First Empires in Africa and Asia PDF

Module 4 First Empires in Africa and Asia Essential Question How effective were leaders in spreading their influence in the first large empires of Africa a...

Module 4 First Empires in Africa and Asia Essential Question How effective were leaders in spreading their influence in the first large empires of Africa and Asia? About the Photo: This lion frieze is on a In this module you will learn about the development of early empires in brick wall that lined a street leading to a gate Africa and Asia. to the inner city of Babylon during in the late 500s BC. What You Will Learn … Lesson 1: The Egyptian and Nubian Empires.............. 118 Explore ONLINE! The Big Idea Two empires along the Nile—Egypt and Nubia—forged commercial, cultural, and political connections. VIDEOS, including... Ramses’ Egyptian Empire Lesson 2: The Assyrian Empire....................... 126 The Big Idea Assyria developed a military machine and established a Hanging Gardens of Babylon well-organized administration. The Royal Road Lesson 3: The Persian Empire....................... 131 The First Emperor of China The Big Idea By governing with tolerance and wisdom, the Persians established a well-ordered empire that lasted for 200 years. Document-Based Investigations Lesson 4: The Unification of China.................... 137 Graphic Organizers The Big Idea The social disorder of the warring states contributed to the development of three Chinese ethical systems. Interactive Games Image Compare: Egyptian Influence on Nubian Culture Image Carousel: Comparing Ancient Civilizations 116 Module 4 Timeline of Events 1570 BC–200 BC Explore ONLINE! Africa, Southwest Asia, China World 1570 BC 1570 BC Egypt’s New Kingdom 1500 BC Possible Aryan invasion of India. is established. 1472 BC Hatshepsut encourages trade. 1500 BC Mycenaean culture thrives on the Greek mainland. 1425 BC Thutmose expands Egyptian empire. 1258 BC Ramses II makes peace with Hittites. 1200 BC Invaders attack Egypt 1200 BC Minoan civilization from the east, west, and by sea. mysteriously ends. 950 BC Libyan pharaohs rule Egypt. 900 BC Chavín culture arises in Peru. 850 BC Assyrian Empire begins its rise to power. 751 BC Nubian kingdom of Kush conquers Egypt. 750 BC Greek city-states flourish. 550 BC Persian Empire 509 BC Rome becomes a republic. flourishes. 500 BC Zapotecs found Monte Albán. 334 BC Alexander starts to build his empire. 202 BC The Qin Dynasty collapses. Civil war follows. 200 BC First Empires in Africa and Asia 117  Lesson 1 The Egyptian and Nubian Empires Setting the Stage The Big Idea As you learned, Egyptian civilization developed along Two empires along the Nile, the Nile River and united into a kingdom around Egypt and Nubia, forged 3100 BC. During the Middle Kingdom (about 2080– ­commercial, cultural, and 1640 BC), trade with Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley ­political connections. enriched Egypt. Meanwhile, up the Nile River, less than Why It Matters Now 600 miles south of the Egyptian city of Thebes, a major Neighboring civilizations today kingdom had developed in the region of Nubia. For participate in cultural exchange centuries, the Nubian kingdom of Kush traded with as well as conflict. Egypt. The two kingdoms particularly influenced each Key Terms and People other culturally. Hyksos New Kingdom Nomadic Invaders Rule Egypt Hatshepsut After the prosperity of the Middle Kingdom, Egypt descended Thutmose III into war and violence. This was caused by a succession of weak Nubia pharaohs and power struggles among rival nobles. The weak- Ramses II Kush ened country fell to invaders who swept across the Isthmus of Piankhi Suez in chariots, a weapon of war unknown to the Egyptians. Meroë These Asiatic invaders, called Hyksos (HIHK sohs), ruled Egypt from about 1640 to 1570 BC. The Hyksos invasion shook the Egyptians’ confidence in the desert barriers that had protected their kingdom. Israelites Migrate to Egypt Some historians believe that another Asiatic group, the Israelites, settled in Egypt during the rule of the Hyksos. According to the Hebrew Bible, Abraham and his family first crossed the Euphrates River and came to Canaan around 1800 BC. Then, around 1650 BC, the descendants of Abraham moved again—this time to Egypt. Some historians believe that the Hyksos encouraged the Israelites to settle there because the two groups were racially similar. The Egyptians resented the presence of the Hyksos in their land but were powerless to remove them. Expulsion and Slavery Around 1600 BC, a series of war- like rulers began to restore Egypt’s power. Among those who 118 Module 4  Trade between Egypt and Nubia thrived for hundreds of years. helped drive out the Hyksos was Queen Ahhotep (ah HOH tehp). She took over when her husband was killed in battle. The next pharaoh, Kamose (KAH mohs), won a great victory over the Hyksos. His successors drove the Hyksos completely out of Egypt and pursued them across the Sinai Reading Check Peninsula into Canaan. According to some Biblical scholars, the Israelites Summarize remained in Egypt and were enslaved and forced into hard labor. They What caused war and violence in Egypt would not leave Egypt until sometime between 1500 and 1200 BC, the during this period? time of the Exodus. The New Kingdom of Egypt After overthrowing the Hyksos, the pharaohs of the New Kingdom (about 1570–1075 BC) sought to strengthen Egypt by building an empire. As you may recall, an empire brings together several peoples or states under the control of one ruler. Egypt entered its third period of glory during the New Kingdom era. During this time, it was wealthier and more powerful than ever before. Equipped with bronze weapons and two-wheeled chariots, the Vocabulary Egyptians became conquerors. The pharaohs of the 18th Dynasty (about dynasty a series of 1570–1365 BC) set up an army including archers, charioteers, and rulers from a single family infantry, or foot soldiers. Hatshepsut’s Prosperous Rule Among the rulers of the New Kingdom, Hatshepsut (hat SHEHP soot), who declared herself pharaoh around 1472 BC, was unique. She took over because her stepson, the male heir to the throne, was a young child at the time. Unlike other New King­dom ­rulers, Hatshepsut spent her reign encouraging trade rather than just ­waging war. First Empires in Africa and Asia 119  BIOGRAPHY Hatshepsut (reigned 1472–1458 BC) Hatshepsut was an excellent ruler of outstanding achievement who made Egypt more prosperous. As male pharaohs had done, Hatshepsut planned a tomb for her­self in the Valley of the Kings. Carved reliefs on the walls of the temple reveal the glories of her reign. The inscription from Hatshepsut’s obelisk at Karnak trumpets her glory and her feelings about herself: I swear as Re loves me, as my father Amon favors me, as my nostrils are filled with satisfying life, as I wear the white crown, as I appear in the red crown,... as I rule this land like the son of Isis. The trading expedition Hatshepsut ordered to the Land of Punt (poont), near present-day Somalia, was particularly successful. Hatshepsut sent a fleet of five ships down the Red Sea to Punt in search of myrrh, frankin- cense, and fragrant ointments used for religious ceremonies and in cos- metics. In addition to these goods, Hatshepsut’s fleet brought back gold, ivory, and unusual plants and animals. Thutmose the Empire Builder Hatshepsut’s stepson, Thutmose III (thoot MOH suh), proved to be a much more warlike ruler. In his eagerness to ascend to the throne, Thutmose III may even have murdered Hatshepsut. Between the time he took power and his death around 1425 BC, Thutmose III led a number of victorious invasions eastward into Canaan and Syria. His armies also pushed farther south into Nubia, a region of Africa that straddled the upper Nile River. Egypt had traded with Nubia and influenced the region since the time of the Middle Kingdom. Egypt was now a mighty empire. It controlled lands around the Nile and far beyond. In addition, it drew boundless wealth from them. Contact with other cultures brought Egypt new ideas as well as material goods. Egypt had never before—nor has it since—commanded such power and wealth as during the reigns of the New Kingdom pharaohs. The Egyptians and the Hittites The Egyptians’ conquest of parts of Syria and Canaan around 1400 BC brought them into conflict with the Hittites. The Hittites had moved into Asia Minor around 1900 BC and later expanded southward into Canaan. After several smaller battles, the Egyptians and Hittites clashed at Kadesh around 1285 BC. The pharaoh Ramses II (RAM seez) and a Hittite king later made a treaty that promised “peace and brotherhood between us forever.” Their alliance lasted for the rest of the century. 120 Module 4  An Age of Builders Like the rulers of the Old Kingdom, who built the towering pyramids, rulers of the New Kingdom erected grand buildings. In search of security in the afterlife—and protection from grave robbers— they hid their splendid tombs beneath desert cliffs. The site they chose was the remote Valley of the Kings near Thebes. Besides royal tombs, the pharaohs of this period also built great palaces and magnificent temples. Indeed, the royal title pharaoh means “great house” and comes from this time period. Ramses II, whose reign extended from approximately 1290 to 1224 BC, stood out among the great builders of the New Kingdom. At Karnak, he Reading Check added to a mon­umental temple to Amon-Re (AH muhn RAY), Egypt’s chief Recognize Effects god. Ramses also ordered a temple to be carved into the red sandstone What were some cliffs above the Nile River at Abu Simbel (AH boo SIHM buhl). He had these of the political and economic effects of temples decorated with enormous statues of himself. The ears of these Egypt’s conquests? statues alone measured more than three feet. Four statues of Ramses II guarded the entrance to the Great Temple at Abu Simbel. The head of one statue was damaged in an earthquake. Near the feet of the giant statues are smaller statues of Ramses’ wife, mother, and first eight children. First Empires in Africa and Asia 121  Explore ONLINE! Ancient Empires, 700 BC–221 BC EUROPE ASIA T Aral ER Cas Black Sea ES Sea GOBI D pian g He Sea ( Y ellow Sardis Nineveh Eu an ph Hu r) Ri ve Tigr ra Yellow te s Ch’ang-an H is Mediterranean R. Sea Sea Babylon R I (Xi’an) M River. gzi Ri ver) Bra an Chan A h m aputra Riv er (Y LOWER Sinai Persepolis g EGYPT L A an Pe Peninsula g East Y A S Ji Ga us rs UPPER n nd China ia EGYPT Gu ng Sea I lf es Re Karnak Thebes R i ver d Abu Simbel ARABI AN Se PEN I N SU LA Arabian a Sea Napata Meroë Bay of N i l e River Bengal N W E Kush Empire, 700 BC AFRICA S Assyrian Empire, 650 BC 0 500 1,000 mi Persian Empire, 500 BC 0 500 1,000 km Qin Dynasty, 221 BC INDIAN OCEAN Interpret Maps 1. Location Where did the Assyrian, Kush, and Persian empires develop? 2. Location How do you think the Qin Dynasty’s distance from the other empires affected its development? The Empire Declines The empire that Thutmose III had built and Ramses II had ruled slowly came apart after 1200 BC as other strong civilizations rose to challenge Egypt’s power. Shortly after Ramses died, the entire eastern Mediterranean suffered a wave of invasions. Invasions by Land and Sea Both the Egyptian empire and the Hittite kingdom were attacked by invaders called the “Sea Peoples” in Egyptian texts. These invaders may have included the Philistines, who are often mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. Whoever they were, the Sea Peoples caused great destruction. The Egyptians faced other attacks. In the east, the tribes of Canaan often rebelled against their Egyptian overlords. In the west, the vast des- ert no longer served as a barrier against Libyan raids on Egyptian villages. Egypt’s Empire Fades After these invasions, Egypt never recovered its previous power. The Egyptian empire broke apart into regional units, and numerous small kingdoms arose. Each was eager to protect its independence. 122 Module 4  Almost powerless, Egypt soon fell to its neighbors’ invasions. Eventu- ally, Libyans crossed the desert to the Nile Delta. There they established independent dynasties. From around 950 to 730 BC, Libyan pharaohs Reading Check ruled Egypt and erected cities. But instead of imposing their own culture, Analyze Causes Why did Egypt’s the Libyans adopted Egypt’s. When the Nubians came north to seize empire decline? power, they too adopted Egyptian culture. The Kushites Conquer the Nile Region For centuries, Egypt dominated Nubia and the Nubian kingdom of Kush, which lasted for about a thousand years, between 2000 and 1000 BC. During this time, Egyptian armies raided and even occupied Kush for a brief period. But as Egypt fell into decline during the Hyksos period, Kush began to emerge as a regional power. Nubia now established its own Kush- ite dynasty on the throne of Egypt. The People of Nubia Nubia lay south of Egypt between the first cataract of the Nile, an area of churning rapids, and the division of the river into the Blue Nile and the White Nile. Despite several cataracts around which boats had to be carried, the Nile provided the best north-south trade route. Several Nubian kingdoms, including Kush, served as a trade corridor. They linked Egypt and the Mediterranean world to the interior of Africa and to the Red Sea. Goods and ideas flowed back and forth along the river for centuries. The first Nubian kingdom, Kerma, arose shortly after 2000 BC. The Interaction of Egypt and Nubia With Egypt’s revival during the New Kingdom, pharaohs forced Egyptian rule on Kush. Egyptian governors, priests, soldiers, and artists strongly influenced the Nubians. Indeed, Kush’s capital, Napata, became the center for the spread of Egyptian culture to Kush’s other African trading partners. Kushite princes went to Egypt. They learned the Egyptian language and wor­shiped Egyptian gods. They adopted the customs and clothing styles of the Egyptian upper class. When they returned home, the Kushite nobles brought back royal rituals and hieroglyphic writing. With Egypt’s decline, beginning about 1200 BC, Kush regained its inde- pendence. The Kushites viewed themselves as more suitable guardians of Egyptian values than the Libyans. They sought to guard these values by conquering Egypt and ousting its Libyan rulers. Piankhi Captures the Egyptian Throne In 751 BC, a Kushite king named Piankhi overthrew the Libyan dynasty that had ruled Egypt for more than 200 years. He united the entire Nile Valley from the delta in the north to Napata in the south. Piankhi and his descendants became Egypt’s 25th Dynasty. After his victory, Piankhi erected a monument in his homeland of Kush. He had words inscribed on it that celebrated his victory and pro- vided a catalog of Egyptian riches, such as silver, gold, and copper. However, Piankhi’s dynasty proved short-lived. In 671 BC, the Assyrians, a warlike people from Southwest Asia, conquered Egypt. First Empires in Africa and Asia 123  History in Depth Egyptian Influence on Nubian Culture Nubia was heavily influenced by Egypt. This influence is particularly apparent in Nubian religious practices and burial traditions. But even though the Nubians adopted Egyptian ways, they didn’t abandon their cultural identity. In many of these religious and funeral practices, the Nubians blended Egyptian customs with their own traditions. ▲ Pyramids Unlike the Egyptian pyramids, the pyramids of Nubia had steeply sloping sides and were probably designed with a flat top. ▲ Temples This stone ram, representing the Egyptian god Amen, lay at the entrance to a Nubian temple dedicated to that god. Although the Nubians worshiped many Egyptian gods, Amen’s temple was located near another dedicated to Explore ONLINE! Apedemak, a Nubian god. Kush Empire, 700 BC Mediterranean Sea 40°E 30°E 20°E LOWER Memphis 30°N EGYPT ARABIAN UPPER EGYPT Ni le DESERT Thebes R Re iv er WESTERN d Tropic of Cancer DESERT Se NUBIA a Kush Empire 20°N (at its greatest extent) Napata Egyptian Empire (at its greatest extent) ▲ Statues cataract Meroë These figurines represented Nubian slaves. They N were buried with Nubian kings and meant to serve W E them in death. The figurines reflect traditional W Blu hite le Egyptian style. The human faces, however, reveal S e Ni Nubian features. 0 250 500 mi Nil e 0 500 1,000 km Critical Thinking Form Opinions Why did the Nubians combine Egyptian culture with elements HMH of their — ownHSWH culture? Full Survey — 2016 HS_SNLESE668225_013M First proof 7/14/16 2nd proof 7/22/16 124 Module 4  Reading Check The Kushites fought bravely, but they were forced to retreat south along Make Inferences Why might the the Nile. There the Kushites would experience a golden age, despite their Kushites have viewed loss of Egypt. themselves as guardians of Egyptian values? The Golden Age of Meroë After their defeat by the Assyrians, the Kushite royal family eventually moved south to Meroë (MEHR oh ee). Meroë lay closer to the Red Sea than Napata did, and so became active in the flourishing trade among Africa, This ring, bearing the head of a Kushite Arabia, and India. (See map, Kush Empire, 700 BC.) guardian god, was found inside a Meroë The Wealth of Kush Kush used the natural resources around Meroë and queen’s pyramid. It thrived for several hundred years. Unlike Egyptian cities along the Nile, dates from the late Meroë enjoyed significant rainfall. And, unlike Egypt, Meroë first century BC. boasted abundant supplies of iron ore. As a result, Meroë became a major center for the manufacture of iron weapons and tools. In Meroë, ambitious merchants loaded iron bars, tools, and spearheads onto their donkeys. They then transported the goods to the Red Sea, where they exchanged these goods for jewelry, fine cotton cloth, sil- ver lamps, and glass bottles. As the mineral wealth of the central Nile Valley flowed out of Meroë, luxury goods from India and Arabia flowed in. The Decline of Meroë After four centuries of prosperity, from about 250 BC to AD 150, Meroë began to decline. Aksum, another kingdom located 400 miles to the southeast, contributed to Meroë’s fall. With a Reading Check seaport on the Red Sea, Aksum came to dominate North African trade. Compare Aksum defeated Meroë around AD 350. What natural Centuries earlier, around the time the Kushite pharaoh sat on the resources did Meroë have that Egypt Egyptian throne, a new empire—Assyria—had risen in the north. Like did not? Kush, Assyria came to dominate Egypt. Lesson 1 Assessment 1. Organize Information Create a timeline showing 3. Evaluate What cultural aspects of Egyptian civilization major military events in the history of Egypt and Kush. did the Kushites adopt? Which empire was invaded more often? Why? 4. Analyze Effects Why was Kush able to thrive after 1570 BC AD 350 losing Egypt to the Assyrians? 5. Draw Conclusions What role did geography play in Egypt’s rise and fall? Egyptian Aksum 6. Make Inferences How did trade help both Egypt and New defeats Kingdom Meroë Nubia maintain their dominance in the Nile region? established 7. Predict What might have happened if the Kushites had imposed their own culture on Egypt? 2. Key Terms and People For each key term or person in the lesson, write a sentence explaining its significance. First Empires in Africa and Asia 125  Lesson 2 The Assyrian Empire Setting the Stage The Big Idea For more than two centuries, the Assyrian army Assyria developed a military advanced across Southwest Asia. It overwhelmed machine and established a foes with its military strength. After the Assyrians ­well-organized administration. seized control of Egypt, the Assyrian King Esarhaddon Why It Matters Now proclaimed, “I tore up the root of Kush, and not one Some leaders still use military therein escaped to submit to me.” The last Kushite force to extend their rule, stamp pharaoh retreated to Napata, Kush’s capital city. out opposition, and gain wealth and power. A Mighty Military Machine Key Terms and People Beginning around 850 BC, Assyria (uh SEER ee uh) acquired Assyria a large empire. It accomplished this by means of a highly Sennacherib advanced military organization and state-of-the-art ­weaponry. Nineveh For a time, this campaign of conquest made Assyria the great- Ashurbanipal est power in Southwest Asia. Medes Chaldeans The Rise of a Warrior People The Assyrians came from the Nebuchadnezzar northern part of Mesopotamia. Their flat, exposed land made them easy for other people to attack. Invaders frequently swept down into Assyria from the nearby mountains. The Assyrians may have developed their warlike behavior in response to these invasions. Through constant warfare, Assyrian kings eventually built an empire that stretched from east and north of the Tigris River all the way to central Egypt. One of these Assyrian kings, Sennacherib (sih NAK uhr ihb), bragged that he had destroyed 89 cities and 820 villages, burned Babylon, and ordered most of its inhabitants killed. Military Organization and Conquest Assyria was a ­society that glorified military strength. Its soldiers were well equipped for conquering an empire. Making use of the ­ironworking technology of the time, the soldiers covered themselves in stiff leather and metal armor. They wore ­copper or iron helmets, padded loincloths, and leather skirts layered with metal scales. Their weapons were iron swords and iron-pointed spears. 126 Module 4  Advance planning and technical skill allowed the Assyrians to lay siege to enemy cities. When deep water blocked their passage, engineers would span the rivers with pontoons, or floating structures used to support a bridge. Before attacking, the Assyrians dug beneath the city’s walls to weaken them. Then, with disciplined organization, foot soldiers marched shoulder to shoulder. The foot soldiers approached the city walls and shot wave upon wave of arrows. Meanwhile, another group of troops ­hammered the city’s gates with massive, iron-tipped battering rams. When the city Reading Check gates finally splintered, the Assyrians showed no mercy. They killed or Summarize What enslaved their victims. To prevent their enemies from rebelling again, was the key to the success of the Assyrian the Assyrians forced captives to settle far away in the empire’s distant Empire? ­provinces and dependent states. Historical Source Assyrian Sculpture This relief shows ferocious Assyrian warriors attacking a fortified city. A relief is a sculpture that has figures standing out from a flat background. The Assyrian war machine included a variety of weapons and methods of attack. 1 Ladders Assyrian archers launched waves of arrows against opponents 1 defending the city walls. Meanwhile, Assyrian troops threw their 2 ladders up against the walls and began their climb into the enemy’s stronghold. 3 2 Weapons Troops were armed with the best weapons of the time, iron- tipped spears, as well as iron daggers and swords. They were also protected with armor and large shields. 2 3 Tactics The Assyrians were savage in their treatment of defeated 4 opponents. Those who were not slaughtered in the initial attack were often impaled or beheaded, while women and children were sometimes murdered or sold into slavery. 4 Tunnels The Assyrian army used sappers—soldiers who dug tunnels to sap, or undermine, the foundations of the enemy’s walls so that they would fall. Analyze Historical Sources 1. Make Inferences What emotions might the relief have inspired in the Assyrian people? 2. Form Generalizations How might the Assyrians’ enemies have reacted to the sculpture? First Empires in Africa and Asia 127  The Empire Expands Between 850 and 650 BC, the kings of Assyria defeated Syria, Israel, Judah, and Babylonia. Eventually, the Assyrians ruled lands that extended far beyond the Fertile Crescent into Anatolia and Egypt. Assyrian Rule At its peak around 650 BC, the Assyrian Empire included almost all of the old centers of civilization and power in Southwest Asia. Assyrian officials governed lands closest to Assyria as provinces and made them dependent territories. Assyrian kings controlled these dependent regions by choosing their rulers or by supporting kings who aligned them- selves with Assyria. The Assyrian system of having local governors report to a central authority became the fundamental model of administration, or system of government management. In addition, the military campaigns added new territory to the empire. These additional lands brought taxes and tribute to the Assyrian treasury. If a conquered people refused to pay, the Assyrians destroyed their cit- ies and sent the people into exile. Such methods enabled the Assyrians to effectively govern an extended empire. Assyrian Culture Some of Assyria’s most fearsome warriors earned reputations as great builders. For example, the same King Sennacherib who had burned Babylon also established Assyria’s capital at Nineveh (NIHN uh vuh) along the Tigris River. This great walled city, about three miles long and a mile wide, was the largest city of its day. In the ruins of Nineveh and other Assyrian cities, archaeologists found finely carved sculptures. Two artistic subjects particularly fascinated the Assyrians: brutal military campaigns and the lion hunt. Nineveh also held one of the ancient world’s largest libraries. In this unique library, King Ashurbanipal (ah shur BAH nuh pahl) collected more than 20,000 clay tablets from throughout the Fertile Crescent. The col- lection included the ancient Sumerian poem the Epic of Gilgamesh and provided historians with much information about the earliest civilizations Reading Check in Southwest Asia. The library was the first to have many of the features Evaluate Why do of a modern library. For instance, the collection was organized into many you think modern historians value the rooms according to subject matter. The collection was also cataloged. library at Nineveh? Europeans would not use a library cataloging system for centuries. The Empire Crumbles Ashurbanipal proved to be one of the last of the mighty Assyrian kings. Assyrian power had spread itself too thin. Also, the cruelty dis-played by the Assyrians had earned them many enemies. Shortly after Ashurbanipal’s death, Nineveh fell. This relief shows King Ashurbanipal and his Decline and Fall In 612 BC, a combined army of Medes (meedz), queen at a party with Chaldeans (kal DEE uhnz), and others burned and leveled Nineveh. several servants. However, because the clay writing tablets in Nineveh’s library had been baked in a pottery oven, many survived the fire. 128 Module 4  Most people in the region rejoiced at Nineveh’s destruction. The Jewish prophet Nahum (NAY huhm) gave voice to the feelings of many: “All who see you will recoil from you and will say, ‘Nineveh has been ravaged!’ Who will console her? Where shall I look for anyone to comfort you?... Your shepherds are slumbering, O King of Assyria; your sheepmasters are lying inert; your people are scattered over the hills, and there is none to gather them.” —Nahum 3:7, 18 (Hebrew Bible) Rebirth of Babylon Under the Chaldeans After defeating the Assyrians, the Chaldeans made Babylon their capital. Around 600 BC, Babylon became the center of a new empire, more than 1,000 years after Hammurabi had ruled there. A Chaldean king named Nebuchadnezzar (nehb uh kuhd NEHZ uhr) restored the city. Perhaps the most impres­­­­sive part of the restoration was the famous hanging gardens. Greek scholars later listed them as one of the seven won­ders of the ancient world. Accord- ing to legend, one of Nebuchadnezzar’s wives missed the flowering shrubs of her mountain homeland. To please her, he had fragrant trees and shrubs planted on terraces that rose 75 feet above Babylon’s flat, dry plain. This is an artist’s rendering of the legendary hanging gardens of Babylon. Slaves watered the plants by using hidden pumps that drew water from the Euphrates River. First Empires in Africa and Asia 129  Indeed, the entire city of Babylon was a wonder. Its walls were so thick that, according to one report, a four-horse chariot could wheel around on top of them. To ensure that the world knew who ruled the city, the king had the bricks inscribed with the words, “I am Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon.” The highest building in Babylon was a great, seven-tiered ziggurat more than 300 feet high. It was visible for miles. At night, priests observed the stars from the top of this tower and others in the city. Chaldean ­astronomers kept detailed records of how the stars and planets seemed to change position in the night sky. They also concluded that the sun, moon, Earth, and five other planets belonged to the same solar s­ ystem. The Chaldeans’ observations formed the basis for both astronomy Reading Check Summarize Why and astrology. did the tablets Nebuchadnezzar’s empire fell shortly after his death. The Persians who in Nineveh’s library survive next came to power adopted many Assyrian military, political, and artistic the destruction of inventions. The Persians would use the organization the Assyrians had the city? developed to stabilize the region. Lesson 2 Assessment 1. Organize Information Create a table identifying fac- 4. Develop Historical Perspective Why did the people tors in the rise and fall of the Assyrian Empire. Why did in the region rejoice when the ­Assyrian Empire was the Assyrians develop into a great military power? Why defeated? did their power decline? 5. Form Opinions Do you think the Assyrians’ almost Assyrian Power exclusive reliance on military power was a good strat- Causes for Rise Causes for Decline egy for creating their empire? Why or why not? Need to defend Hated by conquered 6. Make Inferences Why might the Assyrian warrior against attacks people kings have had such a great interest in writing and reading? 7. Compare In what ways were King Ashurbanipal and 2. Key Terms and People For each key term or person in King Nebuchadnezzar similar? the lesson, write a sentence explaining its significance. 3. Synthesize What contributions to government ­administration and culture did the Assyrians make? 130 Module 4  Lesson 3 The Persian Empire Setting the Stage The Big Idea The Medes, along with the Chaldeans and others, helped By governing with tolerance and to overthrow the Assyrian Empire in 612 BC. The Medes wisdom, the Persians e­ stablished marched to Nineveh from their homeland in the area a well-ordered empire that of present-day northern Iran. Meanwhile, the Medes’ lasted for 200 years. close neighbor to the south, Persia, began to expand its Why It Matters Now horizons and territorial ambitions. Leaders today try to follow the Persian example of tolerance The Rise of Persia and wise government. The Assyrians employed military force to control a vast Key Terms and People empire. In contrast, the Persians based their empire on toler- Cyrus ance and diplomacy. They relied on a strong military to back Cambyses up their policies. Ancient Persia included what is today the Darius country of Iran. satrap Royal Road The Persian Homeland Indo-Europeans first migrated from Zoroaster Central Europe and southern Russia to the mountains and plateaus east of the Fertile Crescent around 1000 BC. This area extended from the Caspian Sea in the north to the Persian Gulf in the south. In addition to fertile farmland, ancient Iran boasted a wealth of minerals. These included copper, lead, gold, silver, and gleaming blue lapis lazuli. A thriving trade in these minerals put the settlers in contact with their neighbors to the east and the west. At first, dozens of tiny kingdoms occupied the region. Even- tually two major powers emerged: the Medes and the Persians. In time, a remarkable ruler would lead Persia to dominate the Medes and found a huge empire. Cyrus the Great Founds an Empire The rest of the world paid little attention to the Persians until 550 BC. In that year, Cyrus (SY ruhs), Persia’s king, began to conquer several neighboring kingdoms. Cyrus was a military genius, leading his army from victory to victory between 550 and 539 BC. In time, Cyrus controlled an empire that spanned 2,000 miles, from the Indus River in the east to Anatolia in the west. First Empires in Africa and Asia 131  Even more than his military genius, though, Cyrus’s most enduring legacy was his method of governing. His kindness toward conquered peoples revealed a wise and tolerant view of empire. For example, when Cyrus’s army marched into a city, his generals prevented Persian soldiers from looting and burning. Unlike other conquerors, Cyrus believed in hon- oring local customs and religions. Instead of destroying the local temple, Cyrus would kneel there to pray. He also allowed the Jews, who had been driven from their homeland by the Babylonians, to return to Jerusalem in 538 BC. Under Persian rule, the Jews rebuilt their city and temple. DOCUMENT-BASED INVESTIGATION Historical Source Cyrus’s View of Empire “Thus said King Cyrus of Persia: The The Jews were grateful to Cyrus for his wise and tolerant Lord God of Heaven has given me all view of empire. They considered him one of God’s the kingdoms of the earth and has anointed ones. The Jewish prophet Ezra recounted charged me with building Him a house Cyrus’s proclamation regarding the Jewish people who in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Anyone had been driven from their homeland. of you of all His people—may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem that is in Judah and build the House of Analyze Historical Sources the Lord God of Israel, the God that is in How does this quotation show that Cyrus respected the Jews? Jerusalem.” —Ezra 1: 2–3 (The Hebrew Bible) Reading Check Cyrus was killed as he fought nomadic invaders on the eastern border Summarize of his empire. According to the Greek historian Arrian, his simple, house- What are some shaped tomb bore these words: “O man, I am Cyrus the son of Cambyses. examples of Cyrus’s tolerant method of I established the Persian Empire and was king of Asia. Do not begrudge me governing? my memorial.” Persian Rule The task of unifying conquered territories was left to rulers who fol- lowed Cyrus. They succeeded by combining Persian control with local self-government. Cambyses and Darius Cyrus died in 530 BC. His son Cambyses (kam BY seez), named after Cyrus’s father, expanded the Persian Empire by conquering Egypt. However, the son neglected to follow his father’s wise example. Cambyses scorned the Egyptian religion. He ordered the images of Egyptian gods to be burned. After ruling for only eight years, Cambyses died. Immed­iately, widespread rebellions broke out across the empire. Persian control had seemed strong a decade earlier. It now seemed surprisingly fragile. 132 Module 4  Cambyses’s successor, Darius (duh RY uhs), a noble of the ruling dynasty, had begun his career as a member of the king’s bodyguard. An elite group of Persian soldiers, the Ten Thousand Immortals, helped Darius seize the throne around 522 BC. Darius spent the first three years of his reign putting down revolts. He spent the next few years establishing a well-organized and efficient administration. Having brought peace and stability to the empire, Darius turned his attention to conquest. He led his armies eastward into the mountains of present-day Afghanistan and then down into the river valleys of India. The immense Persian Empire now extended more than 2,500 miles, embracing Egypt and Anatolia in the west, part of India in the east, and the Fertile Crescent in the center. Darius’s only failure was his inability to conquer Greece. Sculpted figures bring gifts to Darius. The relief sculpture, located in the ancient Persian capital of Persepolis, dates from around the sixth century BC. First Empires in Africa and Asia 133  Provinces and Satraps Although Darius was a great warrior, his real genius lay in administration. To govern his sprawling empire, Darius divided it into 20 provinces. These provinces were roughly similar to the homelands of the different groups of people who lived within the Persian Empire. Under Persian rule, the peo­ple of each province still practiced their own religion. They also spoke their own language and followed many of their own laws. This administrative policy of many groups—sometimes called “nationalities”—living by their own laws within one empire was repeatedly practiced in Southwest Asia. Although tolerant of the many groups within his empire, Darius still ruled with absolute power. In each province, Darius installed a governor called a satrap (SAY trap), who ruled locally. Darius also appointed a mili- tary leader and a tax collector for each province. To ensure the loyalty of these officials, Darius sent out inspectors known as the “King’s Eyes and Ears.” Two other tools helped Darius hold together his empire. An excellent system of roads allowed Darius to communicate quickly with the most distant parts of the empire. The famous Royal Road, for example, ran from Susa in Persia to Sardis in Anatolia, a distance of 1,677 miles. Darius borrowed the second tool, manufactur­ing metal coins, from the Lydians of Asia Minor. For the first time, coins of a stand­ard value circulated Reading Check throughout an extended empire. People no longer had to weigh and Evaluate measure odd pieces of gold or silver to pay for what they bought. The What tools helped Darius hold together network of roads and the wide use of standardized coins promoted trade. his vast empire? Trade, in turn, helped to hold together the empire. The Persian Legacy By the time of Darius’s rule, about 2,500 years had passed since the first Sumerian city-states had been built. During those years, people of the Fertile Crescent had endured war, conquest, and famine. These events gave rise to a basic question: Why should so much suffering and chaos exist in the world? A Persian prophet named Zoroaster (ZAWR oh as tuhr), who lived around 600 BC, offered an answer. Zoroaster’s Teachings Zoroaster taught that the earth is a battleground where a great struggle is fought between the spirit of good and the spirit of evil. Each person, Zoroaster preached, is expected to take part in this struggle. The Zoroastrian religion teaches a belief in one god, Ahura Mazda (ah HUR uh MAZ duh). At the end of time, Ahura Mazda will judge everyone according to how well he or she fought the battle for good. Simi- larities to Zoroastrianism—such as the concept of Satan and a belief in angels—can be found in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. After the Muslim conquest of Persia in the AD 600s, the Zoroastrian religion declined. Some groups carried the faith eastward to India. Zoroastrianism was also an important influence in the development of Manichaeism (man ih KEE ihz uhm), a religious system that competed with early Christianity for believers. 134 Module 4  GLOBAL PATTERNS: Empire Building The Royal Road One of the ways in which societies build and maintain empires is by establishing systems of communication and transportation. The Royal Road, built by the rulers of the Persian Empire, connected Susa in Persia to Sardis in Anatolia. This four-horse chariot dates from ▲ the sixth to fourth century BC. It is the type of vehicle that would have traveled the Royal Road in the time of Darius. The studs on the wheels prevented the chariot from slipping. Explore ONLINE! A Ride Along the Royal Road ASIAROAD THE EUROPE The road was 1,677 miles long. There were Ca Black Sea 111 post or relay stations spaced about spia 15 miles apart along the road. Other roads n branched off the main road to distant parts S ea ANATOLIA M Sardis of the empire. ed Nineveh ite rra PERSIA nean THE RIDE Sea Susa Relay stations were equipped with fresh horses for the king’s messengers. Royal AFRICA messengers could cover the length of the SOUTHWEST INDIA N ASIA Royal Road in seven days. Normal travel W E time along the road was longer. A caravan, Arabian for example, might take three months to S Sea 0 250 500 mi travel the entire distance. 0 500 1,000 km ▲ Extensive road networks like the Royal Road enabled empires to expand and maintain control over people and places. Like the Persians, the Inca of South America created a HMHallowed road system thousands of miles long. These roads — HSWH theFull IncaSurvey — 2016 to extend their rule HS_SNLESE668225_019M over as many as 16 million people. Empires throughout historyFirst haveproof shared characteristics 7/14/16 such as efficient communication systems, effective leaders, and 2nd powerful proofarmies. 7/22/16 Critical Thinking 1. Recognize Effects How would the Royal 2. Compare What systems of communication Road enable a ruler to maintain power in and transportation today might be compared the empire? to the Royal Road of the Persians? First Empires in Africa and Asia 135  The followers of Mithra, a Zoroastrian god, spread westward to become a popular religion among the military legions in the Roman Empire. Today, modern Zoroastrians continue to observe the religion’s traditions in several countries including Iran and India, where its followers are called Parsis. Political Order Through their tolerance and good government, the Persians brought political order to Southwest Asia. They preserved ideas from earlier civi­lizations and found new ways to live and rule. Their Reading Check respect for other cultures helped to preserve those cultures for the future. Compare What ideas The powerful dynasty Cyrus established in Persia lasted 200 years and and worldview did Zoroastrianism share grew into a huge empire. As you will learn in Lesson 4, great empires also with other religions? arose in China and dominated that region. Lesson 3 Assessment 1. Organize Information Create a Venn diagram com- 3. Form Generalizations How did Cyrus treat the paring Persian emperors Cyrus and Darius. Which of peoples he conquered? the ­differences between Cyrus and Darius do you 4. Synthesize What methods and tools did Darius use to consider most important? Why? hold together his empire? 5. Make Inferences What do the words that appeared Cyrus Only on Cyrus’s tomb suggest about his character? 6. Draw Conclusions How did the Royal Road help Both Darius maintain control over his people? Darius Only 7. Develop Historical Perspective What events led to the development of Zoroastrianism? 2. Key Terms and People For each key term and person in the lesson, write a sentence explaining its significance. 136 Module 4  Lesson 4 The Unification of China Setting the Stage The Big Idea The Zhou Dynasty lasted for at least eight ­centuries, The social disorder of the from approximately 1027 to 256 BC. For the first ­warring states contributed to the 300 years of their long reign, the Zhou kings controlled a development of three Chinese large empire, including both eastern and western lands. ethical systems. Local rulers reported to the king, who had the ultimate Why It Matters Now power. By the latter years of the Zhou Dynasty, the lords The people, events, and ideas of dependent territories began to think of themselves that shaped China’s early history as independent kings. Their almost constant conflict, continue to influence China’s which is known as “the warring states period,” led to the role in today’s world. decline of the Zhou Dynasty. Key Terms and People Confucius Confucius and the Social Order filial piety Toward the end of the Zhou Dynasty, China moved away from bureaucracy its ancient values of social order, harmony, and respect for Daoism authority. Chinese scholars and philosophers developed differ- Legalism I Ching ent solutions to restore these values. yin and yang Confucius Urges Harmony China’s most influential scholar Qin Dynasty was Confucius (kuhn FYOO shuhs). Born in 551 BC, Confucius Shi Huangdi autocracy lived in a time when the Zhou Dynasty was in decline. He led a scholarly life, studying and teaching history, music, and moral character. Confucius was born at a time of crisis and violence in China. He had a deep desire to restore the order and moral living of earlier times to his society. Confucius believed that social order, harmony, and good government could be restored in China if society were organized around five basic relationships. These were the relationships between: (1) ruler and subject, (2) father and son, (3) husband and wife, (4) older brother and younger brother, and (5) friend and friend. A code of proper conduct regulated each of these relationships. For example, rulers should practice kindness and virtuous living. In return, subjects Statue of a Chinese warrior should be loyal and law-abiding. from the Qin Dynasty First Empires in Africa and Asia 137  Three of Confucius’s five relationships were based upon the family. Confucius stressed that children should practice filial piety, or respect for their parents and ancestors. Filial piety, according to Confucius, meant devoting oneself to one’s parents during their lifetimes. It also required honoring their memories after death through the performance of certain rituals. In the following passage, Confucius—the “Master”—expresses his thoughts on the concept: “Ziyou [a disciple of Confucius] asked about filial piety. The Master said: ‘Nowadays people think they are dutiful sons when they feed their parents. Yet they also feed their dogs and horses. Unless there is respect, where is the difference?’ ” —Confucius, Analects 2.7 Confucius wanted to reform Chinese society by showing rulers how to govern wisely. Impressed by Confucius’s wisdom, the duke of Lu appointed Vocabulary him minister of justice. According to legend, Confucius so overwhelmed legend a story people by his kindness and courtesy that almost overnight, crime vanished handed down from earlier times, espe- from Lu. When the duke’s ways changed, however, Confucius became cially one believed to disillusioned and resigned. be historical Confucius spent the remainder of his life teaching. His students later collected his words in a book called the Analects. A disciple named Mencius (MEHN shee uhs) also spread Confucius’s ideas. BIOGRAPHY Confucius Laozi (551–479 BC) (sixth century BC) Confucius was born Although a person to a poor family. As named Laozi is an adult, he earned credited with being his living as a teacher. the first philosopher But he longed to put of Daoism, no one his principles into knows for sure whether action by advising he really existed. political leaders. Finally, Legend has it that at around age 50, Laozi’s mother carried Confucius won a post as minister in his home him in her womb for 62 years and that he was state. According to legend, he set such a virtuous born with white hair and wrinkled skin. Laozi’s example that a purse lying in the middle of the followers claimed that he was a contemporary of street would be untouched for days. Confucius. After Confucius resigned his post as minister, he Unlike Confucius, however, Laozi believed that returned to teaching. He considered himself a government should do as little as possible and failure because he had never held high office. Yet leave the people alone. Laozi thought that Confucius’s ideas have molded Chinese thought people could do little to influence the outcome for centuries. of events. Daoism offered communion with nature as an alternative to political chaos. 138 Module 4  Confucian Ideas About Government Confucius said that education could transform a humbly born person into a gentleman. In saying this, he laid the groundwork for the creation of a bureaucracy, a trained civil s­ ervice, or those who run the govern­ment. According to Confucius, a gentleman had four virtues: “In his private conduct he was courteous, in serving his master he was punctilious [precise], in providing for the needs of the people, he gave them even more than their due; in exacting service from the people, he was just.” Education became critically important to career advancement in the bureaucracy. Scholars still debate whether or not Confucianism is a religion. It was, Reading Check however, an ethical system, a system based on accepted princi­ples of right Summarize and wrong. It became the foundation for Chinese government and social How did Confucius feel about family? order. In addition, the ideas of Confucius spread beyond China and Explain. influenced civilizations throughout East Asia. Other Ethical Systems In addition to Confucius, other Chinese scholars and philosophers devel- oped ethical systems with very different philosophies. Some stressed the importance of nature, others, the power of government. Daoists Seek Harmony For a Chinese thinker named Laozi (low dzuh), who may have lived during the sixth century BC, only the natural order was important. The natural order involves relations among all living things. His book Dao De Jing (The Way of Virtue) expressed Laozi’s belief. He said that a universal force called the Dao (dow), meaning “the Way,” guides all things. The philosophy of Laozi came to be known as Daoism. Its search for knowledge and understanding of nature led Daoism’s followers to pursue scientific studies. Daoists made many important contributions to the sciences of alchemy, astronomy, and medicine. DOCUMENT-BASED INVESTIGATION Historical Source Daoist Thought “The Dao never does anything, Of all the creatures of nature, according to Laozi, yet through it all things are done. only humans fail to follow the Dao. They argue about If powerful men and women questions of right and wrong, good manners or bad. could center themselves in it, According to Laozi, such arguments are pointless. In the following passage, he explains the wisdom of the Dao. the whole world would be transformed by itself, in its natural rhythms. People would be content with their simple, everyday lives, in harmony, and free of desire. Analyze Historical Sources When there is no desire, How do you think Daoists would feel about a leader who all things are at peace.” engages in empire building? —Laozi, Dao De Jing, Passage 37 First Empires in Africa and Asia 139  Legalists Urge Harsh Rule In sharp contrast to the followers of Confucius and Laozi was a group of practical political thinkers called the Legalists. They believed that a highly efficient and powerful government was the key to restoring order in society. They got their name from their belief that government should use the law to end civil disorder and restore harmony. Hanfeizi and Li Si were among the founders of Legalism. The Legalists taught that a ruler should provide rich rewards for people who carried out their duties well. Likewise, the disobedient should be harshly punished. In practice, the Legalists stressed punishment more than rewards. For example, anyone caught outside his own village without a travel permit should have his ears or nose chopped off. The Legalists believed in controlling ideas as well as actions. They sug- gested that a ruler burn all writings that might encourage people to criti- cize government. After all, it was for the prince to govern and the people to obey. Eventually, Legalist ideas gained favor with a prince of a new dynasty that replaced the Zhou. That powerful ruler soon brought order to China. I Ching and Yin and Yang People with little interest in the philosophical debates of the Confucians, Daoists, and Legalists found answers to life’s questions elsewhere. Some consulted a book of oracles called I Ching (also spelled Yi Jing) to solve ethical or practical prob- lems. Readers used the book by throwing a set of coins, interpreting the results, and then reading Traditional yin-and-yang the appropriate oracle, or prediction. symbol. Chinese Ethical Systems Daoism Confucianism Legalism Started around 600–500 BC. Developed between 551 and 479 BC. Developed during the 400s BC. The natural order is more important Social order, harmony, and good A highly efficient and powerful than the social order. government should be based on family government is the key to social order. relationships. A universal force guides all things. Respect for parents and elders is Punishments are useful to maintain important to a well-ordered society. social order. Human beings should live simply and in Education is important both to the Thinkers and their ideas should be harmony with nature. welfare of the individual and to society. strictly controlled by the government. Interpret Charts 1. Compare Which of these three systems stress the importance of government and a well-ordered society? 2. Synthesize Which of these systems seems to be most moderate and balanced? Explain. 140 Module 4  The I Ching (The Book of Changes) helped people to lead a happy life by offering good advice and simple common sense. Other people turned to the ideas of ancient thinkers, such as the con- cept of yin and yang—two powers that together represented the natural rhythms of life. Yin represents all that is cold, dark, soft, and mysterious. Yang is the opposite—warm, bright, hard, and clear. The symbol of yin Reading Check and yang is a circle divided into halves, as shown in the emblem on the Summarize previous page. The circle represents the harmony of yin and yang. Both How did the Legalists forces represent the rhythm of the universe and complement each other. think that a society could be made to Both the I Ching and yin and yang helped Chinese people understand how run well? they fit into the world. The Qin Dynasty Unifies China In the third century BC, the Qin Dynasty (chihn) replaced the Zhou Dynasty. It emerged from the western state of Qin. The ruler who founded the Qin Dynasty employed Legalist ideas to subdue the warring states and unify his country. A New Emperor Takes Control In 221 BC, after ruling for more than 20 years, the Qin ruler assumed the name Shi Huangdi (shihr hwahng dee), which means “First Emperor.” The new emperor had begun his reign by halting the internal battles that had sapped China’s strength. Next he turned his attention to defeating invad- ers and crushing resistance within China to his rule. Shi Huangdi’s armies attacked the invaders north of the Huang He and south as far as what is now Vietnam. His victories doubled China’s size. Shi Huangdi was determined to unify China. Shi Huangdi acted decisively to crush political opposition at home. To destroy the power of rival warlords, he introduced a policy called “strengthening the trunk and weakening the branches.” He commanded all the noble families to live in the capital city under his suspicious gaze. This policy, according to tradition, uprooted Although a tyrant, 120,000 noble families. Seizing their land, the emperor carved China into Shi Huangdi is considered the 36 administrative districts. He sent Qin officials to control them. founder of unified To prevent criticism, Shi Huangdi and his prime minister, the Legalist China. The word Qin is the origin of China. philosopher Li Si, murdered hundreds of Confucian scholars. They also ordered “useless” books burned. These books were the works of Confucian thinkers and poets who disagreed with the Legalists. Practical books about medicine and farming, however, were spared. Through measures such as these, Shi Huangdi established an autocracy—a government that has unlimited power and uses it in an arbitrary manner. A Program of Centralization Shi Huangdi’s sweeping program of cen- tralization included the building of a highway network of more than 4,000 miles. Also, he set the same standards throughout China for writing, law, currency, and weights and measures—even down to the length of cart axles. This last standard made sure that all vehicles could fit into the ruts of China’s main roads. First Empires in Africa and Asia 141  History in Depth The Great Wall of China From the Yellow Sea in the east to the Gobi Desert in the west, the Great Wall twisted like a dragon’s tail for thousands of miles. Watchtowers rose every 200 to 300 yards along the wall. In the time of Shi Huangdi, hundreds of thousands of peasants collected, hauled, and dumped millions of tons of stone, dirt, and rubble to fill the core of the Great Wall. Slabs of cut stone on the outside of the wall enclosed a heap of pebbles and rubble on the inside. Each section of the wall rose to a height of 20 to 25 feet. Although Shi Huangdi built the earliest unified wall, much of the wall as it exists today dates from the later Ming Dynasty (AD 1368–1644). Explore ONLINE! The Qin Dynasty, 221–202 BC 40° N Qin Dynasty MONGOLIA 100°E KO Extent of Zhou Dynasty R (Approximate) EA Great Wall