THE ANCIENT

NEAR EAST
MODULE 2
 • Describe the emergence of Mesopotamia
and Primary Civilization.
• Discuss how Egyptians civilization ruled in
LEARNING the world.
OUTCOMES • Distinguish the contributions of the Aryans,
Hittites, Lydians, Phoenicians, and Hebrews.
• Describe the domination of Assyrian Empire,
Babylonian Empire, Chaldeans and Persians
 A. MESOPOTAMIA: THE
EMERGENCE OF FIRST
CITIES AND
PRIMARYCIVILIZATIONS
 MESOPOTAMIA

The cradle of civilization.

Land between two rivers (Tigris and

Euphrates).
Became the birthplace of history and
civilization
1. CITY STATES DEVELOP IN SUMER
❑ Sumer divided into at least 12 city states:
1. Kish
2. Abad
3. Umma
• Each of this states comprised a walled
4. Lagash
city.
5. Bad- tibira
6. Larsa
• Each worshipped its own deity, whose
temple was the central structure of the
7. Nippur
city.
8. Erech ( Uruk )
9. Ur
10. Sippar
11. Akshak
12. Larak
 • Artisan in Mesopotamia represented the Middle
Class of society.
• They created pottery, gold and silver jewelry,
2. ARTISAN USE carved ivory figurines, finely woven textiles and
NEW METHOD carved semi-precious gemstones.
• They were free citizens with a few rights and
privileges who created the goods desired by the
upper classes.
 3. DEVELOPMENT OF WRITING

Cuneiform - is a system of writing first

developed by the ancient Sumerians of
Mesopotamia.
From the Classical Latin word cuneus
means "wedge“.
 • POLYTHEISTIC
• They believed gods controlled every aspect of
life, especially nature.
4. RELIGION OF
THE • They believed their highest duty was to keep the
gods happy, to ensure the safety of their city
SUMERIANS state.
• Each city built a ziggurat dedicated to their
gods.
 ❖Some of the most important inventions of the
Sumerian were:
▪ The wheel
5. SCIENCE, ▪ The sail
TECHNOLOGY ▪ Writing

AND TRADE ▪ Irrigation and Farming implements

▪ Cities
▪ Maps
▪ Mathematics
 B. EGYPYTIANS
CIVILIZATION LAST 3,000
YEARS
 • It is the time before recorded history from the
Paleolithic to the Neolithic Age.
1. PRE • The rise of the first Dynasty.
DYNASTIC • The period of the Pre-dynastic Period are named
EGYPT for the regions/ancient city sites in which these
artifacts were found.
• Nile River is the longest river.
 2. THE UNIFICATION OF EGYPT: THE ARCHAIC
PERIODS
• Also known as early dynastic
period.
• Archaic period was the time when
the first two Kingdoms ruled
united Egypt.
• Unification of Upper and Lower
Egypt
➢ Menes
o •Founding King of the first Dynasty.
o Ruled between 3100 - 2850 B.C.E.
o First Pharaoh to unify Upper and Lower Egypt into
one Kingdom.
o He created the city of Memphis because of its
good location. It would be easy to defend against
any attack.
o During his reign he expanded his kingdom and
developed commercial trade links
 3. EGYPTIAN RELIGION AND WORLD VIEW

• Ancient Egyptians were polytheistic ➢ Ra

people.
-God of Sun.
• Who believed that god and
➢ Osiris
goddesses controlled the forces of
the human, natural, and -God of the Underworld.
supernatural. ➢ Anubis
• The fundamental governing -God of Death
principle was the abstract concept of
ma'at which is often translated as
truth, justice, and the cosmic order
 • Hieroglyphics

4. LANGUAGE - is the Ancient Egyptian writing.

- One of the writing systems used by ancient
AND WRITING Egyptians to represent their language.
- they starting using as early as 3000 B.C.E
5. STATUS OF WOMEN
• Women in ancient Egypt played an important role in many aspects of daily life
and religion.
• They had equal rights to men

CLEOPATRA VII HATSHEPSUT

• Cleopatra VII Philopator.
• the most famous female pharaoh.
• She combined brilliant leadership
with a productive womb.
• One of the women to hold the rank
of pharaoh.
• Most powerful female pharaoh.
• She reigns between 1,473 to 1458
B.C.E. - Thutmose II (her husband
and her half-brother)
 6. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
A) THE GREAT PYRAMIDS OF GIZA- THE
GREAT PYRAMID WERE SIMPLY GRAND B) MUMMIFICATION
TOMBS OF POWERFUL PHARAOHS.
a) Pyramid of Khufu- the oldest • The methods of embalming used
and largest of the by the ancient Egyptians.
threeppyramid.
b) Pyramid of Khafre- the second
largest great Pyramid of Giza.
c) Pyramid of Menkaure- the
smallest of the three Pyramids of
Giza
C) EGYPTIAN PAPYRUS D) SHADOOF

• Used for documentation and • Used by Ancient Egypt for

record keeping Irrigation.
 7. DECLINE OF THE OLD KINGDOM

About 300 years after Menes united Egypt, its ruler formed
a central government in which they held supreme power.

During the Old Kingdom pyramid building flourished,

example, the Great Pyramid of Giza and Great Sphinx.

The end of the Old King was marked by civil wars between
pharaohs and nobles.
Pharaohs were the Pharaohs ruled with
Kings of Egypt. absolute power.

8. THE RULE OF
Despite absolute
power the pharaoh
The pharaoh was THE OLD
expected to govern
was expected to
according to the KINGDOM
rule subject to
principle of ma'at.
ma’at.

He chose all
government
officials
 • Pharaoh Ramses III was murdered, leaving
a power vacuum that allowed King
Amenmesse to claim territory and secede
from the empire, leaving Egypt divided
into two states.

9. DECLINE OF • After a long civil war and several attempts

to reunite Egypt, the empire remained split
EGYPTIAN with a loose association between the
CIVILIZATION governments of the two regions.
• Egypt was invaded by Persia, a growing
power in the region. Unfortunately, Egypt
was unable to defend against the Persians
and significant land was lost. Egypt came
under Persian rule for nearly a century.
C. OTHER NEAR EASTERN
PEOPLE MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS
 1. THE ARYANS

1500 BC (Arrival of The word Aryan

Polytheism
Aryans) means “nobles”

Aryans were very

People who did dirty
concerned with
jobs were outside
cleanliness/purity. • Nomadic people
caste system called
Jobs were ranked by
“untouchables”
purity.
 • The Aryan brought many new
ideas.

• New Language- Sanskrit

❑ The Ramayana
• New Gods and Religion-
-is an ancient Indian epic
Hinduism
poem which contains 24,000 verses.
• New Social Structure- The Caste
System
CONTRIBUTIONS: ❑ The Mahabharata
• Four Social Classes (Varnas)
➢ Brahmins-Priests -is an ancient Indian epic
poem which considered the longest
➢ Kshatriya-Ruler and his
poem ever written and it contains
Warriors
100,000 verses.
➢ Vaishya-Merchants and
Farmers
➢ Shudra-Servants
2. THE HITTITES
❑Hittite History
• Ancient Anatolian people (Modern
• Old Hittite Kingdom (1750-1500
Turkey)
BCE)
• Lived in modern day Turkey and • Middle Hittite Kingdom (1500-
Syria 1430 BCE)

• Existed in 1600 to 1300 BCE • • New Hittite Kingdom (1430-1180

BCE)
Polytheism
 • IRON
• The Hittites, is a major power in the ancient Near
East, are credited with being the first civilization
to make iron into weapons and armor,
CONTRIBUTION: transitioning from to the Iron Age from the
previous Bronze Age, which saw the use of
bronze that was cold-hammered into weapons
and armor. Iron was harder, sharper, and
cheaper to make rather than bronze and copper.
3. THE LYDIANS
• Lydians originally from Europe
• Small states throughout Asia Minor
following fall of the Hittites.
CONTRIBUTION:
• 10th century B.C.E.- dominated
western Asia Minor (modern-day • Lydians Coined Money (Invention of
Turkey) Money)
-they made standard-sized pieces of
• Controlled Asia Minor’s trade
gold , silver , and stamped them with
routes • Conquered by Persians
their value.
(547 B.C.E) • Nomadic people
 4. THE PHOENICIANS

The Palestine lived in

the areas of Palestine
The Phoenician empire
along the
(1200-146 BC) was found in present
Mediterranean coast on
day Lebanon.
a narrow band of land
120 miles (193km) long.

The Phoenicians were

The Greek word from
famous for their purple
which “Phoenicia”
dye produced from the
derived from “purple”
local murex shellfish
 CONTRIBUTIONS:

They established colonies in various parts of the Mediterranean

world.

They introduced not only the Asian goods to the countries of the
Mediterranean but also the cultural influences of Mesopotamia,
Egypt, Palestine, Persia and India.
INVENTION OF THEALPHABE-Their alphabet contained 22
letters, all consonants.
 • The Hebrews lived as semi-nomadic people.
• Some were hunter-gatherers.
5. THE • Some were herders of sheep, goats and
HEBREWS livestock.
• Most were farmers. • Some were skilled
craftsmen.
 CONTRIBUTIONS

1. Monotheism -they believe in one God.

2. Judaism and Christianity -the Jews in Israel cradled two major religions
3. The Bible -it is the world’s greatest book.
4. 10 Commandments -laws that Jews and Hebrew was followed.
5. Modern Banking and Finance -the Jews developed modern banking and
the lending of money for business.
D. DOMINATIONS OF NEAR
EAST BY LATER EMPIRE
 • One of the strongest empires to ever have
existed, Assyria used all their strength in order
1. THE to gain control of all Mesopotamia.
ASSYRIAN -Assyrian Military
EMPIRE -Availability of Natural Sources
-Armor and Weapon
• Tactics in Battle • Language
-They pushed the ladders up against the enemy’s 1. Ancient Assyrian (Akkadian)
wall. 2. Modern Assyrian (Neo-syriac)

-Digging Tunnels

• Writing
• Assyrians practice two Religions: -Cuneiform

1. Ashurism -the first religion of the Assyrians

2. Christianity.
 ASSYRIAN RULER

KING SENNACHERIB
• Ruled from 705-681 B.C.
• He was a great king of Assyria.
• First Assyrian ruler who used
navy.
KING TIGLATH-PILESER I.
ASHURBANIPAL
• Ruled from 668-627.
• Assyrian king that could actually
read and write.
• He collected 20, 000 clay tablets.
 • The City of Babylon had been a city-state in
Mesopotamia for many years. • Babylon was the
capital city and center of the Babylonian Empire.
• It was home to kings such as Sumu-abum,
Hammurabi and Nebuchadnezzar.
2. RISE OF THE
• The City began to rise to power in 172 BC when
BABYLONIAN King Hammurabi took ever the throne.
EMPIRE • The ruins of the City can be found around 50 miles
south of Baghdad • Babylon is mentioned times in
the bible.
• The center of the city was a large temple called a
Ziggurat.
SUMU-ABUM KING HAMMURABI

• An Amorite and became the first

king of Kingdom of Babylonian. -
1830 to 1817 B.C.E. (short
chronology). -1897-1883 B.C.E 1792-1750 B.C UNDER HAMMURABI’S
RULE THE CITY OF
BASE OF ECONOMY

(middle chronology). BABYLON BECAME

THE MOST POWERFUL
CITY IN THE WORLD

MILITARY FORCES HE ESTABLISHED FIRM

LAWS CALLED
HAMMURABI’S CODE.
HAMMURABI’S CODE

• the first time in history that the law was

written
• it was recorded on clay tablets. (PILLAR-
black stone)
• the oldest promulgation of laws in human
history
 • Established the Second Babylonian Empire (Neo
Babylonian Period)
• Rose after the fall of Assyria
• (626-539 B.C.E)
3. CHALDEANS • Babylon was their capital
TOOK OVER • Cruel Rulers who conquered much of the Middle East. A.
THE The Rule of Nebuchadnezzar
ASSYRIANS • Around 616 BC King Nebuchadnezzar took advantage of
the fall of the Assyrians Empire to bring the seat of the
empire back to Babylon.
• It was his son Nebuchadnezzar II who led the Babylon to
its former glory
NEBUCHADNEZZAR II
• Ruled for 43 years.
• He was great military leader and
expanded the empire to include
much of the Middle East all the
way to the Mediterranean Sea.
• Included the conquering of the
Hebrews and taking them into
slavery fir 70 years.
NEBUCHADNEZZAR II
• Conquers Judah and Jerusalem -
He built the Hanging Gardens of
Babylon (The Seven Wonders of
the Ancient World.)
• This was a large series of terraces
that rose to around 75 feet high.
• They were covered with all sorts of
trees, plants and flower
 A. The Origin of the Persian Empire
• Persian Empire started as a collection of semi-
nomadic tribes who raised sheep, goat, and cattle
4. TURN OF THE on the Iranian plateau.
PERSIANS • Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylonian fell to the
Persians in 539 BCE • Persians gained all of the
king’s territory.
• The leader of the Persians was Cyrus.
 WHO WERE THE PERSIANS?

Lived in southwestern Iran.

Mostly nomadic and organize into tribes.

The Persians

were lead by Cyrus.

 B. PERSIANS KING UNITE THEIR EMPIRE

1. CYRUS THE GREAT THE IMMORTALS

• Cyrus (Sy-rus) • Created by Cyrus included 10,000
highly trained soldiers.
• 559-530 BEC
• Served as the Imperial Guard in the
• He captured Babylon in 539 BCE by
army.
uniting Persians.
• Once one died they were
• Allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem.
immediately replaces.
• Organize the capital in Pasargades
2. CAMBYSES 3. DARIUS THE GREAT

• Son of Cyrus • Darius (duh-RY-uhs).

• 530-522 BCE
• Successfully invaded Egypt
• 521-486 BCE.
• Added new Persian providence in
western India.
• Extended empire to Thrace and
reached to the Aegean Sea
 THE ROYAL ROAD

Built by command of From Sardis to Susa. Had stations with Was 1,400-1,500
King Darius. fresh horses for the miles long.
kings messengers .
4. XERXES GREEKS AND PERSIANS CLASH

• (ZURHK-seez) • Battle of Marathon

• 486-465 BCE • 490 BCE.
• Son of Darius • Persians land 20,000 men in Marathon( a few
miles from Athens)
• Led soldiers in battle of Thermopylae
• The Athenians had 10,000
• Captures Athens
• After a long wait the Persians board the ships
with the strongest cavalry.
• That was when the Athenians attacked.
• Persians were defeated.
• Athenians send Pheidippides running home
with the news (about 25 miles) modern
marathons are named after this famous run
BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE
• 480BCE.
• Persians led by Xerxes.
• Spartans lead by King Leonidas.
• Lasted 3 days then the Persians
advanced.
• A narrow pass through mountains.
• Greeks lost.
BATTLE OF SALAMIS
• Salamis (SA-luh-mush)
• 480BCE
• Greeks attack Persians in the
straight.
• Had smaller, faster ships.
• Greeks destroy most of the Persian
fleet.
• But Persians reach Athens and
burn the city
 C. RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF THE PERSIANS

• Zarathustra was a Persian prophet.

• Zoroastrianism became the official religion of the Persian Empire.
• Zoroastrianism contains both monotheistic and dualistic features.
• It concepts of one God, judgment, heaven and hell like influenced the major
western religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
 GROUP MEMBERS

Lawas, Joviecca P.

Satur, Cris Jay

Guinayon, Chenney Rose

Jalop, Marlon