Mesopotamia

Primary Empires

Mesopotamia means “Land between the rivers”Civilization developed between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in present day Iraq and Kuwait, around 3,000 BCE

Mesopotamia

SumeriansAkkadiansBabyloniansHittitesAssyriansChaldeansPhoeniciansIsraelitesPersians

The World’s First Known Civilization – Sumer3,000 BCE - 2,350 BCE

SumeriansInventions– Arch– Dome– Wheel– Writing

(cuneiform)– Number system

based on 60PolytheisticTheocracy

The Epic

Consider:– What do these films

have in common?Lord of the RingsStar Wars

The Epic

Meets the following criteria– It is a long verse narrative on a serious

subject– Told in a formal and elevated style– Centered on a heroic or quasi-divine figure on

whose actions depends the fate of a tribe, a nation, or the human race.

The Epic

Write down as many modern epics that fit this criteria.

Modern Epics

The Epic

Traditionally were written versions of oral poems.– Usually about a tribal or national hero during

warlike times.

The Epic

Hero is a figure of great national, or cosmic, importance.Setting is ample in scaleAction involves superhuman deeds in battle or a long, arduous, and dangerous journey.Gods and other supernatural beings take an interest.Ceremonial performance and narrated in a ceremonial style.

Epic of Gilgamesh

Tablet 11 of Epic of Gilgamesh

Epic of Gilgamesh

Epic of GilgameshRecited orally for centuries– Recorded 2800-3000 BCE– Predates all other major writings of antiquity

Gilgamesh – semi historical figure may have ruled Uruk around

2800 BCE– Two-thirds god; one-third man– Searches for ever-lasting life.

Enkidu (Inn-KEY-Do)– Dearest companion of Gilgamesh– Killed because Gilgamesh spurns affection of the

Queen of Heaven, Ishtar

Key Themes:Peeping Tom:– Window into Mesopotamia

The nature of the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu– Civilization vs. Beast– Friendship

Cultural Difference– Role of Women

Nature of GodsImportance of Fame / Immortality

First Babylonian Empire2,000 BCE – 1,550 BCE

Hammurabi’s CodeHistory’s first known written laws282 laws in totalHammurabi (standing) receiving the laws from ShamashWhere we get the phrase “an eye for an eye”

Assyrian Empire850 BCE – 612 BCE

AssyriansKing Sennacherib

Extremely well organized military and government.“The land bathed in blood.” Cruel warriorsIron weapons

Cavalry

Cruel Conquerors

Assyrian ContributionsKing Ashurbanipal

Permanent roadsFirst postal systemFirst use of mercenariesGreat library at Nineveh had 22,000 clay tablets.

Chaldean (New Babylonian) Empire(600 BCE – 550 BCE)

Made Babylon their Capitol

Chaldeans (New Babylonians)

Famous for the Hanging Gardens & Tower of BabelMost famous King was NebuchadnezzarObservations of the sky led to astronomy and astrology.

Persian Empire612 BCE – 331 BCE

Persian government became a model for future governmentsCyrus & Darius

Established a tax collection systemAllowed locals to keep customs and religionsBuilt a system of roads that are still used todaySatrep – “governor”

The Persian Religion–Founded by the prophet Zoroaster.–Central theme is a struggle between

good an evil.–Concept of heaven (pairidaeza) and

hell.–Was taken up by Alexander the Great,

the Romans, and future world religions.

Persian empire ended when it was overrun by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE.