Hittite EmpireHittite Empire

HattusasHattusas

Hattusas: Capital of the Hittites

Hattusas: Capital of the Hittites

Hattusas – Lion’s Gate

Hattusas – Lion’s Gate

Hittite Chariots & Warriors

Hittite Chariots & Warriors

Hittite WritingHittite Writing

A Balance of Power: 1200 B. C. E.

A Balance of Power: 1200 B. C. E.

The Battle of KadeshThe Battle of Kadesh

Treaty of Kadesh

Treaty of Kadesh

Ramses II at KadeshRamses II at Kadesh

Phoenician Sea Routes

Phoenician Sea Routes

A Phoenician Bireme Ship

A Phoenician Bireme Ship

The “Royal Purple” Dye

The “Royal Purple” Dye

Phoenician City of Byblos:

“Home of the Alphabet”

Phoenician City of Byblos:

“Home of the Alphabet”

Phoenician AlphabetPhoenician Alphabet

Carthage: Phoenicia’s Mightiest ColonyCarthage: Phoenicia’s Mightiest Colony

The Assyrian EmpireThe Assyrian Empire

Assyrian Empire• Semetic- speaking• Used iron weapons• Ashurbanipal was strongest ruler• After death it disintegrated• Had a communication system set up• Longest time it took was 1 week for

communication to and back

• Farming is most important in economy• Trade is second most important- trading

metals• Saw selves as protector of sumerian

and Babylonian cultures

Why could they conquer…

• Effective military leaders and fighters

• Huge number of troops• Well organized and disciplined• Had infantry, cavalry and chariots• Used terror- treated prisoners with

no mercy

Assyrian Military Power

Assyrian Military Power

Assyrian soldiers carrying away the enemy’s

gods.

Assyrian soldiers carrying away the enemy’s

gods.

Jewish Captives: 8c BCE

Jewish Captives: 8c BCE

Babylon under the Chaldeans

Babylon under the Chaldeans

Chaldeans

• Took over after Assyrians• Most famous king-

Nebuchadnezzar– rebuilt Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar II’s Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar II’s Babylon

The Ishtar Gate

• It was located near the Hanging Gardens and decorated with reliefs of various creatures, including dragons and bulls.

Ishtar Gate

Ishtar Gate

Hanging Gardensof Babylon?

Hanging Gardensof Babylon?

• The gods that ruled the universe were equated with one of the planets.

• Ishtar (goddess of life, fertility, sexual love, and war), for example, was equated with the planet Venus.

• great skills in astronomy• used the movement and

positions of the planets and stars to predict the plan of the gods (the future).

• Astronomy was also utilized to create a method of time –a seven-day week, –days comprised of twelve 120-minute hours.

Israelites in CaptivityIsraelites in Captivity

The Persian EmpireThe Persian Empire

Cyrus the GreatCyrus the Great

580 – 529 B. C. E.

580 – 529 B. C. E.

A tolerant ruler he allowed different cultures within his empire to keep their own institutions.

The Greeks called him a “Law-Giver.”

The Jews called him “the anointed of the Lord.” (In 537, he allowed over 40,000 to return to Palestine).

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.)

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.) Built Persepolis.

He extended the Persian Empire to the Indus River in northern India. (2 mil. s.q. mi.)

Built a canal in Egypt.

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.)

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.) Established a tax-

collecting system.

Divided the empire into districts called SATRAPIES.

Built the great Royal Road system.

Established a complex postal system.

Created a network of spies called “the King’s eyes and ears.”

Ancient PersepolisAncient Persepolis

PersepolisPersepolis

The People of Persepolis

The People of Persepolis

Persian “Royal Road”Persian “Royal Road”

Persian Archers & Soldiers

Persian Archers & Soldiers

Zarathustra [Zoroaster], 6c BCE:

Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words

Zarathustra [Zoroaster], 6c BCE:

Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words

“Tree of Life”“Tree of Life”

Extent of Zoroastrianism

Extent of Zoroastrianism

Dualistic Battle of Good vs. Evil

Dualistic Battle of Good vs. Evil

Ahura Mazda“Holy Spirit”Ahura Mazda“Holy Spirit”

Ahriman“Destructive

Spirit”

Ahriman“Destructive

Spirit”

Zend-Avesta(The “Book of Law”)Zend-Avesta(The “Book of Law”)

The “Sacred Fire” the force to fight evil.

The “Sacred Fire” the force to fight evil.

Alexander the Great & the Hellenization of the Near

East

Alexander the Great & the Hellenization of the Near

East

The Great Library at Alexandria.

Egypt

The Great Library at Alexandria.

Egypt