ores
Part of boat that hold rowers was called galley
POW’s usually in galley
Modern galley is the lunchroom
Had own “truck- stops” in Carthage and Cadiz,
Spain
Port- a city- harbor for ships
Flourished from 1200-300 BC
Were conquered by the Greeks
Never formed a united nation
Founded colonies in Cadiz, Spain
and Carthage, North Africa
Navigated with the stars
Sailed around Africa 2000 years before Vasco da Gama
Spread arts/sciences of Egypt/ Mesopotamia
to Greece, Africa, Italy
and Spain
No rivers in Phoenicia
No one ruled during golden
age of Phoenicia
The Phoenicians developed
an alphabet
Created alphabet around 1000 BC
Needed it more than other nations during trade
Alphabet (A) aleph- (B) bet
Alphabet made up of consonant symbols
Greeks added vowel sounds around 800 BC
Phoenicians carried Babylonian number system based on sixty
Ours is based on tens
Section 2: The Jews developed a distinct culture of enduring significance
South of Phoenicia (Present
Day Israel) was land of ancient Jews
Language was Hebrew, a Semitic language
Closely Related to Phoenicians
Judaism- the religion of ancient Jews
Greatly Influenced Christianity and Islam
The Israelites fled slavery
and established the Kingdom of Israel
Early Jewish history is recorded in the Bible
Jewish writings were Old Testament
Founder of Judaism was patriarch Abraham
Came from Mesopotamia delta (Plain of Shinar)
First nation there was Samaria
Led his people into Canaan around 1800-1900 BC
Just before Hammurabi’s rule in Babylon
Skilled Artisans
Canaan- Biblical name for Palestine
Was land promised to Abraham’s descendents
Three generations later under lead of Jacob, Jews moved to northeast Egypt
to escape drought
and famine
Organized into twelve tribes
Remained in Egypt for 400 years
Were cattle herders, then enslaved by pharaoh Ramses
Moses liberated Israel from slavery in 1200’s
BC
10 plagues- Nile turned to blood, locusts, darkness, boils, frogs, gnats/flies,
Passover- top major ones
Called the
Exodus
Moses Parts Red Sea and ends up in Sinai Peninsula
Conquest of Canaan took 200 years
Was led by Joshua, Moses’ successor
Were confronted by Philistines –had iron weapons in south Canaan in 1200’s BC
Were related to Hittites
Saul became first king of Israel from 1020- 1000 BC
David and Solomon ruled
a United Kingdom
David was second king of Israel- killed giant called
Goliath with slinger
Israel reached height of power in 972-932 BC under
King Solomon
Solomon- wise, many building programs
Heavy taxes to pay for building programs
After Solomon, north ten kingdoms revolted against heavy taxes to form Israel
Southern tribes made up Judah
Ruled by David’s descendents
Jew comes from Judah, the Judeans
Both Kingdoms were weakened by separation, and were open to invaders
In 722 BC, Assyrians conquered Israel
In 586 BC, Chaldeans conquered Judah
Burned Jerusalem temple, and exiled people to Babylon
50 years of exile
Cyrus of Persia conquered Chaldeans and let Jews return- Thousands remained and left
large Jewish community that lasted until twentieth century
Moses taught the high spiritual and ethical standards of Judaism
One god who is just
Sharp contrast to neighboring religions
The covenant provided love and protection, but demanded accountability
Moses received Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai-
may be clay tablets- stone
wouldn’t break
Bible is divided into twenty-four books
First five- Torah- means teaching
Prophets, Poetry, and Various writings
The Prophets taught a new
concept of Judaism
750-550 BC- many prophets and religious leaders
All history is governed by sovereign god
“Israel was purified by suffering and now ready
to guide the world to worship of god”- Isaiah
Section 3: The Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Persians built large empires
Era of small states came to abrupt end with rise of middle- eastern empires
First- Assyrians, Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonians) and then Persians
Assyrians relied on Terror
People of Semitic origin- were in Upper Tigris
Valley
Ninth Century BC, moved towards Mediterranean
Eighth century BC, conquered Babylon
Ruled Fertile crescent and annexed Egypt
by 671 BC
Assyrian army was very impressive
Chariots, mounted calvary, siege equipment to conquer walled cities
Conquered people who didn’t bow to them were brutally tortured or burned alive
Mass Deportations like that of Israelites were used to destroy national feeling and
prevent uprising
Assyrians developed efficient political administration served as a model for their
successors, especially Persians like Alexander the Great
Rulers ruled by divine rights not absolute power
10 lost tribes of Israel- not lost
Fear doesn’t work on religious
So killed half, then scattered the rest (deported)
Nineveh helped preserve much of knowledge of Mesopotamia
Always is some good in everything, sometimes hard to see- built a library in
Nineveh
Siege- capturing a city for long term
Surround city so supplies run low
If food lasts a long time, use siege equipment
Catapult and Battering Ram- a log, coated with iron on ends
Siege on water is called a blockade
Assyrians were such cruel rulers, peoples they conquered longed for revenge
612 BC, the Assyrian Empire fell to the Chaldeans from Babylonia and the Mades from
Persia
Reasons for Neo Babylonians to attack Assyria
Taxes on people, slaves, resources, land, knowledge, spoils- a one time
payment after a defeat, tribute- a forced repeated payment after defeat
A very short lived empire
Everywhere
in the Empire rejoiced
A Neo Babylonian Empire
Arose (605-550 BC)
With the fall of Ninevah, Babylonia became powerful for the first time since Hammurabi, more
than 1000 years earlier
Chaldeans guided by Nebuchadnezzar I
Rebuilt Babylon
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
A Ziggurat for Marduk, chief god of Chaldeans
Believed to be source of story for Tower of Babel
Was built by Nebuchadnezzar for his wife who missed the mountains to
the north
Plants hang on edge from gravity
Worked with and studied stars, sun, moon, planets
No telescopes or time recorders
Used math
Believed you could tell the future with the stars
Start of astrology
Last great Mesopotamian Empire that was directly influenced by the Sumerians
Slowly decayed after Nebuchadnezzar, and was soon succeeded by Persians
The Persians build a vast
Empire (525-331 BC)
In 550 BC, Persian General, Cyrus the Great attacked the Medes
Persian Empire soon grew to Middle East
Allowed conquered people to worship any god, use their language and their
customs- less revolts and rebellions
Persian government was ruled by despot
Despot- King with unlimited power- rule by absolute power
Under Darius I- 521- 483 BC Persian Empire reached its largest size
Four capitals- Susa, Ecbatana,
Babylon, Persepolis
Had very good roads
Messengers went fourteen miles then next person went
Could go 1500 miles per week
Takes one person three months
Kings supported farming and encouraged trade
Low taxes
Money system of god and silver coins was used- first nation in Persia
to use coins was
Lydia
All money is backed by gold and silver- stored in Ft. Knox, Kentucky
Paper money is easier to carry than gold
Persian Kings were fair- influence of their religion
Founded in 7th century BC by Zoroaster
Ahura Mazda- god of good
Ahriman- god of evil
Still monotheistic- gods are one
World would come to an end
Judgement with heaven and hell
Similar to Christianity, Judaism, and Islam
Darius I was ruler during golden age
