| Term | Definition |
|
Sumerians |
a people from either central Asia arrived in Mesopotamia--formed 12 city-states in the Tigris-Euphrates valley--built ziggurats which were a series of terraces with each terrace smaller that the one below. |
|
Akkadians |
Semites--one of the nomadic groups that had migrated from the Arabic Peninsula to the Fertile Crescent--established a kingdom in northern Mesopotamia--conquered the Sumeerians |
|
Amorites |
a Semitic people from Syria--military forces went into Mesopotamia--produced a ruler who would dominate Mesopotamia--his name was Hammurabi |
|
Hittites |
conquered the people of Asia Minor--set up several city-states on a central plateau called Anatolia--conquered the city of Babylon |
|
Chaldeans |
lived in Babylon formed an alliance with the Medes and captured Nineveh and brought down the Assyrian Empire--reached the height of their power during the reign of one of their greatest rulers, King Nebuchadneazzar--he rebuilt Babylon into one of the most beautiful cities in the world |
|
Persians |
originated from people called Indo-Europeans--settled on a plateau that is present day Iran |
|
Phoenicians |
a Semitic group that settle in the northern part of Canaan--sailed the seas--built strong fast ships--developed an alphabet |
|
Hebrews |
known as Israelites--lived in Canaan--belief in one God --leading prophet is Abraham |