MesopotamiaCHW 3M

Mesopotamia: the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

This area is the cradle of one of the world's first civilizations, the Sumerians (4000 BC). They were followed by several other people, including the Babylonians and Assyrians.

The Land Between the Rivers

Irrigation• prevented flood• controlled flow of river

The Seeder Plough• Allowed simultaneous ploughing and seeding.

The Wheel• faster mode of transportation• could carry heavy loads in carts and wagons.

New TechnologiesThe people of Mesopotamia were much more technologically advanced then others for their time.

These inventions helped speed up the food growing and urbanization revolutions in Mesopotamia.

Cuneiform • the first written language developed in Mesopotamia• most widespread and historically significant writing system in the Ancient Near East.• cuneiform documents were written on clay tablets, by means of a reed stylus

The Birth of Writing

pictograph writing system to keep

records

phonetic writing system

mathematic and measurement

systems.

Schools & Education

Anu: the Sky God

Enki: God of water

Ninhursag: Goddess of earth

Mesopotamian Belief System

A Mesopotamian demon

Mesopotamian life revolved around religion. Their beliefs were• mythopoeic thinking• polytheisticGods• each God served a different purpose• asked much of humans and did nothing in return

Demons• caused of sickness and disasterPeople lives were spent trying to appease the Gods and were pervaded by a fear of demons. The also viewed the afterlife as a bleak existence.

Ziggurat: a stepped pyramid and religious center of every Mesopotamian world• served as a “gateway to the heavens”• home of the priesthood

The priesthood• religious leaders and “go-betweens” to the gods• demanded taxes in order to bring good fortune

Developing an Empire

Warlords Kings

2300 BC: Sargon 1 of Akkad (Northern Mesopotamia), conquers Sumer (South Mesopotamia) establishing the very first empire. 2100 BC: Sumerian City of Ur expels Akkadians 1900 BC: Line of Semitic Kings from Babylon gain control of area and establish Babylonian empire

towns cities city states empires

King Hammurabi and the First Code of EthicsKing Hammurabi• ruled Babylon from 1792 BC -1750 BC• united the peoples of Mesopotamia• improved irrigation, promoted advances in astronomy, mathematics, and literature• developed the first code of ethicsCode of Hammurabi• code of laws, governing family relations, criminal misconduct, civil law, ethics, commerce, and every other aspect of life.• eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth mentality • immutable and could not be changed• presumption of innocents• accused and accuser have the opportunity to provide evidence

Early Mesopotamia & the BibleGenesis chapters 1-38 reflects a great deal of what we know about ancient Mesopotamian life and culture.• creation (Enuma Elish)• genealogies• destructive floods (The Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet 11)• construction techniques• migrations of people (Mari letters)• social, economical and political practices (Nuzi Tablets)

 

Biblical Events that took Place in Mesopotamia• Garden of Eden?• Tower of Babel (possible a ziggurat)• Hebrew Patriarchs were from Mesopotamia