The Phoenicians and the Lydians along with Judaism

1. The Phoenicians and the Lydians along with Judaism CH 2 Section 5 & 6

2. Chapter review • Who was Gilgamesh? • Why was Persian rule effective? • The Hittites law code contained what for minor offences? • What is the name of the symbol based writing? • What was different about the rivers in the Fertile crescent?

3. The Phoenicians • The people of the western part of the Fertile crescent did not create large empires, but did have great influence over the region • The area we are talking about is modern day Israel, Lebanon, and Syria • Back then the area was known as Phoenicia • It Consisted of a group of city-states each of which was governed by a different king • The land was not fertile and the mountainous terrain made it hard to migrate, thus the people started a sea trade

4. The Phoenician empire. Obviously, very coastal and thus based on trade and maritime pursuits.

5. The Phoenician Trade • The sea ports of Tyre and Sidon became world famous (or at least the known world) • The Phoenicians were skilled sailors that used small frail boats by today standards; but might have sailed as far away as Britain • They reached their peak as world traders in the centuries after 1000 BC and they established colonies throughout the Mediterranean • Their one major export was lumber which was used for building but did have other exports • They invented the art of glassblowing and the City of Sidon became well known for its glass

7. Trade continued • They had a shellfish called murex they used to make a purple dye. Cloth dyed in this purple was prized by people throughout the world • This purple was a favorite with royalty and thus purple became known as royal purple • {This Purple cloth is what they became famous for}

8. Phoenician Culture • They were known for imitating other cultures they came in contact with during trade • Their religion offered people little comfort. They believed in an after life but tried to win the favor of the gods and would even sacrifice their kids • This was done very rarely but it was done if they believed the gods were very angry with them • {They developed an alphabet that was adopted by the Assyrians when they conquered • This is the alphabet that the modern day alphabet is modeled after}

9. The spread of the Phoenician alphabet is a good example of Cultural Diffusion • The Phoenicians used writing in trade to draw up contracts and record bills • The advantage of having these records were seen by all of the people that they traded with • Thus the Phoenician alphabet was spread to the other cultures of the Mediterranean who in turn spread it to the people they would come in contact with • The Greeks improved it by adding symbols for vowels. The Romans adopted it and eventually developed the alphabet we use today

10. The Phoenician alphabet.

12. The Lydians • In ancient times the Western part of Asia was known as called Lydia (modern day Turkey) • They did not create a Empire but are known as the first to use coined money • They made small kidney shaped coins made of a silver gold mixture • The precursor to coins was the barter system where you needed to find someone who wanted what you offered • Barter is the exchange of one good or service for another; {Goods that have value are known as commodities}

13. Lydians Continued • In contrast money allowed traders to set prices for their goods and services • {The Money Economy that was developed was based on the use of money as a measure of value and unit of account} • This was passed on to the Greeks and Persians who in turn passed it on to the people they came in contact with in other parts of the world

14. The Origins of Judaism Section 6

15. The Hebrews • South of Phoenicia was the land known as Canaan which was inhabited by a series of people • At times the Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Persians, Syrians, dominated the region • One group that lived here were the Hebrews ancestors of the modern Jews • According to the bible the Abraham (founder of the Hebrews) once lived in Sumer • Modern Jews trace their heritage through Jacob, Abrahams grandson. His 12 children established the Twelve tribes of Israel

16. The Exodus • The Decedents of Abraham left Canaan and traveled into Egypt probably to escape famine • They lived in Egypt peacefully for some time but at some point fell from favor • Some believe they entered as slaves of the Hyksos when they invaded Egypt • After the Hyksos were driven out the Hebrews became slaves of the Egyptians for 400 years • {They were led out of slavery by Moses where they fled into the desert and wandered in the wilderness this is known as the Exodus}

17. A map of the traditional route of the ‘Exodus’ from Egypt.

18. The ten commandments • During this time of wandering Moses claimed to the top of Mt. Sinai • He returned with the Ten Commandments, or laws of the Hebrew god Yahweh, given to Moses by god himself • The first four establish the relationship between the people and Yahweh • The rest deals with self-restraint and underscore the importance of family • The Hebrews entered into a covenant, or solemn agreement, with Yahweh

19. Continued… • Moses announced that Canaan was the land promised to his ancestors • He also announced he was sent to found a holy nation for Yahweh • They wandered the desert for many years until they came to the land of Canaan and expected to find the promised land “flowing with milk and honey” • It was not

20. The Founding of Israel • The Hebrews remained a lose confederation of tribes maintaining a strong central shrine for the ark of the covenant containing the ten commandments • Leaders of these tribes called Judges enforced these laws and settled disputes between the tribes • They also listened to prophets that came from time to time to warn that the people were incurring gods wrath • The Hebrews fought the Canaanites and the Philistines over the land north of the Sinai Peninsula

21. Continued… • The Hebrews fought over this land for the next 200 years conquering the Canaanites first • The Philistines were eventually driven to the coast but never conquered

22. The 12 Tribes of Israel • As nomads the Hebrews had divided themselves into 12 different tribes • {These tribes had been united during their years of fighting by Saul who was the first king of the united Israel} • Saul was Succeeded by David who occupied the city of Jerusalem and made it their capital • Under David's son Solomon Israel reached the height of its power and wealth • Solomon used the money gained to build a magnificent temple to God. The temple became the center of religious life in Israel

24. Solomon’s Death • Following Solomon’s death the Israelite nation was split due to fights for political power leading the kingdom to split in two. • These two kingdoms lacked the strength to withstand the attacks from outsiders • In 722 BC the Assyrians came in and conquered Israel, later the Chaldeans conquered Judah and destroyed Solomon's temple • Later when the Persians came in they allowed the Hebrews to return to their homeland and rebuild the great temple

25. Solomon's Temple

26. The Development of Judaism • The Hebrew scriptures tell of the creation of the world and the special mission of the Hebrews • This is known as the Old Testament in the Christian Bible • The First five books of the old testament are the Torah which includes the Ten Commandments • It also included Mosaic law which placed a higher value on human life • It demanded kindness toward the poor and slaves • It stated that all people deserved kindness and respect

27. The Religion • The Early Hebrews worshiped Yahweh as the only god • They believed that Yahweh protected them from enemies and provided them with food and water • If you sinned against him you would be punished along with your children and future generations • There for you have a god you should fear which should explain the Old Testament. (the stories of the Flood, the seven plagues, fire and brimstone)

28. Yahweh

29. Change in understanding • People came to believe that you had a choice between good and evil which you were held responsible for • The good news for is that you had the freedom to chose • The Hebrews came to think of {Yahweh as a god who lived in your heart, you served him out of love not fear} • He was a spiritual force. Not a human like god with human attributes like the Roman or Greek gods

30. Continued… • {The Hebrew religion was monotheistic or based on the belief in one god • It emphasized ethics or proper conduct and is sometimes called ethical monotheism} • The Jewish system of ethics was carried over to the founding of Christianity • Many people refer to the these values first established by the Hebrews as Judeo-Christian ethics • These ideas rank among the Hebrews most important contributions to western civilization

31. Section Review • This _______cloth is what Phoenicians became famous for • What alphabet is the modern day alphabet based on? • Goods that have value are known as __________ • What is the Exodus? • Who united the 12 tribes of Israel?

32. Darwin Award

33. The Exodus. Really.