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Chapter 2Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent
Section 1The Geography of Ancient Mesopotamia
MesopotamiaRegion where Tigris & Euphrates Rivers flow
Name means: “land between two rivers”Rivers: provide water and means of travel
Fertile SoilRain & melting snow caused river flooding
Soil picked up from mts.Rivers overflowed their banks causing flooding
and spreading of silt onto land (good for growing crops)
An Arid ClimateLess than 10” of rain w/ hot summers
Arid ClimateAncient people could still grow crops due to
rivers and fertile soil3500 B.C.
Widespread farming villages across Mesopotamia
Flood & DroughtsFloods were unpredictable
Extent of floods dependent on amount of rain & snow melt
Too little rain & snow melt meant no flood Would cause drought & people would starve
Irrigation6000 B.C.
People took steps to control water supply Built earth walls to hold back water during floods Built canals to carry water to the fields
Constant challenge to keep canals free from muddy silt
A Land of Few ResourcesNo forests for wood in MesopotamiaLittle stone and mineralsReed & Brick Houses
Used to build homesCrumbled easily in bad weather & had to be repaired
oftenBrick Walls
Area was invaded easily because it was not surrounded by mts. or other natural barriers
Mesopotamia often conquered or stolen from Built brick walls around their towns & villages
Sometimes 25 feet thick w/ guard towers and surrounded by open ditches or moats
Trading for ResourcesObtained stone, wood, copper, and tin
through tradeTraded for luxuries such as gold, ivory, ebony,
and precious stonesOffered grain, dates, and other farm products
Could do this due to a surplus of cropsJobs such as trading, digging canals, building
walls, and farming were done over and overCommunity leaders organized groups of
people to do the work at the right time
Section 2The First Civilizations
The Rise of CivilizationVillages grew larger & larger
Eventually became citiesWorkers Organized to solve problems
Building & cleaning irrigation canalsSociety & culture grew more complex
Changes led to civilization 1st 3300 B.C. in Sumer
Sumerian City-StatesCities were:
Centers of trade, learning, & religionMost people lived in countryside
Over time cities ruled surrounding lands & villages Called a city-state
Sumer had 12 city-statesBabylon, Kish, Nippur, and UrFertile land; farmers grew lots of food;
supported larger populations
A Sumerian CityNarrow, winding streets; walls surrounded
cities, w/ gates to let people inHomes built of reeds and mud or brick
Series of rooms arranged around a courtyard
The Ziggurat: Center of the CityLargest & most important structure in cityCenter of temple complex
Like a city hall (priests ran irrigation system & other important aspects of city life) People paid for services with grain and other items Priests controlled grain surplus & city-state’s
wealth
Priests Become LeadersPriests
Played political role & religious role People went to them to ask the gods for help
Sumerians believed in polytheismBelieved in many gods and goddesses4 main gods: gods of the sky, winds, hills, and fresh
water Each city-state worshipped their own main god Believed gods could prevent bad things from happening Each god had many priests who worked to satisfy the
gods & claimed to have influence with them Because of this people accepted priests as leaders
New Leaders in Sumer3000 B.C.
City-states were attacked because of their wealth Some from far off lands During these times a powerful man was asked to rule them and
protect the city At 1st just in time of war; eventually full time
New leadersTook over some of priests jobs
Maintained canals, managed grain surplus, & acted as judges Eventually became a king of people
2375 B.C.Sumer became a kingdom under one kingPriests were still important for pleasing the gods and
keeping evil away
Sumerian SocietySocial Classes created
King & priests were part of upper class Believed to have links to gods Landowners, gov’t officials, & rich merchants were
also part of upper classMiddle class
All other free people (farmers, artisans, etc.)Lowest class
Slaves: had some rights; could conduct business, borrow money, & buy freedom
Role of WomenWomen were included in all social classesSome were priestesses, owned land, worked
as merchants and artisans, and raised children
Sumerian Scientific DevelopmentsGood at solving problemsInvented and developed knowledge to better
their livesEarly Inventions:
The plow: helped farmersThe wheel: transport goods & used to make
pottery fasterMathematics:
Developed arithmetic to keep records of crops and trade goods Number system based on 60
Written language Invented writing to meet business needs
Merchants needed records of exchange Also wanted to label goods
Marked outside of containers with pictographs
Pictographs: 1st showed actual objects Later stood for ideas & sounds
Eventually stopped using pictures & used wedge-shaped symbols Wedge-shaped writing called cuneiform
Writing System was complex 600 different symbols; took years to learn; few people were able to
read and write Scribes: people to specialized in writing
Professional record keepers
Writing later used to write about wars, floods, & reigns of kings
Section 3
Empires of the Fertile Crescent
The First Empire Builders3000 to 2000 B.C.
Kings fought over Sumer land More land = more wealth and power to king No single king was able to control all of
Mesopotamia
The Akkadian EmpireSargon
2371 B.C. took control of region1st creator of 1st empire (Akkadian Empire)Eventually ruled lands from Persian Gulf through
Mesopotamia to the Mediterranean Sea Area known as Fertile Crescent: rich soil and water
made area good for farming
EmpiresImportant because they change the way people
live May bring peace, encourage trade, include people from
several cultures (ideas, technology, & customs)
The Babylonian Empire & HammurabiAkkadian Empire fell apart due to attacks
from outside peopleAmorites invaded Sumer & set capital in
BabylonHammurabi ruled Empire
Created a code of law to control the lands & that people had to follow He reviewed all existing laws and drew up a single
law & displayed it on a huge pillar in Babylon
Hammurabi CodeGoal: justice to everyone in empire
Id wrongdoings & their punishment Society should be run by the rule of law & apply to
everyone People have right to know laws and the punishment
for not following them
Assyrians & ChaldeansAssyria took control of F.C.Built powerful army and set out to control
neighboring landsA Powerful Empire
Used latest inventions for war Iron swords, iron-tipped spears, battering rams,
ladders,& dug tunnels
AshurbanipalRuled during height of Assyrian Empire
Assyrians governed land by appoint governor to rule each landSent tribute to Assyrian emperor
Pay for protection give by Assyrian army Fail to pay & army destroyed cities in governors
land & people where exiled
Assyria CrumblesMedes & Chaldeans joined forces to defeat
AssyriansBurned capital of Nineveh to the ground
A New Babylonian EmpireChaldeans ruled former Assyrian empire
Capital was BabylonNebuchadnezzar II was emperor
Rebuilt city of Babylon Added artificial mts. covered with trees and plants;
appeared to be floating gardens
Chaldeans were cruel rulersDestroyed Hebrews’ sacred temple in
JerusalemHeld thousands of Hebrews captive
Persia Controls Southwest AsiaMedes
Controlled east of F.C.Area bounded by mts. ranges
PeriansNomads from Central Asia
Created tiny kingdoms & thrived through trade Grew in power and threatened for control
Cyrus Founds the Persian EmpireCyrus took control of Medes EmpireVision of conquering lands around Persia & uniting to
form one empireConquered Anatolia, lands once controlled by
Assyrians & ChaldeansNeeded way to control lands filled w/ different peopleSet up a policy of toleration
Allowed people to keep their customs & beliefs Worship their own gods, speak their language, & practice
their own way of life Had to pay tribute though
Fewer revolts & people lived in peace
Darius Expands the EmpireCambyses
Successor of Cyrus Ruled through hard means After his death rebellions broke out
Darius Strong leader who came to power & dealt with
rebellions Looked to expand boundaries
Expanded as far east as India (2,800 miles)
New policies for huge empire Empire divided into 20 provinces
Each had local gov’t Satraps (governors) carried out orders in provinces and
collected taxes Military commander for each satrap Had spies (king’s eyes and ears) to be sure satraps followed
orders
Darius also built a Royal Road to help unite the empire1,775 miles longRoyal messages sent along the roadMail and military troops also used road
Darius set up a code of law based on Hammurabi’s model & minted coins (promoted business and made it easy to pay taxes)
Planned a march against Egyptian rebelsBut died before that happenedSon Xerxes dealt with Egypt