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Chapter 2 The Fertile Crescent Land Between Two Rivers I. Fertile Crescent A. Shaped like a crescent moon B. One end at Mediterranean Sea Land Between Two Rivers C. One end at Persian Gulf D. Presence of rivers make location good for crops Land Between Two Rivers II. Mesopotamia A. Part of Fertile Crescent B. Name from Greek – “between the rivers” Land Between Two Rivers C. Between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers D. Life and death from rivers Land Between Two Rivers 1. Life – rich soil, fish, clay, reeds 2. Death – floods and destruction Land Between Two Rivers III. Sumer A. First cities developed in area of Sumer 1. Cities separated by long distances 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 Land Between Two Rivers B. Religion 1. Polytheism – belief in many gods 2. ziggurats – main temple to gods of city Land Between Two Rivers a. very high b. Gods used them to travel to Earth Land Between Two Rivers 3. myths – stories about gods that explain people’s beliefs 4. scribes – professional writers 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 Babylonia and Assyria I. Important themes in history of Mesopotamia A. Powerful warriors conquering rich land Babylonia and Assyria B. Two important empires – area of many territories and people controlled by one government 1. Babylonia 2. Assyria Babylonian and Assyria II. Babylonian Empire A. Hammurabi united the cities of Sumer Babylonia and Assyria B. City of Babylon – center of empire 1. Location made it center of trade – cities to north and south Babylonia and Assyria 2. Empire – area of many territories and people that are controlled by the government Babylonia and Assyria 3. Caravans – groups of traders – stopped there 4. Bazaars – a market selling different kinds of goods Babylonia and Assyria 5. 1760 B.C. Hammurabi conquered Mari. 6. 1600 B.C. Babylonian empire shrunk and was destroyed Babylonia and Assyria III. Assyrian Empire A. North of Babylon B. Located in open spaces Babylonia and Assyria 1. Always defending themselves 2. Became great warriors Babylonia and Assyria C. Achievements in warfare 1. Invented battering ram 2. Expert archers 3. Armed charioteers Babylonia and Assyria D. Nineveh – great library and city of learning E. Defeated by Medes and Chaldeans Babylonia and Assyria IV. New Babylonian Empire A. Grew under Chaldeans Babylonia and Assyria B. Greatest King – Nebuchadnezzar Rebuilt city of Babylon Great palace and gardens Babylonia and Assyria C. Center of science and learning 1. Studied stars 2. Measured length of a year Babylonia and Assyria D. Chaldeans open to attacks by neighbors 1. 539 B.C. New Babylonian empire fell A. City of Babylon spared The Legacy of Mesopotamia A. Development of written code of laws – Hammurabi’s Code B. Development of a system of math The Legacy of Mesopotamia 1. Solve everyday problems 2. Measure geometric shapes The Legacy of Mesopotamia C. Development of writing 1. Developed in Mesopotamia – 3500 B.C. 2. Necessary to keep records The Legacy of Mesopotamia 3. Scribes important in society 4. Used clay from Tigris and Euphrates The Legacy of Mesopotamia 5. Clay shaped into tablets 6. Shape and size of tablet depend upon its use The Legacy of Mesopotamia 7. Cuneiform – a form of writing that uses groups of wedges and lines Mediterranean Civilizations I. Phoenicia A. Located on Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Civilizations B. Rich resources 1. Snails produce purple dye 2. Cedar trees Mediterranean Civilizations C. First trading empire and great sea power Mediterranean Civilizations D. Phoenician alphabet 1. Needed to simplify writing Mediterranean Civilizations 2. Developed alphabet – a set of symbols that represent sounds of the language Mediterranean Civilizations 3. Basis of our alphabet 4. More people could learn to read and write