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Chapter Three

Kingdoms and Empires in

the Middle East

Biblical

References?

Historic

References?

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Trading Empires of the Ancient Middle East

Aramaeans

•Damascus, Syria•Rich Overland Trade•Aramaic Language

Language of Business of the Ancient Middle East

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Phoenicians (Merchants of the Mediterranean)

•Modern Lebanon, Israel, Jordan

•Canaanites of the Bible

•Rich Overseas Trade

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Phoenicians (Merchants of the Mediterranean)

•Modern Lebanon, Israel, Jordan

•Canaanites of the Bible

•Rich Overseas Trade

•Loose confederation of City States•Tyre (most influential), Sidon Byblos•Colonies throughout the Mediterranean•Carthage – greatest colony

•Overshadow s Tyre

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Phoenicians (Merchants of the Mediterranean)

•Modern Lebanon, Israel, Jordan

•Canaanites of the Bible•Rich Overseas Trade

•Loose confederation of City States•Tyre (most influential), Sidon Byblos•Colonies throughout the Mediterranean•Carthage – greatest colony

•Overshadow s Tyre

•Excellent sailors•Maritime technology

•Exchange of goods and products (bartering)•Business practices•Alphabet (See Next Slide)

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Evolution of the Phoenician Alphabet

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What is

going

on?

Note the

products!

The

Color

Purple!

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The Lydian's

•Western Asia Minor •Modern Turkey

•Gold Deposits•Midas ?

•Develop a regional trade center•Sardis

•Introduce concept of money•Coinage -- Stater

•Set values for goods

•King Croesus

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Ancient Land of the Israelites

Land of Canaan

Abraham – Yahweh – Judaism

•Settle in the area of Canaan – “Land of Milk and Honey”•Share with Philistines & Phoenicians – early Canaanites

•Migration to Egypt

•12 Tribes

• Moses

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Land of Canaan

Abraham – Yahweh – Judaism

•Settle in the area of Canaan – “Land of Milk and Honey”•Share with Philistines & Phoenicians – early Canaanites

•Migration to Egypt

•12 Tribes • Moses

•Exodus / Return to Canaan

• Lack of Unity - Judges

• Fight among the Canaanites for control of area

•Establishment of Kingdom

• Saul – Unites Israel

• David – Jerusalem• Solomon – Temple

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The Temple at the

Time of Solomon

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Ancient Land of the Israelites

Establishment of Kingdom

•Saul – Unites Israel

•David – Jerusalem

•Solomon – Temple

•Breakup of the Kingdom

•10 Tribes / North = Israel

•2 Tribes / South = Judah (Jerusalem)

King David’s

Palace

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Siege of Lachish by Assyria

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British Museum

London

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Invasion from the North

Assyrians – 722 BC

• Sennacherib

• Nineveh

• Israel – Ten Tribes of the North are conquered

• Lost Tribes of Israel ?

Chaldeans – 586 BC (Neo-Babylonians)

• Nebuchadnezzar

•Judah – Two tribes to the South are

conquered

• Babylonian Captivity

• The Jewish culture is organized

29Babylon 586 BC Babylon Today

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Persian Empire Begins

Cyrus II

•Conquers Babylon

Releases the Jews to return to Judea / Israel

•Diaspora

Torah is created

•1st Five Books of the Bible

Jews rebuild the Temple

Lasting Legacy

•Christianity

•Islam

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Hittites

Asia Minor

•Modern Turkey

•Anatolia Plateau

Well Organized Kingdom

•Regional “Superpower”

•Clay Tablets

•Iron Weapons

•Three Man Chariots

Society included elements from

•Mesopotamia

•Egypt

•Less harsh legal system

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The Hittite Empire

Modern Turkey

Ancient Turkey

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Hattusas

The Hittite

Capital

City

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Hittite Capital

at

Hattusas

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Hittite Capital

at

Hattusas

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The Assyrians -- Nineveh

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Assyrians

Northern Mesopotamia

•Nineveh – Capital City

•Tigris River

Build powerful kingdom 900 BC

Army – Dominant power

•Foot Soldiers

•Chariots

•Cavalry

Harsh Overlords

Well Organized Empire

•Provinces – Governors – Road Networks

•Clay Tablet Library -- 22,000 discovered!

King Sennacherib – Bible (Old Testament)

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Ancient

Middle East

Exhibit

British

Museum

London,

England

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Chaldeans(Neo-Babylonians)

Successors to the Mesopotamian Empires

Last of the Mesopotamian Empires

Capital City – Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar

•Hanging Gardens

•Kingdom of Judah – 586 BC

•Babylonian Exile

Fall to the Persians – 539 BC

Cyrus II

Builds huge empire to the east

Moves to west capturing nations

Allows Jews to return to Judea (Biblical Account!)

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Persian Empire

Cyrus II

•Defeats Chaldeans

•Builds huge empire

•Egypt in west to India in the east

Darius I

•Well organized – good administrator

•Provinces – governors – “Satraps”

•Inspectors

•Four Capital Cities

•Persepolis, Susa, Babylon, Sardis

•Royal Road

•Dispatch riders• “Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of

night stays these couriers from their

appointed rounds.” (sound familiar?)

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Tomb of

Cyrus the Great

Pasargadae, Iran

Built in the shape

of a Ziggurat!

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Darius I

Vainglorious Imagery

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Persepolis

Capital of the Persian Empire

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Gate of All Lands

Entry Way to the Palace

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Entry way to the

Great Hall for the

Audience with the

King

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King’s Audience Hall

65’ in Height

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Darius I and the Greeks

•Persian disaster

•490 BC

•480 BC (Xerxes)

Persian Culture

•Conquered peoples retained their own cultures

•Tolerant rulers (Jews return to homeland)

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Persian Religion

•Zoroaster (Greek name)

•Good vs. Evil

•Final Judgment

•Impact on Christianity ?

•Impact on Islam ?

•Impact on Judaism ?

•Today, Approximately 4 million Iranians are Zoroastrians

•Live in south-east Iran

•Some live in India – Known as the “Parsees”

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Home of the Sacred

Perpetual Flame

Naqsh-I Rustam

(Near Persepolis)