Unit 1 - Acient Near East - For Finals - All powerpoints

What happened to invaders of Mesopotamia and Egypt in the 1800s B.C.E.?

They were either ejected or assimilated, leading to stability and prosperity.

What characterized the large states in the Middle East from 1500 to 1200 B.C.E.?

They often fought for control of valuable commodities and trade routes.

What types of interactions occurred during the cosmopolitan era in Mesopotamia?

Diplomacy, culture, goods, and ideas traveled throughout the region.

What was the economic focus of the Middle Assyrian kingdom from the 15th century B.C.E.?

Campaigns of conquest and expanding economic interests.

What major trade route did the Assyrians control?

The trade route at Ashur.

What materials did the Assyrians trade?

Textiles and tin for Anatolian silver.

What technological advancements did the Hittites introduce?

Iron tools and weapons, horse-drawn chariots.

What was the significance of iron extraction for the Hittites?

It allowed them to dominate warfare and trade.

What marked the cultural diffusion in Mesopotamia during the third millennium B.C.E.?

Interactions between city-states.

How did Mesopotamian culture spread in the second millennium B.C.E.?

Through broader political, military, and economic interactions.

What language did many diplomats adopt for communication?

Akkadian.

What was the Neo-Assyrian Empire known for?

Ruling the first true empire in the first millennium with diverse peoples.

How did Assyrian farmers contribute to military campaigns?

They provided a ready army for expansion along trade routes.

What resources did the Assyrians collect from their military conquests?

Booty, tribute, land, and vital resources.

What role did the Assyrian king play in society?

He ruled every aspect of life, including land, subjects, and religion.

How did the Assyrian king confirm his successor's right to rule?

Through divine oracles and the Assyrian elite.

What military technologies contributed to Assyrian success?

Iron weapons, cavalry, and heavy machinery.

What tactics did the Assyrians use to instill fear in conquered subjects?

Public displays of brutality and mass deportation.

What was a significant shortcoming of the Assyrian Empire's governance?

Concentrating power in the center, often needing to reconquer territory.

What social classes existed in Assyrian society?

Landowners, farmers/artisans, and slaves.

What rights did Assyrian slaves have?

They had legal rights and could rise to positions of influence.

What specialized activities did Assyrian citizens engage in due to crop surpluses?

Military, civil, religious, merchant, and artisanal pursuits.

What types of goods did Assyrian artisans produce?

Pottery, tools, and clothing.

How did the state control trade in Assyrian society?

By controlling luxury goods and collecting customs revenues.

What contributions did Assyrian scholars make to knowledge?

They expanded on Mesopotamian wisdom in various fields.

What significant collection did King Ashurbanipal maintain?

A library containing more than 25,000 tablets preserving Mesopotamian knowledge.

Who is considered the patriarch of the Israelites?

Abraham, who led his family from Ur in Mesopotamia to Israel.

What significant covenant was made with Abraham?

God promised Abraham and his descendants the land of Israel.

What role did Joseph play in the migration of the Israelites to Egypt?

Joseph became a high official in Pharaoh's court and facilitated the Israelites' migration during a drought.

What was the status of the Israelites in Egypt?

They were looked down upon and ultimately enslaved by the Egyptians.

Who led the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt?

Moses, who was raised in the Egyptian court.

What is the Mosaic Covenant?

The covenant enshrined in the Ten Commandments, outlining the basic tenets of Jewish belief and practice.

Who succeeded Moses and led the Israelites into Canaan?

Joshua.

What significant event did the Israelites experience upon entering Canaan?

They attacked and destroyed cities, establishing settlements.

What was the structure of Israelite society during the period of the Judges?

The Israelites were divided into twelve tribes, each ruled by chiefs with limited power.

What were the 'Judges' in ancient Israel?

Charismatic leaders who transcended tribal boundaries and provided military leadership or arbitration.

What conflict arose with the Philistines?

The Philistines, likely related to pre-Greek populations, frequently clashed with the Israelites.

Who was the first king of Israel?

Saul, anointed by Samuel.

What achievements are attributed to King David?

He unified Israel, captured Jerusalem, and established it as the capital.

What was the significance of Solomon's reign?

It marked the peak of the Israelite monarchy, with wealth and power through trade and alliances.

What major construction did Solomon commission?

The First Temple in Jerusalem.

How did the Temple priests gain power in Israelite society?

They became wealthy through a share of the harvest in exchange for making sacrifices.

What societal gap emerged in ancient Israel?

A divide between urban and rural populations, and between the rich and poor.

What was the status of women in ancient Israel?

Women were respected as equals but could not inherit property or initiate divorce.

What led to the division of Israel after Solomon's death?

Resentment over royal demands and neglect of tribal prerogatives split Israel into two kingdoms: Israel and Judah.

What happened to the northern kingdom of Israel in 721 B.C.E.?

It was destroyed by the Assyrians, who deported much of the population.

What was the outcome of the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 587 B.C.E.?

The Temple was destroyed, and many Israelites were deported to Babylon.

What is the Diaspora?

The global dispersion of the Jewish population following the Babylonian exile.

What practices helped maintain Jewish identity during the Diaspora?

Rigid dietary laws, ritual baths, and refraining from work on the Sabbath.

What was the significance of the synagogue in Diaspora communities?

It served as a communal meeting place for religious, educational, and social functions.

How did the experience of exile influence Jewish identity?

It sharpened their identity centered around a single God and adherence to religious laws.

What role did prophets play in ancient Israelite society?

They accused monarchs and aristocrats of corruption and neglect of the poor.

What was a common inheritance practice for male heirs in ancient Israel?

Firstborn sons received a double share of the inheritance.

What was the impact of urbanization on women's status in ancient Israel?

As society urbanized, women's status declined, and they took on various labor roles.

What did the Phoenicians call themselves?

Can'ani, meaning Canaanites.

What major event around 1200 B.C.E. affected Canaanite settlements?

Violent upheavals and mass migrations destroyed many settlements.

By 1100 B.C.E., what happened to Canaanite territory?

It shrunk to a narrow strip between modern Lebanon's mountains and the Mediterranean.

What were the main sources of wealth for the Phoenicians?

Seaborne commerce and new kinds of manufacturing.

What does the term 'Phoinikes' refer to?

It may mean 'red men' or refer to the prized purple dye extracted from the murex snail.

What natural features divided Phoenician city-states?

Mount Lebanon's rivers and rocky spurs.

What types of goods did the Phoenicians trade?

Raw materials, food, and luxury goods such as textiles and carved ivory.

What writing system did the Phoenicians develop?

A two-dozen character consonant alphabet representing sounds.

Which city was the distribution center for domestic cedar?

Byblos.

What was significant about Tyre's location?

It had two natural harbors and was dependent on the mainland for food and fresh water.

What was the population of Tyre?

Approximately 30,000 inhabitants.

How did Tyre maintain autonomy from the Assyrians?

By paying tribute until 701 B.C.E.

What was the significance of Carthage in Phoenician history?

It expanded rapidly and dominated other western Phoenician colonies.

What was the capacity of Carthage's inner harbor?

It could accommodate 220 warships.

What was the governance structure in Carthage?

Two judges elected annually and a Senate comprising leading merchant families.

What was the primary focus of Carthaginian foreign policy?

Protecting sea lanes, accessing raw materials, and fostering trade.

What types of goods did Carthaginians trade?

Foodstuffs, textiles, animal skins, slaves, silver, lead, iron, and tin.

How did Carthage rule its empire?

Indirectly, allowing colonies independence in exchange for military protection.

What was the role of mercenaries in Carthage's military?

They were used for wars, as citizens were more valuable in trade or the navy.

Who were the main deities worshipped in Carthage?

Baal Hammon and Tanit.

What was the outcome of the Assyrian expansion in the Middle East?

It connected the stories of Mesopotamia, Israel, and Phoenicia.

What led to the fall of the Assyrian Empire?

Attacks from the Neo-Babylonian and Iranian Mede Empires.

What was the impact of the Neo-Babylonian Empire on Assyria?

It destroyed key Assyrian cities by 612 B.C.E.

What was the significance of the military campaigns in northern Mesopotamia?

They rapidly depopulated the region.

What was the Persian Empire known for?

It was the largest empire to date, uniting diverse peoples and cultural systems.

Which civilizations did the Persians engage in rivalry and war with?

The Greeks.

What languages did the Persians and Greeks share?

Indo-European languages.

What is the primary source of knowledge about ancient Persians?

Greek accounts, which are often biased and limited.

What geographic feature makes northeastern Iran vulnerable to attacks?

The lack of natural borders.

What are some important geographic features of ancient Iran?

Zagros and Caucasus mountains, Great Salt Desert, and mountain streams.

What enabled agricultural development in ancient Iran?

Irrigation systems that allowed movement from mountain valleys to plains.

What was the role of local leaders in ancient Iranian irrigation projects?

They oversaw the projects, especially when a strong central authority was present.

What mineral resources were minimally used in ancient Iran?

Copper, tin, iron, gold, and silver.

Who were the Medes?

The first Iranians to achieve complex political organization, influenced by Mesopotamia.

How did Cyrus the Great come to power?

He united the Persian tribes and overthrew the Medes around 550 B.C.E.

What was the structure of early Iranian society?

Divided into warrior, priest (Magi), and peasant classes.

What territories did Cyrus conquer during his reign?

Lydia and some Greek states in Anatolia, and he vanquished the Neo-Babylonians.

Who succeeded Cyrus the Great?

Cambyses.

What was Darius I known for during his reign?

Extending the empire and creating a new organizational structure for governance.

How did Darius I manage the vast Persian Empire?

He divided it into 20 provinces, each headed by a satrap.

What was a chief duty of the satraps?

To collect and send tribute to the king.

What was the significance of the roads maintained in the Persian Empire?

They connected provinces to the empire's center at Susa.

What role did elite Persian women play in society?

They were influential in politics, owned property, and traveled.

What was the title used for the Persian king?

Shahanshah.

What was the divine mandate of Darius and his successors?

Their authority derived from the support of Ahuramazda, the Zoroastrian god.

What ethical standards did Zoroastrianism promote?

High ethical standards and the promise of salvation.