History Essay

John.Quality

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Chapter 2

Ancient New East: Peoples and Empires

Learning Objectives (Slide 1 of 2)

Identify the significance of the Indo-European-speaking peoples

Discuss the extent to which the Israelites were able to establish a united state

Explain what made the Jewish faith unique in the ancient Near East and how it evolved over time

Learning Objectives (Slide 2 of 2)

Describe the neighbors of the Israelites and their impact

Outline the methods and institutions the Assyrians used to amass and maintain their empires

Compare the methods and institutions used by the Persians to amass and maintain their empires to those of the Assyrians

On the Fringes of Civilization

Significant developments took place on the fringes of Mesopotamia and Egypt

Late Neolithic Europe, 3200 and1500 B.C.E.: megalithic structures

The Indo-Europeans

Language from a single parent tongue: Greek, Latin, Persian, Sanskrit, Germanic

The Hittite Empire

Suppiluliumas, ca. 1370–1330 B.C.E.

Use of iron; assimilation of other cultures

The Hebrews: “The Children of Israel” (Slide 1 of 3)

Semitic-speaking people

Traditions of the Hebrew Bible

Spiritual legacy of Western civilization

Between 1200 and 1000 B.C.E.

Israelites emerged as a distinct group of people, possibly organized in tribes or a league of tribes

The Hebrews: “The Children of Israel” (Slide 2 of 3)

Was there a United Kingdom of Israel?

Saul, David, and Solomon

The kingdoms of Israel (ten northern tribes) and Judah (two southern tribes)

The spiritual dimensions of Israel developed over time: monotheism

“I Am the Lord Your God”; “You Only Have I Chosen”

The covenant, the law, and the prophets

Chronology: The Israelites

Event	Dates
Saul	ca. 1020–1000 B.C.E.
David	ca. 1000–970 B.C.E.
Solomon	ca. 970–930 B.C.E.
Northern kingdom of Israel destroyed by Assyria	722 or 721 B.C.E.
Southern kingdom of Judah falls to Chaldeans; destruction of Jerusalem	586 B.C.E.
Return of exiles to Jerusalem	538 B.C.E.

Table Description: Events during the time of the Israelites and the dates which they occurred.

The Hebrews: “The Children of Israel” (Slide 3 of 3)

The neighbors of the Israelites

Philistines

Coastal towns; conflict with Israelites

Phoenicians

Trading empire in the Mediterranean

Culturally, best known as transmitters

Alphabet passed on to the Greeks, and then, the Romans

The Assyrian Empire

Organization of the empire

Kings and local officials

The Assyrian military machine

Large, well organized, and disciplined

Exploited iron weapons and brutal methods

Assyrian society and culture

Polyglot society

Assimilated much of Mesopotamian culture

The Persian Empire (Slide 1 of 2)

Neo-Babylonian Empire: Nebuchadnezzar

Fell to the Persians in 539 B.C.

Cyrus the Great (559–530 B.C.E.)

Media: the first satrapy, or province

Expanding the empire

Greece, Asia Minor

The Persian Empire (Slide 2 of 2)

Governing the empire: the Royal Road

“Protector of the kingdom:” satrap

The Great King: Darius

Ruled the largest empire in the world thus far

Source of all justice; palace builder

Weakened by hoarding of wealth/taxation

Persian religion: Zoroastrianism

Struggle between good and evil; last judgment

Chronology: The Ancient Empires – The Assyrians

Event	Date(s)
Height of power	700 B.C.E.
Ashurbanipal	669–627 B.C.E.
Fall of Nineveh	612 B.C.E.
Destruction of the Assyrian Empire	605 B.C.E.

Table Description: Events during the time of the Assyrians and the dates which they occurred.

Chronology: The Ancient Empires – The Chaldeans

Event	Date(s)
Ascendancy in Babylonia	600s B.C.E.
Height of Neo-Babylonian Empire under King Nebuchadnezzar II	605–562 B.C.E.
Fall of Babylon	539 B.C.E.

Table Description: Events during the time of the Chaldeans and the dates which they occurred.

Chronology: The Ancient Empires – The Persians

Event	Date(s)
Unification under Achaemenid dynasty	600s B.C.E.
Persian control over Medes	550 B.C.E.
Conquests of Cyrus the Great	559–530 B.C.E.
Cambyses and conquest of Egypt	530–522 B.C.E.
Reign of Darius	521–486 B.C.E.

Table Description: Events during the time of the Persians and the dates which they occurred.

Discussion Questions

Compare Hammurabi’s Code and the Covenant. Is one more compassionate than the other in their views of society?

What role did terror play in Assyrian military tactics?

How were the Persians able to conquer and maintain their large empire?