We’re Starting Period 2 Today!We’re dealing mainly with the following civilizations:

Persia

Greece

Rome

China

India

PERIOD 2 Includes the Following Chapters:

- Chapter 3: Eurasia- Political - Chapter 4: Eurasia- Cultural/Religious- Chapter 5: Eurasia- Social - Chapter 6: Americas & Africa

Quick Note About This Time Period

The dates for this period are from 600 BCE-600 CE

This time period of history is also called the Classical Era. Why do you think that is?

The Indo-European Migrations● The Indo-Europeans were a group of nomadic peoples who likely came from

the steppes north of the Caucasus Mountains. ● The Indo-Europeans were primarily pastoral and had also domesticated the

horse, which they used in battle with chariots. ● Different Indo-European groups settled in different areas, leading to many of

the languages of Eurasia that we see today.

Groups of Indo-Europeans● Hittite Empire: Occupied Anatolia (Asia Minor) by 2000 BCE. City-states

came together to form an empire by 1650 BCE, dominated SW Asia for 450 years through their use of iron weapons and chariots. Competed with the Egyptian Empire during the New Kingdom for control of Syria.

● Aryans: Migrated into the Indian subcontinent by 2000 BCE and brought ideas that would lay the foundation for modern Indian society (such as the caste system and Hinduism).

Hittites

The Minoans● The Minoans, a seafaring people, dominated trade in the Eastern

Mediterranean from 2000 BCE-1400 BCE. They lived on the island of Crete. ● The Minoans produced fine painted pottery, which they traded along with

swords, figurines, and precious metals. ● Minoan art and culture spread with their trading activity and went on to

influence Greece. ● Wall paintings and pottery reveal that the Minoans enjoyed athletic

competitions and may have been influenced by the Egyptians (ex: some rituals are similar to Egyptian rituals, such as those involving bulls)

● Minoan art suggests women may have held a higher rank than in neighboring cultures (for example, they had a Mother Goddess)

● Weakened by natural disasters, eventually taken over by the Greeks

Minoan art

Minoan pottery

The Phoenicians● By 1100 BCE, after Crete’s decline, the most powerful traders in the

Mediterranean were the Phoenicians. They were from present-day Lebanon. ● The Phoenicians were never a united civilization; instead, they had many

city-states that sometimes competed with one another. ● First Mediterranean people to venture beyond the Strait of Gibraltar

(evidence exists for them sailing around Africa)● Created colonies throughout the Mediterranean, including Carthage, which

would become the most powerful colony. ● Famous for their red-purple dye produced from snails (only royalty could

afford)● Created a phonetic system of writing- the world’s first alphabet, which spread

with trading activity● Assyrians disrupted trade routes when they invaded in 842 BCE- many fled to

colonies like Carthage

Question:

Why is the development of the alphabet important?

The Assyrian Empire● The Assyrians established a strong, expansive empire in SW Asia from 850

BCE-650 BCE through its military organization and advanced iron weaponry.

● From northern Mesopotamia; may have become warlike due to constant invasions

● Assyrian society glorified military strength● Kept control of unified empire with harsh rule, severe punishments (ex:

burned cities, sent people into exile if people rebelled or refused to cooperate)● Eventually controlled all of Mesopotamia and Egypt● Assyrian kings either chose the rulers of dependent provinces or supported

kings who were loyal to Assyria (became an influential model of administration)

● Collapsed in 612 BCE after a combined army of the Medes and Chaldeans destroyed Nineveh, the Assyrian capital

The Neo-Babylonian Empire● After defeating the Assyrians, the Chaldeans made Babylon their capital-

created a new Babylonian Empire● King Nebuchadnezzar restored Babylon- created the famous Hanging

Gardens of Babylon● Empire fell shortly after Nebuchadnezzar’s death. ● The Persian Empire would come to power next.

The Persian Empire● Ancient Iran- East of the Fertile Crescent- 2 groups: The Medes and the

Persians● 550 BCE: Cyrus, Persia’s king and military genius, began conquering

neighboring kingdoms until the Persian Empire expanded across SW Asia from the Indus River in the east to Anatolia in the west (largest empire of the time)

● Cyrus was kind toward conquered people- revealed a wise, tolerant view of empire (unlike the Assyrians)- honored local traditions, was religiously tolerant

● Cyrus earned the name Cyrus the Great● His son, Cambyses, did not follow Cyrus’s example- ordered images of

Egyptian gods to be burned- caused widespread rebellions● Cambyses had short rule (8 years), was succeeded by Darius, a noble (he was

helped to power by the Ten Thousand Immortals, the elite Persian soldiers)

The Persian Empire● Darius restored stability in the empire, continued expanding it (only failed to

conquer Greece)● Darius had excellent administrative skills- divided the empire into 20

provinces, each led by a satrap who ruled locally but remained loyal to the Persian king

● Each province also had a military leader and tax collector● To ensure loyalty, a group of inspectors called the “King’s Eyes and Ears”

monitored the provinces● Had an excellent system of roads (infrastructure) that connected parts of the

empire, such as the Royal Road (1,677 mile highway)● Also used standardized coin money

QUESTION: What were the effects of the Persian road system and standardized coin money?

Persian Empire● Official state-supported religion was called Zoroastrianism, developed by the

Persian prophet Zoroaster● Had a system of securing water for the water supply called the qanat system● The magnificent city of Persepolis demonstrated the glory and sophistication

of the Persian Empire

WHAP HW

● Continue reading and taking notes over Ch. 3 pp. 125-129 (finish Greece/Persia, read about Alexander)

● Watch the Khan Academy videos on Persia: “Overview of Ancient Persia” and “Cyrus the Great Establishes the Achaemenid Empire” (both available on Youtube)