This chapter discusses the Mediterranean and Middle East from 2000-500 BCE. Key events include the rise and fall of civilizations like the Minoans, Mycenaeans, and Assyrians. The Assyrians built a large empire through conquest but eventually overextended themselves, leading to their downfall. Israel was divided into northern and southern kingdoms and both were later invaded by foreign powers. Phoenicia expanded trade throughout the Mediterranean and established colonies like Carthage. The chapter covers politics, culture, trade, and the interactions between these societies in the ancient Middle East and Aegean regions.

1. Unit 1: Foundations
Chapter 3: The
Mediterranean and
Middle East
2000 – 500 B.C.E.

2. Unit 1: Foundations
Chapter 3: The Mediterranean and
Middle East
•Section 1: Cosmopolitan Middle East
•Section 2: Aegean World
•Section 3: The Assyrian Empire
•Section 4: Israel
•Section 5: Phoenicia & the Mediterranean
•Section 6: Failure & Transformation

3. Unit 1: Foundations
Chapter 3: The Mediterranean and Middle East
 Western Asia
 Egypt: New Kingdom
 Commerce & Communication

4. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 1: Middle East
A. Western Asia
1. Cosmopolitan - culture diffusion across
Mesopotamia
2. South - Kassites ruled Babylonia- no empire
3. North - Assyria (Tigris R. )- tin & silver trade
Hittites (Anatolia/Turkey)
a. Used horse-drawn chariots
b. Metallurgy - copper, silver, and iron
c. First to use iron tools & weapons

5. B. Egypt - New Kingdom Ramesses II
Queen Hatsheput
Amarna

6. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 1: Middle East
B. Egypt - New Kingdom
1. Middle Kingdom - decline & conquered by Hyksos
2. New Kingdom – empire building!!!
a. North - Palestine
b. South - Nubia
3. Rulers
a. Hatsheput - trade with Punt
b. Akenaten - Monotheistic – only god: Aten
i. New capital built at Amarna
c. Ramessides - new Dynasty – largest ever!
i. Ramesses II – strong ruler of largest empire
-

7. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 1: Middle East
C. Commerce & Communication
1. Commerce- Syria/Palestine important center of
metal trade routes (Mesop > Med)
a. Caused Egypt & Hitittes to fight for control of this area
b. Metals had to be traded for
i. Copper – Arabia & Cyprus
ii. Tin – Afghanistan
iii. Silver – Anatolia
iv. Gold – Nubia
2. Communication
a. Animals –
 camels, horses & chariots
a. Language – writing became the norm of all govts

8. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 2: Aegean World
Section 2:
The Aegean World
2000 – 1100 B.C.E.
 Minoans
 Mycenaeans
 Fall of
Bronze Age
Civilizations

9. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 2: Aegean World
A. Minoans ( - 1450 BCE)
1. Little is Known
a. Legends of King Minos, labyrinth beneath his palace
& the Minotaur
b. Archeological evidence @ Cnossus, Phaistos, Mallia
c. Influenced by Egypt, Syria & Mesopotamia
2. Fall – most likely conquered by Mycenaeans
The Minotaur was a savage
creature with the body of a bull,
the upper torso of a man, and
the head of a bull.

10. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 2: Aegean World
B. Mycenae (1600 - 1450 BCE)
1. Legend of Homer’s: Iliad and Odyssey
2. Archeological evidence (Schliemann – 1876)
a. Shaft graves, gold & silver jewelry, palaces
3. Culture
1. Hilltop citadels & fortified walls
2. Luxury living for rich: houses and tombs
3. Writing - Linear B
4. State control
1. Mutual dependent city/states
2. Organized agriculture and wool production

11. Mycenaean Grave Sites

12. Linear B Writing

13. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 2: Aegean World
B. Mycenae (1600 - 1100 BCE)
5. Long Distance Trade
a. Evidence in Egypt, Aegean and Middle East
b. Exports: wine, olive oil, weapons, crafts, slaves and
mercenaries
c. Imports: ivory, gold, copper, tin

14. Trade

15. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 2: Aegean World
C. Fall of Bronze Age (1100 BCE)
1. Hittites destroyed by unknown invaders
2. Egypt loses control of Nubia
3. Mycenae declines: internal and external forces
 Invasion, trade routes seized, economic collapse
4. “Dark Age”
 Poverty, isolation, decline of knowledge

16. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 3: Assyria
Section 3:
The Assyrians
911-612 B.C.E.
 Background
 God & King
 Conquest & Control
 Society & Culture

17. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 3: Assyria
A. Background & Location
1. Northern Mesopotamia
2. Empire - began in 9th Century BCE
 Expanded trade routes
• Westward to Mediterranean
• North to modern Armenia
• East to modern Iran
• South to Babylonia

18. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 3: Assyria
B. God & King
1. Kings were chosen by the gods & highly revered
2. Celebrated as heroes - produce awe & fear
Secular Duties Religious Duties
 Receiving information  Supervision of state
 Hearing and deciding religion
complaints  Public and private rituals
 Diplomacy  Consulting and getting
 Military leadership approval of gods
3. Assyrian Kings: Assur-nasirpal II, Tiglath-pileser III,
Sargon II, Sennacherib, Esar-haddon

19. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 3: Assyria
C. Conquest & Control
1. Strong Army - ½ million soldiers
a. Technology – iron weapons, cavalry, couriers, signal fires,
spy networks
b. Highly feared
 Terrorism
 Deportation

20. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 3: Assyria
C. Conquest & Control
2. Officials
a. Collected tribute & taxes
b. Maintain law & order
c. Troops – train & supply
d. Construct & maintain public works (roads, bridges)

21. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 3: Assyria
D. Society & Culture
1. 3 Social Classes:
a. Free Landowning
b. Farmers & artisans
c. Slaves
2. Economy based on agriculture
3. Culture influenced from earlier Mesopotamia
4. Knowledgeable in math and astronomy
5. Extensive libraries – Epic of Gilgamesh found here

22. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 4: Israel
Section 4:
Israel
2000 - 500 BCE
 Background
 Origins
 Exodus
 Monarchy
 Culture
 Decline

23. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 4: Israel
A. Background
1. Nomadic herders
2. Caravan traders (no resources)
B. Origins
1. Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac & Jacob
2. Tension with neighbors (a lasting theme)
C. Exodus
1. Egyptian slavery is disputed – maybe Hyksos
2. Settled into Canaanite territory (battles)

24. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 4: Israel
D. Monarchy
1. Need for strong central govt.
2. Saul, David, Solomon – then divided in two
 Solomon: Strongest, wealthiest of all Israelite kings
 Alliances, built Jerusalem Temple
 300 wives, 600 concubines
3. Temples: sacrifices: ag & animal
 Priests became rich off of “taxes” – led to corruption

25. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 4: Israel
E. Culture
1. Families:
a. Patriarchal
b. Arranged monogamous marriages
 Men could have affairs & rich could have multiple wives
c. Lived with extended families
2. Women
a. Could not own property or initiate divorce
b. Domestic: raising children, maintain house, ag/herd
c. Urban areas: women worked outside of the home
3. Temples: sacrifices: ag & animal
 Priests became rich off of “taxes” – led to corruption

26. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 4: Israel
F. Decline
1. Solomon’s sons divided the kingdom in two
a. North: Israel - Capital: Samaria
b. South: Judah - Capital: Jerusalem
2. Foreign Invasion
 Assyrian invasion of Israel (north) 721 BCE
 Babylonian invasion of Judah
 Large portion of population deported back to Babylon
3. Diaspora
 Scattering of Jewish population
 Unity: Religious rituals, dietary restrictions, Sabbath

27. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 5: Phoenicia
Section 5: Phoenicia & Carthage
1200 - 500 BCE
 Background
 Expansion
 Carthage

28. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 5: Phoenicia
A. Background
1. Modern day Lebanon
2. Descendents of Syria, Lebanon & Israel:
3. Major cities: Byblos, Berytus, Sidon & Tyre
4. First alphabetical writing system

29. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 5: Phoenicia
B. Expansion
1. Tyre expanded throughout the Med. Sea:
Cyprus, N. Africa, Spanish coast, Sardinia, Sicily & Malta
1. Need for resources
• Since Assyria conquered Syria & Palestine, they need ag.
Land and other resources

30. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 5: Phoenicia
C. Carthage
1. Modern day Tunisia
2. Governed by 2 judges
3. Strong Navy, controlled W. Med. sea trade
4. Religion: polytheistic, child sacrifices

31. Carthage

32. Unit 1: Chapter 3: Section 6: Transformation
Section 6: Assyrian Consequences
750 – 550 BCE
1. Destruction of Israel: deportation of Jews
2. Phoenicians expanded into the Med Sea
3. Invasion of Egypt
4. Control of Babylon & W. Iran
5. Empire too large, army overextended, resources
drained, revolts and rebellions
 Neo-Babylonians rise up & defeat the Assyrians