The Fertile Crescent - Nettelhorst School Fertile Crescent... · The Phoenicians invented...
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1 The Fertile Crescent "We're in That Fertile Crescent" Learn more about this topic! Each section gives more detail on one of the lyrics from the song. Read each section, and then respond by answering the question or taking notes on key ideas. Lyric: Intro Lyric: Intro Welcome to the birthplace of civilization. That's what many historians consider the Fertile Crescent, a large chunk of land between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean. Surrounded by desert and irrigated by two mighty rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates, the Fertile Crescent occupies the region we now know as Iraq and Iran. These two rivers snake down the mountains of the north and drain into the Persian Gulf. They frequently overflowed their banks, leaving behind a rich soil that was ideal for growing crops. As is always the case, it was water that allowed powerful civilizations to grow. Notes Lyric: We're chilling like it's summer, in our Sumerian Lyric: We're chilling like it's summer, in our Sumerian city-states, city-states, Sumer was situated between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. On the Persian Gulf end of Mesopotamia was a region called Sumer where farmers built villages that grew and grew, just like the grains being planted. These early settlers built homes using bricks made from the mud the Tigris and Euphrates left behind, and by about 3000 BC there were enough houses to make small cities. Farmers worked together to create irrigation and drainage ditches to direct water where they wanted it and help prevent the great rivers from flooding the cities. By this time, many city-states had grown in the Fertile Crescent: Babylon, Ur, Uruk, Eridu. City-states were just as they sound - cities so large and independent that they became much like states are today, governed by a single ruler and each with their own justice system, trade and military. Notes Name Name Date Date
Transcript of The Fertile Crescent - Nettelhorst School Fertile Crescent... · The Phoenicians invented...
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TheFertileCrescent"We'reinThatFertileCrescent"
Learnmoreaboutthistopic!Eachsectiongivesmoredetailononeofthelyricsfromthesong.Readeachsection,andthenrespondbyansweringthequestionortakingnotesonkeyideas.
Lyric:IntroLyric:Intro
Welcometothebirthplaceofcivilization.That'swhatmanyhistoriansconsidertheFertileCrescent,alargechunkoflandbetweenthePersianGulfandtheMediterranean.Surroundedbydesertandirrigatedbytwomightyrivers,theTigrisandtheEuphrates,theFertileCrescentoccupiestheregionwenowknowasIraqandIran.ThesetworiverssnakedownthemountainsofthenorthanddrainintothePersianGulf.Theyfrequentlyoverflowedtheirbanks,leavingbehindarichsoilthatwasidealforgrowingcrops.Asisalwaysthecase,itwaswaterthatallowedpowerfulcivilizationstogrow.
Notes
Lyric:We'rechill inglikeit'ssummer,inourSumerianLyric:We'rechill inglikeit'ssummer,inourSumeriancity-states,city-states,
SumerwassituatedbetweentheTigrisandEuphratesRivers.
OnthePersianGulfendofMesopotamiawasaregioncalledSumerwherefarmersbuiltvillagesthatgrewandgrew,justlikethegrainsbeingplanted.TheseearlysettlersbuilthomesusingbricksmadefromthemudtheTigrisandEuphratesleftbehind,andbyabout3000BCthere
wereenoughhousestomakesmallcities.Farmersworkedtogethertocreateirrigationanddrainageditchestodirectwaterwheretheywanteditandhelppreventthegreatriversfromfloodingthecities.
Bythistime,manycity-stateshadgrownintheFertileCrescent:Babylon,Ur,Uruk,Eridu.City-stateswerejustastheysound-citiessolargeandindependentthattheybecamemuchlikestatesaretoday,governedbyasinglerulerandeachwiththeirownjusticesystem,tradeandmilitary.
Notes
NameName DateDate
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Lyric:thearch,weputitonourcitygates.Lyric:thearch,weputitonourcitygates.
Sumerianchariot
TheSumeriansarecreditedwithsomeofthemostamazinginventionsinhumanhistory.Theyinventedthearch.Theymadewagons,thefirst-everwheeled
vehicles(thewheelitselfwasprobablyinventedearlier).Theyaccuratelytrackedthestars.Andtheydecidedtodividetimeintoblocksof60:Theyput60secondsinaminute,and60minutesinanhour.
Notes
Lyric:ziggurats,Lyric:ziggurats,
AncientzigguratinmoderndayIraq
Sumerianswereapolytheisticpeople-theybelievedtherewasnotjustonebutmanygods,whosefavortheyneededtolivegoodlives.Eachcity-statehadaparticularfavoriteorpatrongod.Inhonorofthesedeities,thepeoplebuilt
hugetemples,likepyramidswithstairsupthesides.Thesewereziggurats,andtheywereoftenthecenterpiecesofcity-states.
Notes
Lyric:Butwhenwe'rewritingit, wewriteitinLyric:Butwhenwe'rewritingit, wewriteitincuneiform.cuneiform.
Sumeriantabletofabillofsaleforamaleslaveandabuilding
TheMesopotamiansusedetchingsonstonetabletstotelltheirstoriesanddisplaytheirrules.Theydevelopedsomeoftheearliestformsofwriting.ThesystemusedbySumerianscribeswascalledcuneiform,anditusedsmallgeometricalshapesscratchedintowet
stonethatlaterdriedandhardenedtorecountstoriesandkeeptrackoftrade,taxes,militaryissues,andmore.Thankstothewidespreaduseofcuneiform,historiansknowmuchaboutMesopotamiancultureandthemanytransformationsitwentthroughoverthecenturies.
Notes
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Lyric:I'mSargontheGreat, EmpirebuilderfortheLyric:I'mSargontheGreat, EmpirebuilderfortheAkkadians.Akkadians.
Awingedbull,orlamassu,fromSargon'spalace
Sargonisthoughttobethefirstrulerinworldhistorytohaveapermanent,standingarmyathiscommand,anarmythatwasoneofthefirsttousebowsandarrows.HewastheemperoroftheAkkadiansaround2000BC.Sargonusedhistroopstocreatetheworld'searliestempire,ahugeterritoryintheMiddle
East.Forthetimes,itwasavastkingdom;theworldhadneverseenanythinglikeit.
Notes
Lyric:Ibabbleonthesetracks,putBabylonontheLyric:Ibabbleonthesetracks,putBabylononthemaps.maps.
TheLionofBabylonisanimportantsymbolinIraqiculture.
Impressiveasitwas,Sargon'sempiredidn'tlast.Allempireswere(andstillare)
basedonpower,whichisbasedonthethreatofviolence:Whoeverhasthestrongestarmywillrule.TheBabylonianswerethenextpower-hungryarmytoconquerMesopotamia.
Notes
Lyric:Hammurabi, youcancallmePapi,Lyric:Hammurabi, youcancallmePapi,
Hammurabiwasanimpressivemilitaryleader
TheBabylonianarmywasledbyamightyleadernamedHammurabi(1792-1750BC).HerosetopowermuchlikehispredecessorSargon,drivingwedgesbetweenthecitiesofSumerandsystematicallyconqueringeachoneinturn.Hehadawell-trainedarmyofax-andspear-totingfootsoldiers.
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Lyric:Hammurabi'sCodematchestoothfortooth,Lyric:Hammurabi'sCodematchestoothfortooth,
ThefamousCodeofHammurabi
Mesopotamiabecamefamousforwhatwaslongthoughtofasthefirstwrittencodeoflawsintheworld.(Historiansnowsaytherewereearliercodifiedlaws.)TheselawswerebroughtintobeingbyHammurabi.Hammurabi'sCode,etchedintoatablet,included282lawsbasedlargelyontheprincipleofretribution:Ifyoupokeoutafreeperson'seye,youreyeispokedout,too.Itmetedoutharshpunishmentsfor
crimes,especiallywhentheywerecommittedbypeopleofthelowerclass.Mesopotamiansocietywasstronglydividedbyclassanditgavemenfarmorerightsthanwomen.
Notes
Lyric:We'retheAssyrians,assassins,Lyric:We'retheAssyrians,assassins,
TheAssyrianempirearound700BC
Inabout700BCtheAssyrians,apeoplewholivedinthehillsattheendoftheTigrisRiver,movedintotheareathatHammurabihadruled.Usingiron
weapons(liketheHittitestothenorth),theysoonacquiredalloftheFertileCrescentandmuchofthesurroundingterritory.Theydidthisthewaymostconqueringhappens:bykillingpeople.Luckilyfortheirenemies,theAssyrianempirelastedlessthanacentury.
Notes
Lyric:Withthatoldbook:EpicofGilgamesh.Lyric:Withthatoldbook:EpicofGilgamesh.
TheSunGodandChaosMonster
Whenyourarmyentersacity,you,asgeneral,hadthreebasicchoices:Youcouldoccupythis,takeeverythingvaluableandleaveit,orburnittotheground.WhentheAssyriansinvadedBabylon,theychoseoptionnumber3.
Butallwasn'tlost.Oneofthegreatthingstheydidwasbuildaroyallibrary,whichhousedacopyofoneoftheoldeststorieseverwrittendown:theEpicofGilgamesh.TheEpicofGilgameshisalongpoemaboutalegendarykingnamedGilgameshwhomayormaynothaveexisted.Regardless,theepictalewrittendownmostcertainlycontainedsomemyths(made-upstories)aswell.
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Lyric:Nobodyruledbetter, I'mNebuchadnezzar,Lyric:Nobodyruledbetter, I'mNebuchadnezzar,
TheTowerofBabelbyPieterBruegeltheElder(1563)
TheAssyriansweretoppledinpartbytheChaldeans,whocamefrompresent-daySyria.ItwastheirKingNebuchadnezzar(605-562BC)whowasthenextgreatrulerofthearea.He
rebuiltBabylon,makingitonceagainthemostimportantcityintheregion.TheGreekhistorianHerodotusdescribeditashavingwalls56mileslongand320feethigh(thougharchaeologicalevidencehasthematabout10mileslongandnotnearlyashigh).AccordingtotheBible,thecity-centerwasdominatedbytheenormousTowerofBabel.
Notes
Lyric:SoIbuilttheHangingGardensofBabylonformyLyric:SoIbuilttheHangingGardensofBabylonformygirl,girl,
EngravingofthefabledHangingGardensofBabylon
ItwastheHangingGardensofBabylonthatbecameoneofthesevenwondersoftheancientworld.Legendhasitthattheywerebuilttoplease
Nebuchadnezzar'swife,whomissedthegreen,mountainouslandthatshecamefrom.Soherhusbandhadaterracedgarden,overflowingwithplants,constructedforher.Byallaccountsitwasextraordinary-fromadistancethegreeneryseemedsuspendedinair.Unfortunately,itwasdestroyedbyearthquakesaround200BC.
Notes
Lyric:Phoenicians:Wherewegetouralphabetfrom.Lyric:Phoenicians:Wherewegetouralphabetfrom.
ComparisonofPhoenicianalphabets
AlongtheMediterraneancoastoftheMiddleEast,auniquecivilizationwasdoingthingsalittledifferently.TheywerethePhoenicians.Oneoftheirlegaciesisourmodern-dayalphabet.TheiralphabetwasadaptedbytheGreeksand
thentheRomans;it'snottoodifferentfromtheoneweusetoday.
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Lyric:Trading,andstandingstrong.Lyric:Trading,andstandingstrong.
MapofPhoeniciantraderoutes
ThePhoeniciansrealizedthatpowerwasn'tjustabouthavingthebiggestarmy;itwasalsoabouthavingthemostmoney.SotheybuiltatradingempirethatconnectedvarioustribesandcivilizationsaroundtheMediterranean.
Butwhat'sthebestwaytogetgoodsfromoneplacetoanother?Notonricketyoldcartswherebanditscanrobyouateveryturn,butonfastships.
Notes
Lyric:Wesetsailonseas,Lyric:Wesetsailonseas,
CarvingofaPhoenicianship
ThePhoeniciansbuiltalotofimpressiveships.TheirshipsmadeitallthewaytoBritainandthewestcoastofAfrica,bringingwood,slaves,andglasstotheGreeksandNorthAfricans.
Notes
Lyric:Dyecloth,peoplelike,"Igottohavethat."Lyric:Dyecloth,peoplelike,"Igottohavethat."
Shellsofthespinydye-murex,sourceofthedye
ThePhoeniciansinventedglassblowing,butthetrulyhotproducteveryonejusthadtohavewaspurpledye.Theygotthedyefromaspecialkindofseasnailthatbasicallysneezeditout.OnlythePhoenicianslivednearthesnails,soonlytheyhadtheroyalpurpledye.Apparently,itwassoexpensive,itwasworthitsweightinsilver.Infact,the
wordPhoenicianmeans"purplepeople"inGreek.
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Lyric:Youdon'thavetobarter, Lydiansmadecents,Lyric:Youdon'thavetobarter, Lydiansmadecents,
ALydiancoin
InnearbyTurkeyin687BC,theLydiansrosetopower.TheirkingwasGyges,who
wasfriendlywiththeGreeks(whoweregainingpowertotheirwest).TheLydianswrotethemselvesintohistorybyissuingthefirstgoldcoins.Beforethen,nogovernmenthadevercomeupwithitsownsinglecurrency.
Notes
Lyric:BetweenEgyptandBabylon,we'retheHebrews,Lyric:BetweenEgyptandBabylon,we'retheHebrews,
A1692mapofCanaan
Meanwhile,ontheMediterraneancoastinaplaceknownasCanaan,theHebrewswereorganizingastateunderaseriesofkings.TheJewsdifferedfromotherculturesintheregionbecausetheyweremonotheistic-theyworshippedasinglegod,knownasYahweh-andtheywere
nomadic,followingtheirherds.
Notes
Lyric:Til l MosesshowedusTenCommandments.Lyric:Til l MosesshowedusTenCommandments.
Rembrandt'sMoseswiththeTenCommandments
AccordingtotheBible,theHebrewsweren'talwaysmonotheistic.Atonepointtheyworshippedmanydifferentdeities.ThatchangedwhenMosesbroughttheTenCommandmentsdownfromamountain,andtheHebrewsagreedtoworshiponlyonegod.
Notes
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Lyric:UntilKingSaulfinally reunitedus.Lyric:UntilKingSaulfinally reunitedus.
ProcessionofPhilistineCaptives
Inthemid-1000sBC,KingSaulunitedthem,gettingallthetribestogethertofacethePhilistines,wholivedonthesameseacoast.ThisbeganabattlethatstillcontinuestothisdayintheIsraeli-ArabconflictinMiddleEast.
Notes
Lyric:DavidbuiltJerusalem,IntheBible,hedefeatsLyric:DavidbuiltJerusalem,IntheBible,hedefeatsGoliath,yaheardofhim?Goliath,yaheardofhim?
Jerusalemtoday
AfterSaul,KingDaviddefeatedthePhilistinesandotherenemiesandconqueredthecityofJerusalem,whichhemadehiscapital.
Notes
Lyric:HissonSolomonbuiltthetemple,Lyric:HissonSolomonbuiltthetemple,
TheTempleofSolomonatthecenterofAncientJerusalem
Inabout965BC,KingSolomon,David'sson,cametopower..KingSolomonmadeHebrewcontrolovertheareacomplete.Hebuiltanempireforhispeopleand,accordingtotheBible,the
FirstTempleinJerusalem.
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Lyric:InventionsLyric:Inventions
Problem#1Problem#1
Wallsarepreventingmyarmiesfromenteringacitytoconquerit.
Solution
Digunderthewallstomakethemcrumble,andusebatteringrams,largelogscarriedbyseveralsoldierstoramanddestroygatesanddoors.
Inventors
TheAssyrians
Problem#2Problem#2
Bronzeisexpensivetomake.Itrequirescopperandtin,andIcan'tfindmuchofeitherone.
Solution
Useironinstead.It'snearlyasstrong,andmucheasiertoproduce.SoonthiswillstarttheIronAge,duringwhichalmostallweaponsandarmorwillbemadefromiron.
Inventors
TheHittites,theChinese
Notes
Lyric:HistorySpeaksLyric:HistorySpeaks
"Ifyoulieandthentellthetruth,thetruthwillbeconsideredalie."
-SumerianProverb
"Whenmanwantedtomakeamachinethatwouldwalk,hecreatedthewheel,whichdoesnotlooklikealeg."
-GuillaumeApollinaire
Notes
Lyric:DiscussionQuestionsLyric:DiscussionQuestions
1.WhydidhistorianscalltheFertileCrescentthecradleofcivilization?
2.Hammurabi'sCodehasbeencomparedtoanoldsayingintheBible.Whatisitthatfamiliarsayingandwhatarethesimilarities?
3.WhydoweknowGilgamesh'snamethousandsofyearsafterhisdeath?
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Lyric:CheckoutthecompleteFertileCrescentlessonLyric:CheckoutthecompleteFertileCrescentlessonplan.plan.
.forthecompletelessonplan.
Notes
