Asian Contributions: Phoenicians

Chapter 4: When Asians Shaped the World

• This chapter identifies important contributions from people of Asian descent

Objectives

• The lesson will focus on recalling significant historical facts from various Asian civilizations
• The lesson aims to research, organize, and demonstrate information about those contributions
• The lesson will help develop an appreciation for the significant contributions of Asian civilizations

The Traders: The Phoenicians

• They were essential to the spread of civilization
• They were the first businesspeople and ordinary sailors in the Mediterranean Sea
• They didn't have one nation, rather they resided in independent city-states
• Coastal city-states included Carthage (Tunisia), Tyre, Biblos, and Sidon
• Modern descendants include Lebanese, Tunisians, and people in Cadiz (Spain), Sicily, and Sardinia (Italy)

The Phoenician Contributions to Civilization

• They spread the first alphabet, and developed the skill of writing words and numbers and keeping records
• They are credited with inventing the first transcontinental social network
• They developed the first method of credit and written payment promises
• They were the best seafarers in the Ancient World, according to the Greeks, they were the first to sail from the Mediterranean to Africa
• According to legend, a Phoenician king's daughter (Europa) gave her name to the continent of Europe, and her brother Cadmus gave the alphabet to the world
• They were the first major shipbuilders, and invented the secret of making purple dye called "phoenix"

The Bankers: The Jews

• The Jews are the chosen people
• They are the only people with a written genealogy that traces their origins to Adam and Eve
• They believe in their being the Chosen People of God
• Their religion dictates "God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth." (Deuteronomy 14:2)

The Jewish Diaspora

• In 70 AD, the Romans ordered the destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and slaughtered more than one million Jewish rebels, marking the start of their "diaspora" or dispersal to many countries
• For thousands of years, the Jews wandered throughout the world as stateless persons, hence the term "wandering Jew."
• Judaism is often mistaken as a Western religion, alongside Christianity
• The first Jews came from Asia but only became prominent in the West for reasons

The Jews Financed the Wars and Expansion of the West

• They had to find a way to survive in the Western kingdoms since they were prohibited from owning land or animals that would compete with the Westerners
• They turned to lending money, their only livelihood, and became moneylenders, bankers, and financiers
• Christians were banned from lending money at interest during the medieval period, so the Jews filled in that role

The Jewish Contributions to Civilization

• The belief in one true God, monotheism, is their most significant legacy to mankind
• A linear view of time can be located in the Bible's story of creation, redemption, and God's final judgment
• Judaism and Christianity came from the Jews
• Jews wrote all books of the Bible, a book holy to both Judaism and Christianity
• The list of great men and women begins with Jesus Christ, the "Messiah"
• Jewish prophets included Abraham, Moses, and Old Testament prophets (Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, etc)
• Jewish scholars, philosophers, writers, artists, and musicians, are world-renowned
• Inventors and discoveries include the polio vaccine, vaccination needle, treatment for leukemia, insulin, the first railroad crossing signal, the cassette player, the sewing machine, jeans, the Google internet search engine, Facebook, etc
• Modern banking and finance was developed by Jews to its current status
• Jewish bankers such as Rothschild, Guggenheim, and Morgan are among the wealthiest
• Jewish bankers financed Western explorations, wars, revolutions, empires, and modern central bank systems
• The modern state of Israel is the only successful democracy in the Middle East and one with the region's most developed military, agricultural, and technological growth

The Victors: The Christians

• The Christians may be regarded as accidental victors who won over their main enemy, the Romans, by unconventional methods
• Christian empires and kingdoms replaced the Roman Empire
• Christianity is the world's largest religion currently with one-third of the world's population as members of Christian churches
• Christianity began in Palestine with Jesus, a Jewish prophet from Nazareth (AD 1-33)
• Disciples believed Jesus was the "Messiah"
• After his death and resurrection, his apostles (Peter, Paul, John, Mark, etc.) and believers spread his teachings (gospel)

Attraction to Christianity

• The Christians attracted followers among Romans, Greeks, and pagan tribes for promising salvation to people in confusing and precarious times
• Their prayers led to miracles, signs, and wonders
• They taught the value of hard work, reading scripture, thrift, and good conduct
• Christian martyrs opted for death rather than renounce their faith, inspiring others
• They had an unusual recruitment policy of accepting and helping everybody
• Christianity came when the Roman Empire declined when life was difficult, depressing, and dangerous
• The Christians stood out due to their confidence and helpfulness, shared resources, and forgave those who hurt them
• Their kindness to women and slaves, who were the most inferior people at the time appealed to many
• Women and poor people were given importance in the teachings of Jesus and his apostles

The Spread of Christianity

• By the first century AD, the Assyrians became the first tribe to convert
• The Mongolians were converted, including Genghis Khan's mother and his daughter-in-law, Sorkakthani
• A pillar in Xian says Christianity came to the Tang Dynasty capital in 635 AD, allowing to build churches and spread their faith
• Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine (306-337 AD), favored the Christians instead of persecuting them
• The mother-and-son story is celebrated in summer festivals in towns and cities of the Philippines called the Santacruzan
• Constantine built a new capital in Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkiye)
• In AD 537, the Church of Hagia Sophia became the first Christian Basilica, even before St. Peter's in Rome
• After 1453 AD, the Moors captured Constantinople, and Christianity disappeared in the East until the Philippines became the first Christian nation in the 16th century

Christianity Around the World

• Christianity spread around the world through the West
• The Apostle Paul (ca. 4 BC-64 AD) was instructed in a dream to turn West instead of East in his missionary journey (Acts 16:9)
• Christianity became more successful in the West than in the East
• In the 16th century, European kingdoms began overseas explorations and began to spread
• From the 16th to the 20th centuries, Western missionaries established churches and new denominations in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Australia
• By 2020, there were 2.4 billion Christians in the world, comprising 33% of the world's population
• Christianity is the world's largest religion in terms of members with the Roman Catholic Church as the largest Christian Denomination
• The largest Christian-majority nations are Europe and North America, the most developed economies
• In Asia, the Christians are found in the Philippines, East Timor, and South Korea
• The Philippines is the first and foremost Christian nation in Asia
• Filipinos have many denominations, churches, schools, and missions in other countries
• No other nation in Asia has such "a gift, a calling, and a destiny" to spread one of civilization's most significant advances to the world

The Contributions of Christians to the World

• Recognition of the value of individual human life, the importance of individual salvation, regardless of age, race, sex, and class
• Called for the abolition of various barbaric practices such as child sacrifice, slavery, class divisions, etc
• Gave women and children equality and rights denied by traditional Asian society
• Promoted new moral and ethical codes that made societies more peaceful, moral, and compassionate
• Taught forgiveness, the Golden Rule, respect for human rights, and legal equality, which differed from traditional values. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"
• Contributed transferring knowledge and innovations in culture and science by building churches, schools, universities, and libraries
• Established hospitals, asylums, prison reform, orphanages, etc.
• Defied tyrants and dictators and promoted individual rights and freedoms
• Believe in the value of time and the irreversible linear movement of time that ends with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ
• Over 70% of the Nobel Prizes have been awarded to Christian scientists, writers, reformers, and organizations benefiting humanity

The First Global Empire: The Persians

• There were five Persian empires: (1) the Achaemenid/Medo-Persian Empire of Cyrus the Great; (2) the Parthian or Arsacid Empire; (3) the Sassanian Empire; (4) the Safavid/Shia Islam Empire; and (5) modern Iran's Pahlavi Dynasty
• The Persian Empire was the first keeper of international peace, trade, and travel in the ancient world
• Before Rome's Pax Romana, was the Pax Persica-The Persian peace (550330 BC)
• The Persians were the most influential in spreading ancient culture further than the other Mesopotamians

Persia's Enemies

• Persia had two Western enemies that belittled its achievements: Rome and Greece
• There is still conflict between the West and Persia
• Persia carried on the longest conflict in world history with Rome for 721 years
• The Greeks led by Alexander the Great ended Persian supremacy
• Ironically, Alexander helped to spread Persian culture to its farthest point in the ancient world

The Achaemenid Empire

• The Persian Achaemenid Empire of Cyrus the Great was the largest and the most powerful of all the other Mesopotamian regional empires
• The Achaemenid (Medo-Persian) Empire (550-330 BC) was the first global empire in history
• The empire was larger and more global than the regional Mesopotamian empires before
• The first Persian Empire ruled over 23 nations on three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe) and conquered an area of over 5.5 million sq. km
• It had subjects, roads, communication, common currency, and access to three cradles of civilization from Mesopotamia to Egypt and the Indus Valley in India
• The ruins of Persepolis, its ancient capital, are located 600 km south of Tehran, the present capital
• It is one of 24 World Heritage sites in Iran, making Iran one of the ten countries with the most valuable cultural heritage sites

Unique Persian Empire Characteristics

• The first Persian Empire differed from other ancient empires — even from Iran today
• Their emperors were tolerant and benevolent who wanted to provide great peace and progress
• The kings did not aim to be popular but strived to be respected and feared in their domains

Origin of The Persians

• The first Persians were poor mountain nomads who raised sheep, cattle, and goats and wove beautiful carpets
• They originated in Central Asia and settled in the Aryan (Iranian) Plateau
• They spoke a language called Parsi/Farsi and were Zoroastrian fire worshipers

Persian Emperors

• Cyrus the Great was the first Persian emperor
• Their greatest hero was the first Persian emperor, Cyrus the Great of the Medes (600-530 BC)
• Cyrus united all the Persian tribes (Medes, Elamites, etc.) and then defeated the Neo-Babylonian Empire for control of Mesopotamia
• His empire was named after his ancestor, Achaemenes
• Darius (550-486 BC) and Xerxes (486-465 BC) were two other great Persian Achaemenid kings
• King Darius introduced the first uniform gold coin called the which was never debased; the Daric coin became the first currency accepted worldwide

Persia Falls

• Persia fell to their mortal enemy, Alexander the Great (356323 AD) of Macedonia
• The East met the West for the first time, and Alexander embraced Persian culture
• Alexander made Persepolis his favorite palace and fused the cultures of East and West in the "Hellenistic" style
• The Parthian (Arsacid) or Second Persian Empire was founded in 247 BC-224 AD
• The following Persian superpower was the Parthian Empire, that was smaller in area but lasted longer at 400 years
• It was founded by Arsaces (Arsacid) of the Parthian region
• Under Mithridates (124-92 BC), their Empire included Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, and Turkey, an area of around 1.8 million km2.
• The Sassanian Empire (226-651 AD) was the longest Persian Empire
• Persia weakened and fell into an internal struggle with Ardashir, the leader of another Persian tribe from southwest Iran, due to wars with Rome
• Ardashir (180-242 AD) founded and named the Sassanian Empire after his grandfather Sassan
• Sassanian Persia traded with the Chinese Tang Dynasty and several Indian kingdoms
• The Sassanians were wealthy from controlling the Silk Trade in West Asia
• Persian culture was highly regarded, and Persian products were exported through the Silk Trade route
• Woolen carpets rugs, woolen textiles, animal hides and leather, and pearls from the Persian Gulf were their main exports

Persia Today

• The Safavid Empire was Persia's Golden Age of Shia Islam from 1501-1736 AD
• Persia fell and became part of the Muslim caliphates in the 7th century
• Persia's identity never ceased to exist
• Civil war occurred in the Islamic world when Muhammad died in AD 632, and his chosen successor was massacre when his cousin and son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib (601-661 AD) his entire clan were massacred by rival Muslim leaders
• Ali continued to be venerated by a minority of Muslims (about 10%) who became known as the Shiites (the Party of Ali)
• Today, Shiite shrines compete in popularity with Arabian Sunni shrines (Mecca and Medina)

Persian Contributions to the World

• Iran ranks 7th worldwide for its most significant archaeological wonders (i.e.Persopolis) which totals to fifteen UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and more than 250,000 archaeological sites
• Zoroastrianism was founded by Zarathustra (660-583 BC), and one of the first monotheistic religions which can found in small communities in India, Iran, Iraq, and Central Asia
• The Persians respected federal government and local autonomy within their local Provinces, the Greeks, the Romans, and the United States adopted the federal system among others
• Human rights were respected, with Persian kings tolerating the religion of their subjects which was unusual at the time, The Cyrus Cylinder houses the first declaration of human rights
• Arts, crafts, and design include weaving of carpets and textiles with bright colors and elaborate designs, artistic glassware, statues, jewelry, and highly prized toys, bookbinding, and monumental rock reliefs carved into high cliffs
• The Behistun Rock is a tri-lingual that led to the translation of Cunieform, the oldest international language written by Darius the Great
• The Griffon is a dragon with wings, a lion's body, and an eagle's head
• The Daric coin is the first metal money whose reliability had it be the preferred world currency, like today's US dollar
• Unified globally laws, taxes, units of measurement for money, weights
• They created postal mail and packages, inventing the first postal service for regular messages by couriers on horseback
• They introduced the first use of court etiquette and diplomatic rules, customs and practices, safe passage for an ambassador were adopted at Eastern and Western Courts
• Proskynesis is the bowing to royalty by completely lying flat on the floor. Done by Catholic priests at their ordination
• Created a network of Roads and sea lanes through three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe)
• The Stories of the prophet Daniel and Queen Ester in the Bible which Daniel reveres in Iran along with his tomb at Susa a holy site for religion
• Created Persian Ceremonial Cap-and-Gowns, architecture, design, and innovation, along use of arches,windcatchers, etc., along the Iranian Shanama or Epic of Kings
• Persian ceremonial cap-and-gowns in court, weddings, and become today's wedding and graduation gowns by the Greeks and Romans
• Persian architecture, design, and innovations, e.g., use of arches, patios, balconies, windcatchers, etc. The Taj Mahal in India, European churches, and the US Capitol adopted the dome design
• Scheherazade's "One Thousand and One Nights" of fables and fairy tales were created and popularized everywhere
• Persians invented the first designed gardens, called "paradise" which became the model for formal gardens and introduced the word “paradise”
• Firdausi created The Iranian epic poem Shanama (Epic of Kings)

The Teachers: The Moors

• The Moors went from desert tribes to world empires
• The Moors were "people of the book" and needed to read the Quran
• Early Muslims respected Jews and Christians as "people of the book."
• The first caliphates treasured and preserved the world's knowledge in the "Houses of Wisdom" during the Middle Ages, which prevented no Renaissance, no Western exploration, and no growth of Christianity due to Western expansion

The Moors Continued

• Regional caliphates (kingdoms) and a world empire were founded with Umayyad Caliphate (661-750 AD), Abbasid Caliphate (750-1055 AD), Seljuk Turks rule (1055-1300 AD), and the Ottoman Empire (1300-1918 AD)
• The Ottoman Empire covered a vast territory from East to West, including about one-half of the Philippines
• The Umayyad Caliphate (AD 661-750) was the first regional Islamic kingdom which was named after the Umayya dynasty of Mecca
• United Arab tribes and made their capital at Damascus, Syria
• Branches wer established in North Africa and Southern Spain
• Monoplolized tolls and trade at ports in the Mediterrean Region
• Dominated territories that became major cities that became damascus and aleppo today
• Ruled
• The Abbasid Caliphate (750-1055 AD) was the second Arab regional empire who made their capital in Baghdad, Iraq
• It ruled a larger area of land, in 11 km of land and lasted three centuries it was more glorious than the Ummayyad
• The Baghdad caliphs overpowered by Turk Bodyguards and miners
• Saladin conquered large part of the christian empire
• Seljuk fought the christain crusaders
• Moors had vessels vassals and tributary
• Selijik chamber sladin defeated the crusaders, consolidating Muslim presence for 1,000 years
• The ottoman Turks who expanded Muslim Power to ⅓ of the empire, making it one of the longest and power global empires and ruling it for 500 years
• British empire was contemporary to the Ottoman Empire but it was more expensive
• Controlled its population in three continents (around 20-30 million people)
• Kings were addressed sultan instead of caliph
• introduced head covers, the bullous and make fezzes but not the turban
• Moors Ottoman Empire eliminated Christiian in East through Greeks Assyria
• closed traditional routes of christianity, for to seek Maritime root of Colonization
• The Ottoman had a 5 centuries power after the expansion through a military and civilization reform the ottoman decline after world war 1 and with its successor becoming modern countries to the middle east

Rise and Fall of Ottoman Power

• Sulieman The Magnificent a Muslim military leader with 23 world image of leadership (1496-1566)
• Expanded into Sea, ottoman