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Location
Location
The Fertile Crescent is a crescent shaped piece of land in Asia minor and North Africa. It spreads across the modern day countries of Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, and Palestine. Mesopotamia is a region inside of the Fertile Crescent and is between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. On one side of the Fertile Crescent are the Zagros and Taurus mountain ranges, blocking cool winds from the north. The Hindu Kush mountain range isolates regions in the Middle East from civilizations in the east. To the west of the Fertile Crescent is the Mediterranean Sea, which provided trade with civilizations outside of the Fertile Crescent.
The First Civilizations
The First Civilizations
The Fertile Crescent is the location of the world's first cities and empires. The first civilization was the Sumerians. The Sumerians lived in southern Mesopotamia around 4,000 BCE and were known for their writings in cuneiform. This writing system was developed in 3,000 BCE and was adapted by other civilizations until the development of the alphabet by the Phoenicians 2,000 years later. The next major civilization was the Akkadian Empire. Sargon of Akkad controlled the Akkadian Empire in 2334 BCE, creating the world's first dynastic empire. The Akkadian Empire ruled over not only Akkadians, but also the Sumerians. The Assyrian empire ruled Mesopotamia after the Akkadian Empire fell in 2154 BCE.
1.Map of the Fertile Crescent highlighted in red.
Mesopotamia is located in the Fertile Crescent where civilizations first appeared. It is known as the cradle of civilization.
15.Bronze head of Sargon, found in Nineveh.
Sargon of Akkad
Sargon of Akkad
Around 2300 BCE, Sargon ruled ancient Mesopotamia. Sargon conquered all of Mesopotamia, including areas in Syria, Elam, and Anatolia. Historians know about Sargon through legends written in cuneiform, the first writing system ever invented. According to the stories, Sargon came from a humble origin. He was raised by a gardener who found him in a basket when he was a baby. Sargon became a cupbearer for a ruler in the city of Kish around 2340 BCE, in the northern part of Sumer.
Lugalzaggisi of Uruk had united many city-states in Sumer, so when Sargon defeated him, Sargon now had control over the majority of Mesopotamia.
Hammurabi
Hammurabi
In the year 1894 BCE, Babylon rose. Babylon was just a minor city-state until 1792 BCE. Between the years 1792 and 1750 BCE ruled by Hammurabi. Hammurabi conquered all of Southern Mesopotamia and brought stability to the region. The Code of Hammurabi is what Hammurabi is most well known for. Hammurabi's code is a list of 282 strict laws written on stone pillars called steles. The phrase "an eye for an eye" came from one of the laws in Hammurabi's Code.
17.A photograph of a coin made by the Lydians.
Lydians
Lydians
The ancient city of Lydia emerged in 1200 BCE. Today it is located in Western-Turkey. In 687 BCE, King Gyges established the capital of Lydia, Sardis, and led to the expansion of Lydian borders. Lydians were known for being the first civilization to use gold and silver coins. This important invention helped stimulate trade and it was the reason that Lydians eventually became wealthy through trade. In the 6th century BCE, the city of Lydia was conquered by Cyrus the Great.
16.An illustration of a Phoenician ship and harbor.
Phoenicians
Phoenicians
Located on the coast of Lebanon are the port cities of Tyre and Sidon. These two cities, as well as others along the coast, were owned by the Phoenicians. The Phoenicians were known for their trading empire. Purple dye, glass, wood, carved ivory, and the alphabet are all things that were spread because of Phoenician trade. Phoenician trade routes spread throughout the Mediterranean Sea and even into the North Atlantic Ocean. These routes were traveled by ships that could travel further than other ships of the time. The Phoenicians created colonies that became port cities. One of these cities was Carthage. The city of Carthage was most relevant during the Punic Wars with Rome in 264 BC. The harbor at Carthage was circular and allowed for war ships to be released quickly, giving the Phoenicians the advantage in marine warfare.
Hittites
The Hittites were an empire of warlike people that lived between 1400 B.C.E and 1200 B.C.E. They are most famous for their Invention of iron. They were the first people to shape and use iron and it let them conquer other civilizations and become an important empire. They also improved the chariot. They reduced the number of spokes to four instead of eight, and they placed the axle in the middle, which let them carry three warriors instead of two. The chariots and iron weapons lead to many battle victories and much conquered land. At their peak, they inhabited most of the Anatolian Peninsula and parts of the northern Levant. They often fought Egypt for control of the Levant. These wars caused the first ever known peace treaty. They were dominant in the ancient world until a drought hit and the Sea Peoples (Philistines) attacked, which caused the downfall of the Hittite empire.
14.(An ancient gold statue wearing traditional Hittite clothing.)
Museum Rooms -
Harbors and Ports - Izabella
Information about how harbors and ports have affected civilizations and how Phoenician trade has influenced the ancient world.
The Coin System - Sophia
How coins have improved the way people trade.
Shipbuilding - Isabelle
Phoenicians' ships, and their shipbuilding techniques.
Alphabet - Wesley
The development of the Phoenician Alphabet in the Fertile Crescent.
Hittite Iron - Nehemiah
The history and importance of the Hittite's invention of Iron.
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