Chapter (2)

Western Asia and Egypt 3500 - 500 B.C.

 Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia

 Egyptian Civilization
 New Centers of Civilization
 The Rise of New Empires

Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia, located in what is now southern Iraq, was one area where civilization
began. Its people developed complex economic, political, and social structures. Such
inventions as written language improved the quality of their lives. As different groups fought
for power, they set up the world’s first empires and codified their laws.

The Fertile Crescent

The land “between the rivers of Tigris and Euphrates – Rich soil and crops allowed
the land to sustain an early civilization. The land had little rain, but soil had been by layers of
silt – the rivers – banks deposited their fertile silt. Flooding, but unpredictable when it would
be – depended on the milting of snows from upland mountain. From that people learnt how to
control the flow of the rivers – by using irrigation and drainage ditches – able to grow crops –
live together in cities. Three general areas: Assyria, Akkad, and Sumer – Sumerians were the
creators of the first Mesopotamian civilization.

The Growth of Religion

In Mesopotamia, people looked to religion to answer their questions about life. To

them, powerful spiritual beings—gods and goddesses—permeated all aspects of the universe.
Their religion was polytheistic because of this belief in many gods (nearly three thousand
gods and goddesses). According to the beliefs of the Mesopotamians, humans were supposed
to obey and serve the gods.

Religion and Rulers

Ziggurat was the most prominent building and it dedicated to the chief god or goddess
of the city. The Sumerians believed that gods owned the cities. The people devoted much of
their wealth to building temples and elaborate houses for the priests and priestesses who
served the gods. The temples and related buildings served as the center of the city physically,
economically, and even politically. The priests and priestesses who supervised the temples

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held a great deal of power. In fact, historians believe that in the early stages of the city-states,
priests and priestesses played an important role in ruling. The city governed by divine
authority – even the Kings or rulers, they believed that they received their power from the
gods.

Sumerian Cities

3000 BC, the Sumerian built the cities in southern Mesopotamia, such as Eridu, Ur,
and Uruk, and as cities expanded they gained political and economic control over countryside
– and based the units of Sumerian civilization. Sumerian cities were surrounded by walls.
Uruk had a population of around 50,000 people by 2700 B.C., making it one of the largest
city-states. The city built by sun-dried bricks – including houses of peasants, officials, priests.
Who live in city gained the identity.

Economy and Society

Economy – the Sumerian was famous on farming, trade, making woolen textiles and
pottery, and metal work – copper, gold and silver were already being used for jewelry and
some tools. They imported copper, tin and timber in exchange for fried fish, wool, barley,
wheat, and metal good – traveled to Mediterranean and to India. Around 3000 BC lead to
wheeled carts for transport. Society - Sumerian city-states contained three major social
groups: nobles, commoners, and slaves. Nobles included royal and priestly officials and their
families. Commoners worked for palace and temple estates and as farmers, merchants,
fishers, and craftspeople. Probably 90 percent or more of the people were farmers. Slaves
belonged to palace officials, who used them mostly in building projects.

Writing and Literature

Around 3000 B.C., the Sumerians created a cuneiform system of writing. Using a reed
stylus (a tool for writing), clay tablets, which were then baked or dried in the sun – it lasted a
very long time. Using writing for record keeping. Used in schools to train scribes – scribes
are usually boys from upper class – boys from wealthy families.

Technology

The Sumerians invented several tools and devices that made daily life easier and more
productive. They developed the wagon wheel, for example, to help transport people and
goods from place to place. Achievements in mathematics and astronomy. Math for measuring
fields and erect building Astronomy for charted constellations.

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Akkadian and Babylonian Empires

To the north of the Sumerian city-states were the Akkadians – a Semitic language –
around 2340 BC, Sargon was the leader of the Akkadians – set up the first empires in the
world history. Under a single leader, easy to create empires but difficult to maintain – the
Akkadian empire fall by 2100 BC. And in Babylon, Hammurabi came to Power and set the
“Code of Hammurabi”.

The Code of Hammurabi

The Code of Hammurabi was based on a system of strict justice. Penalties for
criminal. Builders were held responsible for the buildings they constructed. The Code of
Hammurabi focused on marriage and the family. Parents arranged marriages for their
children. Mesopotamian society was patriarchal—that is, men dominated the society. Fathers
ruled their children as well. Obedience was expected.

Egyptian Civilization

Egypt, like Mesopotamia, was one of the first river-valley civilizations.

The Nile

The Egyptians depend on the Nile River. The Nile River begins in the heart of Africa
and courses northward for more than 4,000 miles. It is the longest river in the world. The Nile
splits into two major branches. This split forms a triangular territory called a Delta. The Nile
Delta is called Lower Egypt; the land upstream, to the south, is called Upper Egypt.

The Growth of Religion

The Egyptians believe in many gods – like Mesopotamia, they believed that many
gods (polytheism) controlled the nature, sent the yearly floods ad made the crops grow. The
sun, the stars, and the Nile itself were seen as gods or as the dwelling places of gods. They
believed that gods could changes their shape (into animals). They believed in life after death
– birth and death - connected to sun rising and setting – yearly floods of Nile. The god Osiris
– as the ruler of Nile and died each year, brought back to life by his wife Isis. After Death, if
they lived good lives would journey to the other world, ruled by Osiris.

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Egyptian Kingdoms

Scholars divide Egyptian history into three major periods: The Old Kingdom, Middle
Kingdom, and New Kingdom.

 The Old Kingdom (about 2686 BC – 2181 BC)

 The Middle Kingdom (about 2040 BC – 1786 BC)
 The New Kingdom (about 1570 BC – 1090 BC)

The Old Kingdom

Menes from Upper Egypt conquered Lower Egypt and united two Kingdom into one
and built the capital city, called Memphis. He stablished the first dynasty, or family of rulers,
in Egypt. There were at least thirty dynasties in Egypt’s history. He set up strong rule and
established a strong central government in which they held supreme power. For people of
Egypt – the ruler – called Pharaoh – was believed as a god. To do right thing is to obey the
king (Pharaoh). The pharaoh and many officials control Egyptian life. – the pharaoh was
responsible for all aspects of life in Egypt – keeping the irrigation work, directing the army,
keeping peace, laws, trade, economy, taxes in grain, foreign merchants had to deal with royal
officials, not with the merchants of Egypt. Many officials were appointed to supervise the
details of government. Powerful officials became an upper class of nobles. Pyramids are built
during the Old Kingdom – the Pharaohs of the old kingdom had immense pyramids built to
serve as their tombs (about 2600 BC Near Giza). Built by not only architects and engineers
but also using thousands of salves or workers. The old kingdom declines because of civil war
(the war was nearly 200 years).

The Middle Kingdom

During the Middle Kingdom – the prosperity of Egypt restored under Thebes, a strong
dynasty – culture trade flourished for 250 years. Expeditions into Nubia to bring back gold, to
Palestine, Syria, and the island of Crete in the Mediterranean. The power of the middle
kingdom declined in the late 1700’s BC, invaders from Asia moved into the delta region.

The Foreign Dynasty Rules Egypt

Around 1670, Hyksos ruled the Egypt – Hyksos means “Princes from Foreign Lands”.
They had horses and war chariots, bronze swords, and daggers, and heavy bows. Through
those helped they could rule Egypt over 100 years. Later, Egyptian learnt to use those
weapons and regained their independence.
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The New Kingdom

Egypt expands during the New Kingdom. After overthrowing the Hyksos about 1570
BC, the Egypt came to power again and establish a new dynasty and built a new empire. The
land that conquered by Pharaohs, need to pay “tribute”. Several strong pharaohs ruled Egypt
during the 500 years of the New Kingdom. Thutmose (Thoot-Moh-suh) II became Pharaoh
about 1512 BC, added Nubia, Syria and Palestine into Egypt empire. When he died, his wife
Hatshepsut (the daughter the earlier pharaoh) ruled more than twenty years (the first woman
ruler in history). Thutmose III (the son of Thutmose II) regained power after Hatshepsut died,
and ruled nearly thirty years. Akhenaton tires to change Egyptian religious beliefs.
Sometimes, even strong Pharaoh faced the challenged by powerful priests. He tried to change
the beliefs from many gods to a single supreme god, a creator of the universe and the god of
love, justice, and peace.

The new religion that created by Akhenaton soon died after Akhenaton died. Rameses
maintains the empire – Rameses (Ram-uh-seez) II, ruled from 1304 BC – 1237 BC. During
his time, he fought against the Hittites (from Asia Minor) nearly twenty years before peace
was made (marriage to the daughter of the Hittite king for maintain peace). About 1200 BC
the Pharaohs’ power again began to weaken because of outside invasions by Libyans.

Egyptian Society and Culture

The Egyptian leave written records – since old kingdom they have records for their
reigns – writing system is called “Hieroglyphics” (hy-ruh-glif-iks). The term is from Greek
means “sacred carving”. Scribes have important skills – they wrote hieroglyphics – special
class in Egyptian society. Recorded lists of imports and exports, government’s documents,
taxes, tribute payments and etc. Egypt has skilled artisans – they produced finely goods –
furniture, cloth, glassware, baskets, and jewelry. Priests and nobles have wealth and power
Most people in Egypt are peasants – Prisoners become salves. Women are respected in Egypt
– can run a business and testify in court. Develop knowledge of medicine and astronomy –
developed a calendar of predict the time of flood, based on sun and had 365 days. Architects
and engineers develop new techniques – were the first to use stone columns in building
homes.

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New Centers of Civilization

When we talk about history, we always begin from Mesopotamia and Egypt. Here
another recent evidence for civilization flourished in central Asia (Now Turkmenistan and
Uzbekistan) around 4000 years ago. These civilizations lived nomadic peoples who depended
on hunting and gathering, herding, and sometimes farming for their survival Pastoral nomads.
Pastoral nomads domesticated animals for food and clothing. People who lived in settled
communities often viewed nomads as hostile and barbaric traded animals and animal
products for grains and vegetables they were unable to grow. Pastoral nomads also carried
products between civilized centers. In this way nomads often passed on new technology, such
as the use of bronze and iron, that helped strengthen civilizations. The Indo-Europeans were
one of the most important nomadic peoples.

The term Indo-European refers, Indo-European languages include Greek, Latin,

Persian, Sanskrit, and the Germanic languages. Among them known as Hittites, and gain
control northern Mesopotamia about 1600BC and know how to use iron. The Phoenicians
lived in the area of Palestine along the Mediterranean coast on a narrow band of land 120
miles (193 km) long. After the downfall of the Hittites and the Egyptians, the newfound
political independence of the Phoenicians helped them expand their trade. In the Bible,
Phoenicia is known as Canaan and the people as Canaanites. Migrating people called
philistines and that place became Palestine.

To the south of the Phoenicians lived another group of Semitic-speaking people

known as the Israelites. They were a minor factor in the politics of the region. However, their
religion—known today as Judaism— flourished and later influenced the religions of
Christianity and Islam. By the time of King Solomon, who ruled from about 970 B.C. to 930
B.C., the Israelites had established control over all the land that came to be called Israel and
made Jerusalem into its capital. Solomon, expanded the government, army, trade, building
temple in Jerusalem, viewed as the center of religion and kingdom. Under King Solomon,
ancient Israel reached the height of its power.

The Divided Kingdom

After Solomon’s death, Israel led to the creation of two separate kingdoms. The
Kingdom of Israel was composed of the ten northern tribes and had its capital at Samaria. To
the south, the Kingdom of Judah consisted of two tribes and had its capital at Jerusalem. In
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722 or 721 B.C., the Assyrians overran the Kingdom of Israel and sent many Israelites to
other parts of the Assyrian Empire. The Kingdom of Judah managed to retain its
independence for a while, but later Assyria conquered.

Judaism

The Jews were monotheistic; they believed in one God called Yahweh (YAH•way),
the Creator of the world and everything in it. In the Jews’ view, God ruled the world.

The Rise of New Empires

 The Assyrian Empire

After 700 BC, New empire rose in wester Asia is called Assyria Empire. The
Assyrian Empire included Mesopotamia, parts of the Plateau of Iran, sections of Asia Minor,
Syria, Palestine, and Egypt down to Thebes – they know how to use iron weapons. Assyrian
ruler (Tiglath-Pileser) was ruthless and invaded other lands mainly for plunder. The Assyrian
Empire is well organized 8 century BC – they developed methods to govern the people they
conquered. Appointed officials for collecting taxes, tribute, keep law and order, building
roads. About 600 BC (the ruler – Assurbanipal) adopted the religion, and art and literature of
Mesopotamia and build a capital city – called Nineveh – cuneiform tablets written in
Babylonian, Assyrian and Sumerian.

 The New Babylonian Empire

The Assyrians never had complete controlled of their empire - There was always rebelled
612 B.C., an alliance of Chaldeans (Kal-dee-unz) from Babylon and Medes from Persia
overthrew the Assyrians and destroyed the city of Nineveh. The Chaldean king
Nebuchadnezzar (neh•byuh•kuhd•NEH•zuhr) II made Babylonia the leading state in western
Asia. He rebuilt Babylon as the center of his empire and gave it a reputation as one of the
great cities of the ancient world, but Babylon fell to the Persians in 539 B.C.

 The Persian Empire

The Persians were Indo-Europeans who lived in what is today southwestern Iran. Cyrus,
created a powerful Persian state that stretched from Asia Minor to India. Cyrus ruled from
559 B.C. to 530 B.C. In 539 B.C., - The people of his time called Cyrus “the Great.” because
the Assyrian rulers, Cyrus had a reputation for mercy. Medes, Babylonians, and Jews all
accepted him as their ruler. He also allowed the Jews who had been held there as captives to
return to Israel Darius, who ruled from 521 B.C. to 486 B.C., added a new Persian province
in western India. Darius strengthened the Persian government. He divided the empire into 20
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provinces, called satrapies (SAY•truh•pees). A governor, or satrap, literally a “protector of
the kingdom”, ruled each province (Local leader) and Monarch.

Each satrap collected taxes, provided justice, and recruited soldiers. The great Kind
known as the power of life and death – Persian was great but could not conquered the Greek.
The Kind had many wives and from that there were many sons – later the bloody struggle for
the throne weakened the empire.

Persian Religion

The new religion called Zoroastrianism – like the Jews, Zoroastrians were
monotheistic. A Persian religious teacher named Zoroaster (zor-oh-as-tur) taught that human
being had a choice to do good and evil. Ahura Mazda (the wise lord) was a supreme god and
standing for goodness and truth and if you do good, enter the realm of internal light and
goodness, while other so called Ahriman was the Evil Spirit, representing darkness, force
human to do evil.

Discussion Question

1. Describe how each of the following characteristics of civilization developed in

Mesopotamia: (a) organized government (b)cities (c) specialized occupations, and
(d)written records.
2. Egyptian civilization lasted for almost 3,000 years. Why? what factors helped to make
Egyptian society stable?