Transcript Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Hebrew Literature

MESOPOTAMIAN, EGYPTIAN, AND
HEBREW LITERATURE
3000 B.C. – A.D. 500
MESOPOTAMIA: HISTORY, ARTS, AND
CULTURE
SUMERIANS 3500 -2350 B.C.
• First culture
• Farmers
• City-states
AKKADIANS 2350-2000 B.C.
• First empire
• Adopted Sumerian
culture
BABYLONIANS 2000-1570 B.C.
• Conquered
Mesopotamia
• King Hammurabi Code of Hammurabi
ASSYRIANS 850-612 B.C.
• Great empire
• Ruthless in battle
• Nineveh
NEO-BABYLONIANS 612-539 B.C.
• Second Babylonian
empire
• Enslaved Jews
CITIES , CIVILIZATION, AND CULTURE
• Tigris and Euphrates
• People
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Cities
Architecture
Technology
Law
Writing
Math and Science
PEOPLE AND SOCIETY
UPPER CLASS OR ARISTOCRACY
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Ruling family
Government officials
Military leaders
Priests
Landowners
Wealthy merchants
COMMON FOLK
• Farmers
• Artisans
SLAVES
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Bottom social class
Lowest tasks
Foreigners
Poor parents
WOMEN
• Opportunities
EGYPT: HISTORY, ARTS, AND
CULTURE
OLD KINGDOM 2660-2180 B.C.
• Upper and Lower
• King Menes – 1st
dynasty
• Pyramids – 3rd dynasty
MIDDLE KINGDOM 2080-1640 B.C.
• Thebes
• Amenemhet I
strengthened realm
NEW KINGDOM 1570 – 1075 B.C.
• Native Egyptians vs.
Hyksos
• Strongest power
– Thutmose III
– Ramses II
LIFE AND AFTERLIFE
• Religious focus on
afterlife - paradise
• Mummification
• Pyramids
PEOPLE AND SOCIETY
UPPER CLASS
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Ruling family
Landowners
Government officials
Priests
Military leaders
Doctors
MIDDLE CLASS
• Merchants
• Workers
• Could move
LOWER CLASS
• Farm laborers
• Slaves
WOMEN
• Upper and middle –
close to men
ANCIENT HEBREWS
EARLY HEBREWS 2000-1200 B.C.
• Semitic – Hebrews or
Jews
• Hebrew – cross over
• Fertile Crescent
• Abraham – father of
culture
– Isaac
• Jacob (Israel) – 12
Tribes of Israel
EXODUS 1200-1020 B.C.
• Migrated to Egypt
• Moses
• Two centuries to
establish themselves
KINGDOM OF ISRAEL 1020-922 B.C.
• King Saul unifies
• King David establishes
Jerusalem
• King Solomon builds
Temple of Solomon
• Kingdom is divided
DIVIDED KINGDOM 922-539 B.C.
• Lots of fighting
• Both parts fall
• Jews are exiled
CENTER OF CULTURAL LIFE
• City dwellers
• More opportunities
• Temple
PEOPLE AND SOCIETY
MOST POWERFUL
• Tribal patriarchs or
fathers
• Judges
• Kings
• Prophets and priests
MIDDLE
• Landowners
• Warriors
• Merchants and
artisans
LEAST POWERFUL
• Herders, farmers,
servants, or hired help
• Slaves
WOMEN
• Few rights
• Rare of have any
influence outside of
the home