MesopotamiaMesopotamia

The land between the riversThe land between the rivers

MesopotamiaMesopotamia

CivilizationsCivilizations

Complex societiesComplex societies– CitiesCities– Organized governmentsOrganized governments– Art Art – ReligionReligion– Class divisionsClass divisions– Writing systemsWriting systems

““Cradle of CivilizationCradle of Civilization

How did civilizations begin?How did civilizations begin?

MesopotamiaMesopotamia

Literally means “land Literally means “land between the rivers”between the rivers”– Begin in TurkeyBegin in Turkey– Flow SEFlow SE– Empty in Persian GulfEmpty in Persian Gulf– TigrisTigris– EuphratesEuphrates

Located in present day Located in present day IraqIraq

The land between the The land between the rivers supported a growing rivers supported a growing population with its fertile population with its fertile landland

This area is known as the This area is known as the “Fertile Crescent”“Fertile Crescent”

Iraq

Fertile Crescent

Why Were River Valleys Why Were River Valleys Important?Important?

Provided good farm landProvided good farm land Trade becomes important in the moving of Trade becomes important in the moving of

goods and ideasgoods and ideas– Because of a stable food supply, people can:Because of a stable food supply, people can:

Form governmentsForm governments Develop religions Develop religions Advancements on the artsAdvancements on the arts Developed writing systemsDeveloped writing systems Created class structuresCreated class structures

Advantages of Tigris and Euphrates Advantages of Tigris and Euphrates RiversRivers

Irrigation (stable food Irrigation (stable food supply)supply)– Control floodingControl flooding

Dams, channels, Dams, channels, walls, waterways, walls, waterways, ditchesditches

Trade and Trade and communication routescommunication routes

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Flooding of river was Flooding of river was not dependablenot dependable– Could be violent and Could be violent and

destructivedestructive

Harsh climateHarsh climate– Hot,dry springHot,dry spring

Unpredictable Unpredictable floodingflooding

– Cold wintersCold winters

Rise of SumerRise of Sumer3500 B.C.-1792 B.C.3500 B.C.-1792 B.C.

Civilization began @3,500 BCCivilization began @3,500 BC At Sumer’s height contained 200,000 peopleAt Sumer’s height contained 200,000 people Lived in independent city-statesLived in independent city-states

– Each had own godEach had own god– Each had own zigguratEach had own ziggurat– Towns run by kingsTowns run by kings

The first civilization The first civilization developed here developed here @3,500 BC and was @3,500 BC and was called Sumercalled Sumer

The land was open The land was open and invaded and and invaded and conquered oftenconquered often

Ziggurat: temples that were found in each of the cities and were believed to be homes for the gods

Sumerian city-statesSumerian city-states

City-stateCity-state– Made up of the city and the land surrounding it.Made up of the city and the land surrounding it.– Had its own government and had no allegiance Had its own government and had no allegiance

to any other entity.to any other entity. Isolated by geographyIsolated by geography

– Beyond the city-states lay mudflats and desertBeyond the city-states lay mudflats and desert Made trade and communication difficultMade trade and communication difficult

Each surrounded by wallEach surrounded by wall– Sun dried mud brick medium usedSun dried mud brick medium used

Ur: capital city of the Sumerian Ur: capital city of the Sumerian civilization. civilization.

Life in ancient SumerLife in ancient Sumer

Sumerians were poytheisticSumerians were poytheistic– Belief in many godsBelief in many gods– Believed that the gods/goddesses controlled all Believed that the gods/goddesses controlled all

aspects of lifeaspects of life– Must be appeasedMust be appeased

Ruled by kingsRuled by kings– Probably war heroes at firstProbably war heroes at first– Then position becomes hereditaryThen position becomes hereditary

Men headed the household and went to schoolMen headed the household and went to school Women did have rights, they could own property and Women did have rights, they could own property and

run businessesrun businesses

Social Classes in SumerSocial Classes in Sumer

Free Citizens Nobility and Priests

Artisans, Craftsmen

Traders, Fishers, Farmers

Scribes

Slaves

A person whose profession was writing down or copying letters,contracts and other documents.

Skilled workers who made metal products, cloth, or pottery

Traded tools, wheat, barleyfor cooper, tin and wood

Worked on farms or in temples. Treated as property. They were POWs, debtors or criminals

CuneiformCuneiform

Earliest form of writingEarliest form of writing

Wedge shaped impressions were made with a stylus onto wet clay.

Developed to keep track of business deals, births, deaths and other transactions

Only boys from wealthy families could learn to write (become scribes)- these were leaders of the community. They became judges and political leaders

Advancement in literatureAdvancement in literature

Epic of GilgameshEpic of Gilgamesh– Epic is a long poem that tells the story of a heroEpic is a long poem that tells the story of a hero– Gilgamesh is a king who travels around the world Gilgamesh is a king who travels around the world

and performs great deeds.and performs great deeds.– Gilgamesh tries to find a way to live Gilgamesh tries to find a way to live

forever...figures out that is only for the gods.forever...figures out that is only for the gods.– Confirms the Bible as a historical documentConfirms the Bible as a historical document

In both the Bible and Gilgamesh, an epic flood is In both the Bible and Gilgamesh, an epic flood is documenteddocumented

Writing in MesopotamiaWriting in Mesopotamia

Advancements in Science and Advancements in Science and MathMath

Wagon wheelWagon wheel

– Help carry goods from place to placeHelp carry goods from place to place PlowPlow

– Made farming easierMade farming easier SailboatSailboat

– Replaced muscle power with wind powerReplaced muscle power with wind power GeometryGeometry

– Cut fields and buildCut fields and build Number system based on 60Number system based on 60

– 60 minute hour, 60 second minute, 360 degree circle60 minute hour, 60 second minute, 360 degree circle 12 month calendar12 month calendar

– Developed based on cycles of the moonDeveloped based on cycles of the moon

– Used to plant, harvest, hold religious festivalsUsed to plant, harvest, hold religious festivals

Sargon ISargon I

King from AkkadKing from Akkad 2500 BC conquered city of Sumer2500 BC conquered city of Sumer Adapted Sumerian way of life and formed the kingdom of Adapted Sumerian way of life and formed the kingdom of

SumerSumer Conquered all of Mesopotamia and set up the world's first Conquered all of Mesopotamia and set up the world's first

empire: a group of many different lands under one rulerempire: a group of many different lands under one ruler Lasted 200 years before falling to invaders.Lasted 200 years before falling to invaders.

BabyloniaBabylonia

Babylonian EmpireBabylonian Empire1792 B.C. – 1650 B.C.1792 B.C. – 1650 B.C.

Invaders from Arabian Desert regionInvaders from Arabian Desert region Hammurabi Hammurabi

– Leading king who established empireLeading king who established empire

Scribes were leading citizensScribes were leading citizens– Educated, kept written recordsEducated, kept written records

Women enjoyed much freedomWomen enjoyed much freedom– Very uncommon in ancient civilizationsVery uncommon in ancient civilizations

Farming and manufacturing an important Farming and manufacturing an important part of the economypart of the economy

Mathematics was based on a unit of 60Mathematics was based on a unit of 60 Made advancements in astronomyMade advancements in astronomy

– Able to predict lunar eclipsesAble to predict lunar eclipses– Created 12 month calendarCreated 12 month calendar

LanguageLanguage– Deciphered by Henry Rawlinson w/ the Deciphered by Henry Rawlinson w/ the

discovery of the Behistun Rockdiscovery of the Behistun Rock

Hammurabi’ s CodeHammurabi’ s Code

Law code written down by HammurabiLaw code written down by Hammurabi 282 laws282 laws Helped shaped daily life in MesopotamiaHelped shaped daily life in Mesopotamia

– If a son strikes his father, his hand shall be cut off.If a son strikes his father, his hand shall be cut off.– If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be

put output out– ““an eye for an eye”an eye for an eye”

– If anyone is committing a robbery and is caught, then he If anyone is committing a robbery and is caught, then he shall be put to deathshall be put to death

– If anyone steals a water wheel from the field, he shall If anyone steals a water wheel from the field, he shall pay five shekels in money to the ownerpay five shekels in money to the owner

Hammurabi receiving the laws from Hammurabi receiving the laws from the sun godthe sun god

Stele of HammurabiStele of Hammurabi

Placed in all cities for all to see.

People were expected to follow the laws because they had been made aware of them.

They also were foretold of the punishment for breaking any laws.

Hittite EmpireHittite Empire1650 B.C.-1200 B.C1650 B.C.-1200 B.C..

Warlike tribesmen from Warlike tribesmen from Asia MinorAsia Minor

Conquered Babylonian Conquered Babylonian empire, but retreated empire, but retreated to the western Fertile to the western Fertile CrescentCrescent

Hittite ContributionsHittite Contributions

11stst to make widespread use of iron weapons to make widespread use of iron weapons and toolsand tools

Used horse drawn chariots in battleUsed horse drawn chariots in battle Had a more humane system of lawsHad a more humane system of laws First to ride horseback in battleFirst to ride horseback in battle

Assyrian EmpireAssyrian Empire

AssyriansAssyrians750 B.C.- 605 B.C750 B.C.- 605 B.C..

Ruthless conquerorsRuthless conquerors Largest empire to this Largest empire to this

pointpoint Terrorized and torture Terrorized and torture

subjectssubjects Aggressive fightersAggressive fighters

– Iron tipped arrows and Iron tipped arrows and spearsspears

– Battering ramsBattering rams– Metal helmets and breast Metal helmets and breast

platesplatesOften known as the “land Often known as the “land

bathed in blood”bathed in blood”

Assyrians use siege machine to attack walls of city.

Contributions of AssyriansContributions of Assyrians

First to set up an effective system for First to set up an effective system for running an empirerunning an empire

Set up a great library in the capital city of Set up a great library in the capital city of Ninevah which held thousand of clay tabletsNinevah which held thousand of clay tablets

Near modern day Mosul

Chaldean Empire(Neo-Babylonian)Chaldean Empire(Neo-Babylonian)605-550 B.C.605-550 B.C.

Conquered the Assyrian EmpireConquered the Assyrian Empire Established the 2Established the 2ndnd Babylonian Empire Babylonian Empire Led by King NebuchadnezzarLed by King Nebuchadnezzar Rebuilt Babylon-the most impressive city in Rebuilt Babylon-the most impressive city in

the ancient worldthe ancient world

Nebuchadnezzar

The capital city of BabylonThe capital city of Babylon

Ishtar Gate: entrance into the city

of Babylon

Babylon at the time of Babylon at the time of NebuchadnezzarNebuchadnezzar

Hanging Gardens of BabylonHanging Gardens of Babylon

One of the 7 wonders One of the 7 wonders of the ancient worldof the ancient world

PhoeniciansPhoenicians1000 B.C.-700 B.C.1000 B.C.-700 B.C.

Skilled shipbuilders Skilled shipbuilders and sailorsand sailors

Greatest seafaring Greatest seafaring traders of ancient traders of ancient worldworld

Established many Established many colonies, one of the colonies, one of the greatest was Carthage greatest was Carthage in northern Africain northern Africa

Contributions of the PhoeniciansContributions of the Phoenicians

Credited with Credited with spreading culture spreading culture throughout the throughout the Med.Sea worldMed.Sea world– Purple dye and cedarPurple dye and cedar– 22 letter alphabet22 letter alphabet

Eventually adopted byEventually adopted by

the Greeksthe Greeks

Phoenician 22 letter

alphabet

LydiansLydians

Located in the northern Fertile CrescentLocated in the northern Fertile Crescent Created an economy based on moneyCreated an economy based on money No longer would people use barter: the No longer would people use barter: the

trading of one item for anothertrading of one item for another Croesus: Lydian king thought to be the Croesus: Lydian king thought to be the

richest king of the ancient worldrichest king of the ancient world Conquered by the Persians: they were Conquered by the Persians: they were

traders not fighterstraders not fighters

PersiansPersians525 B.C.-331 B.C.525 B.C.-331 B.C.

Boundaries from the Indus River to Med Sea Boundaries from the Indus River to Med Sea (3000 miles) (3000 miles)

Highly organized governmentHighly organized government Empire divided into provinces ruled by local Empire divided into provinces ruled by local

kingskings Reached its height under the leadership of Reached its height under the leadership of

Darius IDarius I

Persian EmpirePersian Empire

Contributions of the PersiansContributions of the Persians

The Royal RoadThe Royal Road– Allowed all of the empire to be connectedAllowed all of the empire to be connected– Allowed for quicker travel (ideas and goods)Allowed for quicker travel (ideas and goods)

Conquered people were treated wellConquered people were treated well– Allowed to keep own religion, laws & customsAllowed to keep own religion, laws & customs

Cultural DiffusionCultural Diffusion– The exchange of ways of livingThe exchange of ways of living

Teachings of ZoroasterTeachings of Zoroaster

ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism

Ahura Mazda: god of Ahura Mazda: god of justice, kindness, and justice, kindness, and thoughtfulnessthoughtfulness

Held the belief that the Held the belief that the world is a battlefield for world is a battlefield for good and evilgood and evil

Belief in good reflection, Belief in good reflection, good work, good deeds.good work, good deeds.– The deeds that you do will The deeds that you do will

come back to you whether come back to you whether good or badgood or bad

Symbol of Zoroastrian faith

Economy of MesopotamiaEconomy of Mesopotamia

Economy was based on farming, Economy was based on farming, craftsmanship and tradecraftsmanship and trade

Their laws indicated a high importance on Their laws indicated a high importance on regulation of money, interest and the paying regulation of money, interest and the paying back of debt. ie: Hammurabi’s Codeback of debt. ie: Hammurabi’s Code

Economy was overseen by priests and Economy was overseen by priests and kingskings

Land was divided among the peopleLand was divided among the people

HebrewsHebrews