MesopotamiaMesopotamia

GeographyGeography

MesopotamiaMesopotamia

MesopotamiaMesopotamia

Mesopotamia means: “land between Mesopotamia means: “land between two rivers”two rivers”

Civilization developed between the Civilization developed between the Euphrates and the Tigris RiversEuphrates and the Tigris Rivers

By 3000 B.C. a number of cities are By 3000 B.C. a number of cities are established by the Sumeriansestablished by the Sumerians

Role of the EnvironmentRole of the Environment

Created in a region that agriculture is Created in a region that agriculture is possible- IMPORTANCE?possible- IMPORTANCE? Irrigation and drainage possible- HOW?Irrigation and drainage possible- HOW? Forced people to work together and Forced people to work together and

formed communitiesformed communities

Role of the EnvironmentRole of the Environment

Rivers supplied basics for existenceRivers supplied basics for existence foodfood waterwater sanitationsanitation

Also provided for shelterAlso provided for shelter How?How? basics of building?basics of building?

Role of the EnvironmentRole of the Environment

Problems with living near a river Problems with living near a river valley?valley? Destroyed by frequent floods that Destroyed by frequent floods that

ravaged entire citiesravaged entire cities restrained political development (Sumer restrained political development (Sumer

was a geographical maze)was a geographical maze) Communication amongst the various Communication amongst the various

isolated cities was very difficultisolated cities was very difficult

Invention of WritingInvention of Writing

Origins of Writing probably go back to Origins of Writing probably go back to the ninth millennium B.C. the ninth millennium B.C.

4th millennium- realized that drawing 4th millennium- realized that drawing tokens was easier than making tokenstokens was easier than making tokens

Result was the development of Result was the development of cuneiform:cuneiform: ““wedge-shaped”wedge-shaped” pictographic systempictographic system

CuneiformCuneiform

Sumerian SocietySumerian Society

Sumer was different from all other earlier Sumer was different from all other earlier civilizationscivilizations Advanced citiesAdvanced cities Specialized workersSpecialized workers Complex institutionsComplex institutions Record keepingRecord keeping Advanced technologyAdvanced technology

Developed city-statesDeveloped city-states Food surplus increased populationFood surplus increased population

expanded trade expansion of Sumerian expanded trade expansion of Sumerian societysociety

Sumerian SocietySumerian Society

PolytheisticPolytheistic Wrote myths (Wrote myths (Epic of GilgameshEpic of Gilgamesh)) Had social classesHad social classes

Priests and kings were at the topPriests and kings were at the top Slaves were at the bottomSlaves were at the bottom

Women probably couldn’t attend school but Women probably couldn’t attend school but had many other rightshad many other rights

Advances in mathematicsAdvances in mathematics Number system based on 60 (60 seconds=1 Number system based on 60 (60 seconds=1

minute)minute)

Sumerian InventionsSumerian Inventions Wagon wheelWagon wheel Potter’s wheel Potter’s wheel

(shape containers)(shape containers) Number systemNumber system 12 month calendar12 month calendar Metal plowMetal plow SailSail Some of the earliest Some of the earliest

known mapsknown maps New architectureNew architecture

From Sumerians to From Sumerians to BabyloniansBabylonians

The Sumerian city-states eventually fell to The Sumerian city-states eventually fell to foreign invaders (2000s BC)foreign invaders (2000s BC)

The Akkadians:The Akkadians: Semites- nomadic people from the Arabian Semites- nomadic people from the Arabian

Peninsula that migrated to MesopotamiaPeninsula that migrated to Mesopotamia Sargon I (2300-2200 BC) unites all Sargon I (2300-2200 BC) unites all

Mesopotamian cities (creates first empire)Mesopotamian cities (creates first empire) Under Sargon IUnder Sargon I

Akkadians adopted Sumerian religionAkkadians adopted Sumerian religion Akkadians adopted Sumerian farmingAkkadians adopted Sumerian farming

Babylonian Babylonian EmpireEmpire

Amorites (2000-1600 BC)Amorites (2000-1600 BC) Located in modern day SyriaLocated in modern day Syria Conquered many parts of old Sumeria Conquered many parts of old Sumeria

(including Babylon)(including Babylon) Hammurabi--created a law code with harsh Hammurabi--created a law code with harsh

punishmentspunishments Borrowed heavily from Sumerian cultureBorrowed heavily from Sumerian culture After Hammurabi’s death Babylon declinedAfter Hammurabi’s death Babylon declined

HittitesHittites Began to conquer Asia Began to conquer Asia

Minor (2000 BC)Minor (2000 BC) A strong army with A strong army with

chariotschariots Conquered Babylon in Conquered Babylon in

1595 BC)1595 BC) Borrowed from Borrowed from

Mesopotamian and Mesopotamian and Egyptian cultureEgyptian culture

Had a law code less harsh Had a law code less harsh than Hammurabi’sthan Hammurabi’s

Lasted until about 1200 Lasted until about 1200 BCBC

AssyriansAssyrians

Started to gain Started to gain strength about strength about 900 BC900 BC

Powerful armyPowerful army Treated conquered Treated conquered

people cruellypeople cruelly Large empire with Large empire with

good roadsgood roads Collapsed about Collapsed about

612 BC612 BC

ChaldeansChaldeans Defeated the Assyrains in Defeated the Assyrains in

about 612 BCabout 612 BC Descended from Descended from

Hammarabi’s Hammarabi’s BabyloniansBabylonians

At its height during the At its height during the rule of Nebuchadnezzar rule of Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC)(605-562 BC) Spent a lot of money on Spent a lot of money on

BabylonBabylon Built Hanging GardensBuilt Hanging Gardens

Empire collapsed in 539 Empire collapsed in 539 BC after being defeated BC after being defeated by the Persiansby the Persians

The Hanging Gardens

PersiansPersians Were Indo-EuropeansWere Indo-Europeans Cyrus (conquered from Cyrus (conquered from

the Nile to the Indus)the Nile to the Indus) Darius IDarius I

Administered the empire Administered the empire using satraps (governors)using satraps (governors)

Tolerant to those who were Tolerant to those who were conqueredconquered

Increased trade and built Increased trade and built roadsroads

Lost to the Greeks in 480 Lost to the Greeks in 480 BCBC