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Mesopotamia Sumer Land in the Southern half of Mesopotamia By 3000 B.C.E almost one hundred thousand people Sumerians dominated Mesopotamia Many people migrated there (Semitic Migrants)
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Mesopotamia
MesopotamiaMesopotamia – “The land
between the rivers.”Refers specifically to the
fertile valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in modern-day Iraq.
First large scale societyWater from the rivers
was used to irrigate fields of barley, wheat, and peas.
MesopotamiaSumer
Land in the Southern half of Mesopotamia
By 3000 B.C.E almost one hundred thousand people
Sumerians dominated Mesopotamia
Many people migrated there (Semitic Migrants)
MesopotamiaSumerian City-States
Dominated public affairs in MesopotamiaControlled public affairs in cities and
surrounding agricultural regions Coordinated projects to benefit the community
(Defense walls, temples, etc) Irrigation systems especially important
Kept the peace… prevented conflicts b/t residents Ziggurat in Uruk
MesopotamiaSumerian Kings
By 3000 B.C.E. most Sumerian cities had kings.
Most of which had come to power through military valor.
The Course of EmpireSome kings attempted to exert control over
larger regions by taking over other cities and placing their own governors in control.
The Course of EmpireHammurabi and the
Babylonian EmpireDominated
Mesopotamia until 1600 B.C.E.
Ruled through centralized bureaucracy (in Babylon) and regular taxation
The Course of EmpireHammurabi’s Laws
Compiled extensive list of laws to regulate behavior and promote welfare
High standards for behavior and stern punishments for violators
Relied heavily on the principle of lex talionis, “the law of retaliation.” Punishments fit the crime – i.e. penalty for murder is
death Only for even classes though
i.e. if a noble murdered a noble the penalty would be death, but not if a noble murdered a slave
The Course of EmpireBabylon fell about
1595 B.C.E. to the HittitesChaos ensued for
several centuries following
Later Mesopotamian EmpiresAssyrian Empire –
1300 B.C.E. – 600 B.C.E.
Nebuchadnezzar and the New Babylonian Empire – 600 B.C.E. – 550 B.C.E.
Economic Specialization and TradeMesopotamia
developmentsBronze MetallurgyIron MetallurgyThe WheelShipbuildingTrade Networks
The Emergence of a Stratified Patriarchal SocietySocial Classes
Kings (Hereditary)Priests and PriestessesFree commoners
(owned property)Dependent clients (no
property)Slaves (Prisoners of
War, Convicted Criminals, indebted individuals)
Patriarchal SocietyMen
In charge of public and private affairsHead of households
WomenA few priestessesSome scribesSexual and social behavior strictly controlled
(Viels)
The Development of Written Cultural TraditionsWorld’s earliest known
writing came from Mesopotamia
Cuneiform – Depends on graphic symbols, one of the earliest writing forms (p. 44)Led to formal educationLed to rapid expansion
of knowledge, especially in Mathematics and Astronomy
The Epic of GilgameshFamous piece of
Mesopotamian literature and the earliest piece of human literature written about a demigod name Gilgamesh.
Influence of MesopotamiaJudaism – From the area of Palestine (present day
Israel). Believed in one God known as Yahweh.Phoenicians – Famous for maritime trade networks
and alphabet.Indo-Europeans – Spoke Indo-European language.
Migrated throughout much of Eurasia and had profound impact on southwest Asia.Moved into Europe (Celts… Dominant North of
Mediterranean) and India and IranHittites – Most powerful Indo-Europeans. Conquered
Mesopotamia in 1595 B.C.E. Horses domesticated… WAR CHARIOTS!