Beginning Assignment

This is an opinion piece where there is no right or wrong answer. I want to know your opinion. Write 1 complete sentence using the questions below:

What is your opinion of the Islamic religion? Explain.

What events have skewed American’s opinions of the religions? Explain.

Has the media accurately portrayed Islam in a positive or negative light? Explain.

Do many countries’ foreign policy, not only the United States, have a positive or negative outlook about the Islamic religion? Explain.

Early History of the Middle East

Unit 6

Mesopotamia/Fertile Crescent

Fertile Crescent--landscape btwn the Persian Gulf & the Mediterranean Sea

Mesopotamia “land between the rivers” Tigris & Euphrates Farmers used rivers to

flood Mesopotamian area to grow wheat/barley

Large harvests allowed villages to grow

EX: Babylonians

Babylonians

Took over Sumerian empire

First to establish an empire

Empire: brings together several peoples, nations, or independent states under the control of one ruler

Babylon strongest under King Hammurabi

Hammurabi’s Code

Uniform code of laws that unified diverse groups of the empire Placed in cities throughout

empire so all people could see the law

Code had judgments for broken laws “An eye for an eye, a tooth

for a tooth”

Hammurabi’s Code22. If any one is committing a robbery and is

caught, then he shall be put to death.

25. If fire break out in a house, and some one who comes to put it out cast his eye upon the property of the owner of the house, and take the property of the master of the house, he shall be thrown into that self-same fire.

108. If a tavern-keeper (feminine) does not accept corn according to gross weight in payment of drink, but takes money, and the price of the drink is less than that of the corn, she shall be convicted and thrown into the water.

129. If a man's wife be surprised with another man, both shall be tied and thrown into the water, but the husband may pardon his wife and the king his slaves.

Egyptians

Started around 3000 B.C.E. in Northern Africa

Based along Nile River

Used Nile’s fertile soil to farm

Ruled by Pharaohs Pharaohs: rulers that

were considered gods

Built great pyramids and monuments

Egyptians continued

Divided into 3 periods: Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom

Kingdoms ruled under a dynasty: family of rulers whose right to rule is passed on within a family

Rulers were called pharaohs Pharoahs had absolute power Later pharoahs had help ruling from a bureaucracy Bureaucracy: administrative organization w/

officials/regular procedures

Egyptians continued

Achievements: Pyramids (1)

Occurred during the Old Kingdom

Complex buildings dedicated to the dead

Pyramids would be filled w/ chairs, food, dishes, weapons

Egyptians believed humans had 2 bodies/ a human one & a spiritual one

Filling pyramids w/ material items allowed the spiritual body to continue living

Egyptians continued

Mummification (2) Process of slowly drying a

dead body to prevent it from rotting

Remove liver, lungs, stomach & intestines ---placed in jars and then placed in tomb w/ body

Would remove brain by extracting it from the nose

Covered body in salt, filled body w/ spices

Body wrapped, placed in tomb

Process took about 70 days

Egyptians continued

Hieroglyphics (3) Priest carvings/sacred writings System of writing which used both pictures and more

abstract forms First carved into stone Hieroglyphics eventually turns into hieratic script ----

pictures turned into dots, dashes Egyptians also created:

365 day calendar Made advancements in mathematics

3 Major Religions

3 major religions in Middle East:

1. Judaism2. Christianity3. Islam

๐ Each religion began and spread through Palestine๐ Reason why all 3 groups believe they should

control Palestine

Judaism

Most of what is known about the early history of the Hebrews comes from the Torah Torah: 1st 5 books of the Old

Testament

Abraham, Moses, David ---- imp. people in Judaism

Why are they important?: Jews roamed Mesopotamia/Middle

East area for many years Abraham --- led Jews through

Canaan, Mesopotamia, Egypt --- Jews forced into slavery in Egypt

Moses --- led Jews out of Egypt David --- led the Jews/helped

establish the kingdom of Israel w/ Saul

Judaism continued

REMEMBER IMPORTANT: Jews were conquered by many

other groups including the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans

All of these conquering empires settled in the area known as Palestine

THE JEWISH ARGUMENT TO STAY IN PALENSTINE: THE JEWISH POPULATION

HAS ALWAYS LIVED IN THE AREA --- THEY DESERVE TO BE THERE

Christianity

• 63 BC---Roman power spread to Judea• Judea: the home of the Jews during

this time period

• Some Jews believed they would be free again someday

• According to biblical tradition, God had promised that a savior known as the Messiah would arrive & restore the kingdom of the Jews

Christianity continued

Jesus of Nazareth• Jesus was born around 6

BC to 4 BC in the town of Bethlehem in Judea

• At the age of 30, he began his public ministry • Traveled from town to town

• For the next 3 years, he preached, taught, did good works, & reportedly performed miracles

Christianity continued

Jesus’ popularity worried Roman and Jewish leaders

In 29 AD, Jesus visited Jerusalem Greeted by many as the Messiah or king

Angered Jewish and Roman leaders Called Jesus’ teachings blasphemy

Blasphemy: disrespect for God

Pontius Pilate accused Jesus of disobeying Roman authority Pontius Pilate: Roman Governor

Jesus arrested and crucified

Crucified: nailed to a large wooden cross until death

Christianity continued

main source of information about Jesus & his teachings came from the Gospels Gospels: 1st 4 books of the New Testament

• message had a special appeal to the poor• According to the Gospels, what happened

next?• Jesus’ body placed in a tomb after death• 3 days later, his body was gone• Jesus appeared before people and he ascended into

HeavenJesus became known as Jesus Christ

the name Christianity was derived from Christ

Islam

570 AD --- Muhammad born

Born into powerful family in Mecca Mecca located on the coast of

the Red Sea in Saudi ArabiaLittle education/worked in

caravan tradeMuhammad disgusted w/

caravan trade in Mecca --- thought many involved in trade were too greedy

Muhammad spent much time in prayer/meditation

Islam continued

While meditating in cave outside Mecca, Muhammad heard the voice of the angel Gabriel

Gabriel told Muhammad he was a messenger for Allah

Allah spoke through Gabriel --- in turn Gabriel spoke through Muhammad

Muhammad was to be the last of the prophetsMuhammad said Allah was the only godPeople who practice the principle of Islam called

MuslimsIslam means “submission to the will of Allah”Muslim means “one who has submitted”

Islam continued

Muhammad met w/ hostilityLeft Mecca for MedinaAttracted many followers along

the way630 AD Muhammad returned

to MeccaAttracted more followersPilgrimage back to Mecca

became known as the hajjMuhammad entered Mecca,

called for prayer, destroyed any idols around the Kaaba

Meccans pledged loyalty to Muhammad, converted

Islam continued

MAIN POINT FOR MUSLIMS TO STAY IN PALESTINE: Islam begin to spread Spread to areas such as Palestine Muslims settled and/or conquered the area & thought

the land belonged to them It was said Muhammad ascended to heaven from

Jerusalem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM81wroj_MQ

The Crusades

11th-13th CenturiesSeries of military expeditions Christians wanted to regain

Holy Land from Muslims & JewsByzantine Empire (Eastern

Orthodox Christian) felt threatened by the Turks (Muslim) & Jews

Turks threatened the Byzantine capital of Constantinople

Rally cry for Christian warriors was to retake the Holy Land away from the infidels or unbelievers

The Crusades continued

During the Early Crusades, Christians were able to take lands away from Muslims --- took Jerusalem

Muslims began to strike back

Later Crusades, Christians organized young people (Children’s Crusade) to fight the Muslims

Byzantine Empire ---- not as powerful

Christians unable to defeat the Muslims

The Crusades continued

Results of the Crusades: Pope’s power weakened in the Christian Church (1)

Muslims & Jews faced more persecution from Christians (2)

Christians in Muslim controlled areas also faced persecution (3)

Medieval Torture Website

http://www.fidnet.com/~kawlaw/devices.html