The Mesopotamians, The Hebrews, and the

Phoenicians

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Mesopotamia

Early Mesopotamia, 3000-2000 B.C.E.

“Between the Rivers”◦ Tigris and Euphrates

Modern-day Iraq Sumerians dominant

culture The peoples who

followed the Sumerians adopted their civilization

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Cities appear 4000 BCE Dominate region from 3200-2350 BCE

◦ Ur (home of Abraham, see Genesis 11:28), Nineveh (see Jonah)

Ziggurat home of the god Divine mandate to Kings Defence from nomadic marauders

Sumerian City-States

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The Ziggurat of Ur

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Semitic peoples from northern Mesopotamia overshadow Sumer◦ Sargon of Akkad (2370-2315 BCE)

Destroyed Sumerian city-states one by one, created empire based in Akkad

Empire unable to suppress chronic rebellions Hammurabi of Babylon (1792-1750 BCE)

◦ Improved taxation, legislation◦ Used local governors to maintain control of city-

states Babylonian Empire later destroyed by Hittites

from Anatolia, c. 1595 BCE

Political Decline of Sumer and the Transition to Empire

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The Code of Hammurabi Established high standards of behavior and

stern punishment for violators◦ lex talionis – “law of retaliation” or an “eye for an

eye”◦ women seen as property, but had some rights

Legal System

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Assyrians use new iron weaponry◦ Beginning 1300 BCE, by 8th-7th centuries BCE

control Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, most of Egypt

Later Mesopotamian Empires

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Mesopotamian Empires, 1800-600 BCE

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Sumerian writing systems from 3500 BCE Pictographs Cuneiform: “wedge-shaped”

◦ Preservation of documents on clay

Development of Writing

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Trade Astronomy Mathematics

◦ Agricultural applications Calculation of time

◦ 12-month year◦ 24-hour day, 60-minute hour

Uses for Writing

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City-states along Mediterranean coast after 3000 BCE

Extensive maritime trade◦ Dominated Mediterranean trade, 1200-800 BCE

Development of alphabet symbols◦ Simpler alternative to cuneiform◦ Spread of literacy

The Phoenicians

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Israel and Phoenicia , 1500-600 BCE

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Patriarchs and Matriarchs originated from Babylon, c. 1850 BCE. Nomadic way of life

Parallels between early biblical texts, Code of Hammurabi

Early settlement of Canaan (Israel), c. 1300 BCE◦ Biblical text: slavery in Egypt, divine redemption

On-going conflict with indigenous populations under King David (1000-970 BCE) and Solomon (970-930 BCE)

The Early Hebrews