Key ConceptsKey Concepts

PoliticalPolitical: Who controls what? What type of : Who controls what? What type of government is there? Anything to do with government is there? Anything to do with laws or war.laws or war.

EconomicEconomic: What type of economy? How : What type of economy? How do people make a living? do people make a living?

GeographyGeography: Where is it? Is the land : Where is it? Is the land mountainous? Desert? Oceanic? mountainous? Desert? Oceanic?

SocialSocial: Religious, intellectual, artistic: Religious, intellectual, artistic

Key Concepts for Ancient Key Concepts for Ancient MesopotamiaMesopotamia

Oldest known civilizationOldest known civilization

Cradle of Human CivilizationCradle of Human Civilization

Ur: Capital City (right top)Ur: Capital City (right top)

Old Testament Old Testament

NebuchadnezzarNebuchadnezzar

Ziggurat (right bottom)Ziggurat (right bottom)

Hanging gardensHanging gardens

Key Concepts for Ancient Key Concepts for Ancient Mesopotamia IIMesopotamia II

This civilization rose in the valleys This civilization rose in the valleys between the Tigris and Euphrates between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.rivers.

Some say this Fertile Crescent was Some say this Fertile Crescent was the real Garden of Eden.the real Garden of Eden.

BabylonBabylon

The ancient city of Babylon, under King Nebuchadnezzar II, must have been a wonder to the traveler's eyes. "In addition to its size," wrote Herodotus, a historian in 450 BC, "Babylon surpasses in splendor any city in the known world." Herodotus claimed the outer walls were 56 miles in length, 80 feet thick and 320 feet high. Wide enough, he said, to allow a four-horse chariot to turn. The inner walls were "not so thick as the first, but hardly less strong." Inside the walls were fortresses and temples containing immense statues of solid gold. Rising above the city was the famous Tower of Babel, a temple to the god Marduk, that seemed to reach to the heavens

Babylon II—The Tower of BabelBabylon II—The Tower of Babel

Written LanguageWritten Language

This is cuneiform.This is cuneiform.

Babylonians wrote usingBabylonians wrote using

this “wedge-shaped” writingthis “wedge-shaped” writing

on clay tablets.on clay tablets.

The Sumerians inventedThe Sumerians invented

writing.writing.

TradeTrade

Sumerians (Mesopotamians) were known Sumerians (Mesopotamians) were known to trade with the Egyptians and the Indus to trade with the Egyptians and the Indus Valley civilizations.Valley civilizations.

In later years, these trade routes became In later years, these trade routes became Silk RoadSilk Road..

TechnologyTechnology

The wheel was invented by 6000 BCThe wheel was invented by 6000 BC

It helped military, farming and trade.It helped military, farming and trade.

Below, this is made of wood.Below, this is made of wood.

LawLaw

Code of HammurabiCode of Hammurabi

““eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”

5000 BC: First evidence of human 5000 BC: First evidence of human culture in Mesopotamiaculture in Mesopotamia

This is the very beginning of the soon to be great This is the very beginning of the soon to be great civilization of Mesopotamia.civilization of Mesopotamia.

4400 BC: Halaf Period 4400 BC: Halaf Period

During this period pottery culture began to increase and During this period pottery culture began to increase and knowledge of metal beganknowledge of metal began

3900 BC: Ubaid Period

The Ubaids were the first well know culture from southern Mesopotamia. They were the first to give evidence of temple and other advanced achitectures.

3600 BC: Warka Period3600 BC: Warka Period

The Warka were the first civilization after the Ubaids in The Warka were the first civilization after the Ubaids in southern Mesopotamia. This period also marks the southern Mesopotamia. This period also marks the beginning of the protoliterate period of ancient beginning of the protoliterate period of ancient Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia.

2900 BC: Pre-dynastic Sumerians

This was the first movement of Sumerians in to Mesopotamia

2750 BC: First Sumerian Dynasty of Ur 2750 BC: First Sumerian Dynasty of Ur

This was the beginning of the dynasty of Ur. The kings of This was the beginning of the dynasty of Ur. The kings of Ur were the first kings of Sumerian society.Ur were the first kings of Sumerian society.

The Sumerians

2340-2125 BC: Akkadians rule Mesopotamia2340-2125 BC: Akkadians rule Mesopotamia

The Akkadians led by Sargon the 1The Akkadians led by Sargon the 1stst were the first to unify were the first to unify Mesopotamia and spread its culture through out the Mesopotamia and spread its culture through out the fertile crescent. Sargon the 1fertile crescent. Sargon the 1stst established his capital in established his capital in Akkad.Akkad.

Sargon the 1st

1800-1170 BC: Old Babylonian Period 1800-1170 BC: Old Babylonian Period

The Babylonians were the second group of Semitic The Babylonians were the second group of Semitic people to unite Mesopotamia. Because of their central people to unite Mesopotamia. Because of their central location they dominated all trade routs and eventually location they dominated all trade routs and eventually Mesopotamia. They were led by King Hammurabi.Mesopotamia. They were led by King Hammurabi.

1728-1685 BC: King Hammurabi’s rule

King Hammurabi was the first known author of a code of laws. His laws were inscribed on a pillar for all to see.

1200-612 BC: The Assyrian Period1200-612 BC: The Assyrian Period

This is when the feared army of Assyria came and This is when the feared army of Assyria came and dominated Mesopotamia. Led by Assurnasirpal the 2dominated Mesopotamia. Led by Assurnasirpal the 2ndnd they established the first true empire the world had ever they established the first true empire the world had ever seen.seen.

714-681: Reign of Sennacherib714-681: Reign of Sennacherib

When this Assyrian conqueror did his conquest of Judah it When this Assyrian conqueror did his conquest of Judah it resulted in the first deportation of Hebrews.resulted in the first deportation of Hebrews.

612-539 BC: Neo-Babylonian Period

The Babylonians once again regained control over Mesopotamia.

605-565 BC: Reign of 605-565 BC: Reign of NebuchadnezzarNebuchadnezzar

This man also had a conquest of Judah. This led to the This man also had a conquest of Judah. This led to the deportation of more Hebrews. This marked the deportation of more Hebrews. This marked the beginning of the beginning of the Hebrew ExileHebrew Exile..

539 BC: Fall of Babylon

The Fall of Babylon marked the beginning of Persian dominance in Mesopotamia.

521-486 BC: Reign of Darius the 1521-486 BC: Reign of Darius the 1stst

During king Darius’ reign the Persian empire reached its During king Darius’ reign the Persian empire reached its fullest extent. It reached from Macedon to Egypt, and fullest extent. It reached from Macedon to Egypt, and Palestine to India. Palestine to India.

499-494 BC: Greek Rebellion against Persia

Greece began to Rebel against the ruling Persians. This was the beginning of Greece’s fight against Persia.

480-479 BC: Invasion of Greece by Xerxes480-479 BC: Invasion of Greece by Xerxes

Greece was then invaded by Xerxes, ruler of the Persian Greece was then invaded by Xerxes, ruler of the Persian Empire at that time, after Greece’s rebellion.Empire at that time, after Greece’s rebellion.

479 BC: Defeat of Persia’s army by the Greeks

This event marked the downfall and eventually annihilation of the Persian Empire.

334-330 BC: Conquest of Persia by Alexander the 334-330 BC: Conquest of Persia by Alexander the GreatGreat

This conquest led to the destruction of the Persian Empire This conquest led to the destruction of the Persian Empire and the liberation of many other cultures including Egypt.and the liberation of many other cultures including Egypt.