The Hittites

1
The Hittites the Beginning of the Iron Age
2
Hittite Empire
3
The Hittites were the first society to make tools
and weapons out of iron. They were responsible
for starting the new age called the Iron Age.
4
Hattusas - Capital of the Hittites Lions Gate
5
Hittite Chariots Warriors
They also used horses in their wars. The first
horses were small, and the Hittites figured out
how to breed larger ones. Soldiers who fight on
horses were called cavalry.
6

• They were able to build a large empire because of
  their military strength. Between 1400 BC and
  1200 BC, they ruled over most of the Fertile
  Crescent.

7
The people lived in cities fortified by thick
stone walls. They build palaces and temples.
Outside the cities, farmers grew food for
everyone. Their empire fell apart around 1200 BC.
8
A Balance of Power 1200 B. C. E.
9
The Assyrian Empire
10
Now, the Assyrians and the Chaldeans conquered
the Jews. Assyrians ruled the Fertile Crescent
for 300 years. Their armies were strong with iron
weapons, foot soldiers with giant shields,
archers and a cavalry and horse driven chariots.
They were cruel warriors.
11
The Assyrian Empire
12
Assyrian cities were the centers of commerce,
which is the buying, selling and transportation
of products. The first major city they built was
called Assur, which was located on the Tigris
River.
13
The streets were laid out in blocks, just as our
are in Chicago. Some cities even had aqueducts
which are large stone canals which brought water
from mountain streams.
AQUEDUCT
14
Later, the Assyrians built a capital city called
Ninevah. Traders came from all over the world to
Ninevah. This ancient city had parks and a zoo.
15
Assyrian Military Power
Assyrian soldiers carrying away the enemys gods.
16
Assyrian War Bulletin 1500 600 BC
I destroyed, I demolished, I burned. I took
their warriors prisoner and impaled them on
stakes before their cities. flayed the nobles,
as many as had rebelled, and spread their skins
out on the piles of dead corpses
17
many of the captives I burned in a fire. Many I
took alive from some I cut off their hands to
the write, from other I cut off their noses, ears
and fingers I put out the eyes of many of the
soldiers."
18
The Chaldeans conquered the Assyrians around 605
BC and the most famous ruler was King
Nebuchadnezzar. He was the king when the kingdom
of Judah was conquered and he destroyed the
beautiful temple Solomon built.
19
Jewish Captives 8c BCE
20
He also was famous for creating the Hanging
Gardens of Babylon for his favorite wife. This
was one of the seven wonders of the Ancient
World.
21
Hanging Gardensof Babylon?
22
Babylon under the Chaldeans
23
Nebuchadnezzar IIs Babylon
24
Ishtar Gate a gate to the inner city of Babylon
25
(No Transcript)
26
The Phoenicians Transmitters of Civilizations
27
The Phoenicians were famous because they spread
their culture and civilization as traders
sailors
28
Phoenician Sea Routes around the Mediterranean Sea
29
A Phoenician Bireme Ship
30
Phoenicia was made up of different city-states,
which are cities that govern themselves and the
surrounding countryside. They made their living
as sailors and learned to navigate the seas at
night using the North Star.
31
Phoenicians are famous also for founding
Carthage, which was the center of a great trading
empire.
32
Carthage Phoenicias Mightiest Colony
33
Their purple dye was famous. It was a secret
recipe. They used a gland found in snails that
had a substance that turned purple when it was in
the light. This purple was so valued it became
the color of royalty.
34
They mainly traded lumber from trees known as the
cedars of Lebanon and dye.
35
Snails used for The Royal Purple Dye
36
Finally, the greatest contribution the
Phoenicians made to civilization was the alphabet.
37
They had invented a system in which each letter
was based on a single sound. By 1500 BC, the
alphabet had 22 letters but no vowels. Later,
the Greeks added vowels. According to your
history book, this is one of the greatest
inventions in world history.
38
Phoenician Alphabet
39
Phoenician City of ByblosHome of the Alphabet
40
The Persian Empire
41
The Persian Empire
42
The first Persians were nomads who settled in
Iran. The founder of the Persian Empire was
called Cyrus the great.
43
Cyrus the Great

• 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, because in 537, he allowed over 40,000 to
  return to Palestine.

580 529 B. C. E.
44
He was called great because he was able to
conquer and rule people without making enemies.
He conquered the Lydians who lived in Turkey and
who also minted the first coins. He also
conquered the Chaldeans and ended the Jewish
captivity in Babylon. The Phoenicians welcomed
him too.
45
Cyrus the great was killed in battle in 529 BC.
Cyrus the Great allowed the Hebrew exiles to
resettle and rebuild Jerusalem, earning him an
honored place in Judaism.
46
Darius I is known as Persias greatest leader.
He became king around 521 BC.
47
Darius I (the Great) (526 485 B. C. E.)

• Built Persepolis.
• He extended the Persian Empire to the
  Indus River in northern India.
• Built a canal in Egypt.
• Established a tax-collecting system.

48
Persepolis Capital of the Persian Empire
49
(No Transcript)
50
Persepolis
51
The People of Persepolis
52
The Persian Empire is famous for creating the
first pony express. Daruis had built a long
highway that was 1677 miles long. Along the
highways were 111 stations where fresh horses and
riders waited to continue the journey. The road
was guarded and also provided food and shelter
for travelers.
53
Darius the Great

• He divided the empire into districts or
  provinces called SATRAPIES. Each province was
  governed by a Persian noble who had a lot of
  power.
• Built the great Royal Road system which greatly
  improved communication.
• Established a complex postal system.
• Created a network of spies called the Kings
  eyes and ears. They were government agents who
  checked on the rulers of his satrapies so that
  they would not try to conquer him.

54
Persian Royal Road
55
Persian Archers Soldiers
56
Xerxes was the next king of Persia. He was the
son of Darius I, but not as capable as his
father. The last king of Persia Daruis III was
defeated by Alexander the great and that ended
the empire.