Mesopotamia Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia = In Greek means “Land between rivers”Mesopotamia = In Greek means “Land between rivers”– Tigris and EuphratesTigris and Euphrates

Many different civilizations developed in this regionMany different civilizations developed in this region– Sumerians- began about 4000 BCSumerians- began about 4000 BC– AssyriansAssyrians– BabyloniansBabylonians

Mesopotamia = no natural boundaries = difficult to Mesopotamia = no natural boundaries = difficult to defenddefend– They lack stone and wood, so they built walls of mud They lack stone and wood, so they built walls of mud

bricks.bricks.

City-State was the dominant political unitCity-State was the dominant political unit

Fertile CrescentFertile Crescent

Five Characteristics of CivilizationFive Characteristics of Civilization

– Advanced cities Advanced cities – Specialized workersSpecialized workers– Complex institutionsComplex institutions– Record keeping and writing Record keeping and writing – Advanced TechnologyAdvanced Technology

– 2 important rulers- Sargon of Akkad unified Mesopotamia in 2 important rulers- Sargon of Akkad unified Mesopotamia in 2360 BC2360 BC

– Hammurabi of Babylon- Code of Laws, 282 of them, “eye for an Hammurabi of Babylon- Code of Laws, 282 of them, “eye for an eye”eye”

Five Characteristics of CivilizationFive Characteristics of Civilization

Advanced Cities – More than large population centers, cities were Advanced Cities – More than large population centers, cities were centers of religion, politics, and trade for large areas. centers of religion, politics, and trade for large areas.

Advanced citiesAdvanced cities

A A City-StateCity-State is a city and the farm land that surrounded is a city and the farm land that surrounded it.it.

Mesopotamia is swampy and the separation made the Mesopotamia is swampy and the separation made the area hard to unify.area hard to unify.

The rulers of city-states like Sumer, Ur, Uruk, and Kish The rulers of city-states like Sumer, Ur, Uruk, and Kish had absolute power and were considered gods on Earthhad absolute power and were considered gods on Earth

A strong central government was required to keep the A strong central government was required to keep the irrigation canals in working order.irrigation canals in working order.

Every city had thick brick walls and a Every city had thick brick walls and a zigguratziggurat, or temple, , or temple, at the center.at the center.

Homes were built around a courtyard in the center.Homes were built around a courtyard in the center.

Religion and the ZigguratReligion and the Ziggurat

1. The characteristic Mesopotamian temple was a ziggurat, a 1. The characteristic Mesopotamian temple was a ziggurat, a stepped platform made out of mud-bricks, with a temple at the stepped platform made out of mud-bricks, with a temple at the summit.summit.2. The ziggurat was not only a religious center but also an economic 2. The ziggurat was not only a religious center but also an economic redistribution center--the temple base was a huge warehouse where redistribution center--the temple base was a huge warehouse where grain and other valuable substances were stored.grain and other valuable substances were stored.4. Mesopotamian religion was essentially fatalistic--the gods were 4. Mesopotamian religion was essentially fatalistic--the gods were removed from people, who were basically the slaves of the gods: removed from people, who were basically the slaves of the gods: the most humans could hope for was that the gods would ignore the most humans could hope for was that the gods would ignore them! To what degree was this fatalism a result of the harsh them! To what degree was this fatalism a result of the harsh environment of Mesopotamia?environment of Mesopotamia?

Complex InstitutionsComplex Institutions

Are ways of organizing peopleAre ways of organizing people

Religion- people faced unpredictable floods and constant Religion- people faced unpredictable floods and constant war- rituals were designed to persuade the gods to leave war- rituals were designed to persuade the gods to leave them alone.them alone.

Only gods were immortal, when people died they Only gods were immortal, when people died they entered a place under the Earth- no pleasure or pain- a entered a place under the Earth- no pleasure or pain- a realm of shadowsrealm of shadows

Society- Kings/priests, nobles, commoners, criminals Society- Kings/priests, nobles, commoners, criminals and slaves, and slaves, patriarchal patriarchal society- male dominatedsociety- male dominated

Hammurabi’s Code of LawsHammurabi’s Code of Laws

Five Characteristics of CivilizationFive Characteristics of Civilization

Specialized Workers - Specialized Workers -

– ScribesScribes

Wrote letters for peopleWrote letters for people

Copied down lawsCopied down laws

Kept business records for merchantsKept business records for merchants

– School MastersSchool Masters

– MerchantsMerchants

– Priests Priests

– PottersPotters

– Metal workersMetal workers

– WeaversWeavers

This was all possible because they were able to produce a surplus of This was all possible because they were able to produce a surplus of food. food.

Five Characteristics of CivilizationFive Characteristics of CivilizationRecord Keeping Writing – Record Keeping Writing – – Another essential trait of Another essential trait of

civilization made its appearance in civilization made its appearance in Mesopotamia – Writing. Mesopotamia – Writing.

CuneiformCuneiform- means wedge-- means wedge-shaped. Written with a reed shaped. Written with a reed called a stylus. called a stylus.

What are the What are the advantages/disadvantages of advantages/disadvantages of the writing systems of the writing systems of Mesopotamia and Egypt??Mesopotamia and Egypt??

Advanced TechnologyAdvanced Technology

Advanced Technology – (3000 BC)Advanced Technology – (3000 BC)– The plow - Could raise more cropsThe plow - Could raise more crops– The Sailboat – Move goods The Sailboat – Move goods – The wheel – Moved goodsThe wheel – Moved goods– The archThe arch– The 360 degree circle and math system based on 60The 360 degree circle and math system based on 60– Bronze workingBronze working– Calendar- 12 months, 7 day week, 24 hour day, 60 Calendar- 12 months, 7 day week, 24 hour day, 60

min. hourmin. hour

Plank Plank wheelwheel