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Chapter 2 The Fertile Crescent
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Land Between Two Rivers
I. Fertile Crescent A. Shaped like a crescent moon B. One end at Mediterranean Sea
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Land Between Two Rivers
C. One end at Persian Gulf D. Presence of rivers make location good for crops
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Land Between Two Rivers
II. Mesopotamia A. Part of Fertile Crescent B. Name from Greek – “between the rivers”
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Land Between Two Rivers
C. Between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers D. Life and death from rivers
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Land Between Two Rivers
1. Life – rich soil, fish, clay, reeds 2. Death – floods and destruction
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Land Between Two Rivers
III. Sumer A. First cities developed in area of Sumer 1. Cities separated by long distances
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Land Between Two Rivers
2. Did not unite under one ruler 3. City-states – a city with its own traditions and its own government and laws
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Land Between Two Rivers
B. Religion 1. Polytheism – belief in many gods 2. ziggurats – main temple to gods of city
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Land Between Two Rivers
a. very high b. Gods used them to travel to Earth
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Land Between Two Rivers
3. myths – stories about gods that explain people’s beliefs 4. scribes – professional writers
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Land Between Two Rivers
C. Fall of Sumerian city – states 1. Due to wealth 2. Fought over land 3. Fought over use of river water
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I. Important themes in history of Mesopotamia
Babylonia and Assyria I. Important themes in history of Mesopotamia A. Powerful warriors conquering rich land
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Babylonia and Assyria B. Two important empires – area of many territories and people controlled by one government 1. Babylonia 2. Assyria
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Babylonian and Assyria
II. Babylonian Empire A. Hammurabi united the cities of Sumer
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B. City of Babylon – center of empire
Babylonia and Assyria B. City of Babylon – center of empire 1. Location made it center of trade – cities to north and south
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Babylonia and Assyria 2. Empire – area of many territories and people that are controlled by the government
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3. Caravans – groups of traders – stopped there
Babylonia and Assyria 3. Caravans – groups of traders – stopped there 4. Bazaars – a market selling different kinds of goods
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5. 1760 B.C. Hammurabi conquered Mari.
Babylonia and Assyria B.C. Hammurabi conquered Mari. B.C. Babylonian empire shrunk and was destroyed
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B. Located in open spaces
Babylonia and Assyria III. Assyrian Empire A. North of Babylon B. Located in open spaces
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1. Always defending themselves
Babylonia and Assyria 1. Always defending themselves 2. Became great warriors
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C. Achievements in warfare 1. Invented battering ram 2. Expert archers
Babylonia and Assyria C. Achievements in warfare 1. Invented battering ram 2. Expert archers 3. Armed charioteers
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D. Nineveh – great library and city of learning
Babylonia and Assyria D. Nineveh – great library and city of learning E. Defeated by Medes and Chaldeans
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IV. New Babylonian Empire A. Grew under Chaldeans
Babylonia and Assyria IV. New Babylonian Empire A. Grew under Chaldeans
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B. Greatest King – Nebuchadnezzar Rebuilt city of Babylon
Babylonia and Assyria B. Greatest King – Nebuchadnezzar Rebuilt city of Babylon Great palace and gardens
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C. Center of science and learning 1. Studied stars
Babylonia and Assyria C. Center of science and learning 1. Studied stars 2. Measured length of a year
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D. Chaldeans open to attacks by neighbors
Babylonia and Assyria D. Chaldeans open to attacks by neighbors B.C. New Babylonian empire fell A. City of Babylon spared
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The Legacy of Mesopotamia
A. Development of written code of laws – Hammurabi’s Code B. Development of a system of math
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The Legacy of Mesopotamia
1. Solve everyday problems 2. Measure geometric shapes
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The Legacy of Mesopotamia
C. Development of writing 1. Developed in Mesopotamia – 3500 B.C. 2. Necessary to keep records
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The Legacy of Mesopotamia
3. Scribes important in society 4. Used clay from Tigris and Euphrates
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The Legacy of Mesopotamia
5. Clay shaped into tablets 6. Shape and size of tablet depend upon its use
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The Legacy of Mesopotamia
7. Cuneiform – a form of writing that uses groups of wedges and lines
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Mediterranean Civilizations
I. Phoenicia A. Located on Mediterranean Sea
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Mediterranean Civilizations
B. Rich resources 1. Snails produce purple dye 2. Cedar trees
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Mediterranean Civilizations
C. First trading empire and great sea power
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Mediterranean Civilizations
D. Phoenician alphabet 1. Needed to simplify writing
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Mediterranean Civilizations
2. Developed alphabet – a set of symbols that represent sounds of the language
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Mediterranean Civilizations
3. Basis of our alphabet 4. More people could learn to read and write
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