Chapter 2 Section 2: Fertile Crescent Empires

Main Idea

Indo-European invaders introduced new technologies to the Fertile Crescent while adapting earlier technologies developed by the civilizations they encountered there.

Reading Focus

•What military advantages helped the Hittites establish an empire in Asia Minor?

•What events led to the rise and fall of the Assyrian and Chaldean empires?

•What were the main achievements of the Phoenicians?

Section 2: Fertile Crescent Empires

Summary

I. The Hittites

Babylonian Empire declined, nomadic tribes fought over land and wealth

I. The Hittites

Invaders included Indo-Europeans from the steppes north of Black Sea

I. The Hittitesc. 2000 BC – Hittites settled in Asia Minor and built an empire

I. The HittitesUsed war chariots and new tactics; sacked Babylon in 1595 BC

I. The HittitesBlended their culture with cultures around them; were first to master ironworking

II. The Assyrians and the Chaldeans

A. The AssyriansCame from northern Mesopotamia By 900 BC empire included Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, Egypt

A. The AssyriansFierce warrior society; used war chariots, foot soldiers, cavalry - armed with iron weapons

Soldiers of Assyria going to battle

A. The AssyriansMastered siege warfare; used terror to control conquered areas

Assyrians blinding prisoners. Captives were skinned alive, blinded, impaled, and had limbs, ears, noses, etc. cut off

A. The AssyriansCreated efficient government using local leaders; system of roads connected the empire

A. The AssyriansGreatest cultural achievement - library at Nineveh

Assyrian capital city, Nineveh

Library constructed during the reign of King Ashurbanipal (c. 668-627)

B. The Chaldeans Assyria declined, Chaldeans took power and made Babylon their capital

B. The Chaldeans Most famous king was Nebuchadnezzar II

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

B. The Chaldeans Fought Egyptians and Jews, captured Jerusalem, brought Jews to Babylon as slaves

Babylonian Captivity or Babylonian Exile

III. The Phoenicians

Phoenician Cargo Ship

A. Phoenician Trading Society

Phoenicia - western end of Fertile Crescent; farming difficult, turned to trading and the sea

A. Phoenician Trading Society

Greatest traders of ancient world; established colonies in Italy, Spain, North Africa

A. Phoenician Trading Society

Invented glassblowing; traded glass items, cedar wood, purple dye from a shellfish

Phoenician glass bead necklace The murex

B. Phoenician Alphabet

Greatest achievement was world’s first alphabet