MesopotamiaMesopotamia

The land between two riversThe land between two rivers

Geography-Geography- Lies between the Tigris and Euphrates Lies between the Tigris and Euphrates

riversrivers

Modern day IraqModern day Iraq

Why did people settle there? The Why did people settle there? The answer is….answer is….

SOILSOILSOILSOILSOIL?SOIL?

FERTILE DIRTFERTILE DIRT

This area is part of what is called…This area is part of what is called… The Fertile CrescentThe Fertile Crescent Consists of extremely fertile soilConsists of extremely fertile soil Rivers provide water, soil, fish,clay,reeds Rivers provide water, soil, fish,clay,reeds

for building etc.for building etc.

First CitiesFirst Cities

The first cities developed in Sumer The first cities developed in Sumer around 3500BCaround 3500BC

Cities shared culture and languageCities shared culture and language Did not share rulersDid not share rulers Each city had its own form of laws, gods Each city had its own form of laws, gods

and king and king called a called a CITY-STATECITY-STATE

The SumeriansThe Sumerians

3500BC-2000BC3500BC-2000BC Invented Writing to keep records, Codify laws, Invented Writing to keep records, Codify laws,

transmit knowledgetransmit knowledge Men and women wore shirts of sheepskin with Men and women wore shirts of sheepskin with

fleece still attached soldiers and servants wore fleece still attached soldiers and servants wore short shirts…Royalty wore long shirtsshort shirts…Royalty wore long shirts

Men and women had long hair pulled into a Men and women had long hair pulled into a bun sometimes the men were shaved to bun sometimes the men were shaved to discourage vermindiscourage vermin

Royals wore gold jewelryRoyals wore gold jewelry

One group to move to Sumeria were the One group to move to Sumeria were the Akkadians a Akkadians a SemiticSemitic tribe (language tribe (language similar to Arabic and Hebrew)similar to Arabic and Hebrew)

Formed their own country called AkkadFormed their own country called Akkad Many clashes with SumeriansMany clashes with Sumerians

ClothesClothes

Shirt, loin cloth and tunicShirt, loin cloth and tunic Shoes were made of leather and had an Shoes were made of leather and had an

upward curve to the toeupward curve to the toe

Early WritingEarly Writing

ScribesScribes Very important writers who kept Very important writers who kept records for the king (highly respected)records for the king (highly respected)

The earliest writing in Mesopotamia was a The earliest writing in Mesopotamia was a picture writing invented by the Sumerians who picture writing invented by the Sumerians who wrote on clay tablets using long reeds called a wrote on clay tablets using long reeds called a STYLUS.STYLUS.

cuneiform-cuneiform- which is derived from two Latin which is derived from two Latin words: words: cuneus cuneus , which means "wedge," and , which means "wedge," and forma forma , which means "shape.", which means "shape."

Sumerian clay tabletsSumerian clay tablets

LiteratureLiterature

The Epic of GilgameshThe Epic of Gilgamesh, is one of the oldest works of , is one of the oldest works of literature in the world. This epic is a collection of stories literature in the world. This epic is a collection of stories about a hero named Gilgamesh. about a hero named Gilgamesh.

Gilgamesh travels the world in search of eternal life. Gilgamesh travels the world in search of eternal life. On his journey, he meets the sole survivor of a great On his journey, he meets the sole survivor of a great flood that destroyed the world. (Archaeologists have flood that destroyed the world. (Archaeologists have found evidence suggesting that a catastrophic flood found evidence suggesting that a catastrophic flood devastated Mesopotamia somewhere about 4,900 devastated Mesopotamia somewhere about 4,900 years ago.) By the end of the story, Gilgamesh has years ago.) By the end of the story, Gilgamesh has learned the greatest truth of all- that even heroes must learned the greatest truth of all- that even heroes must die die

This epic offers a glimpse into Sumerian This epic offers a glimpse into Sumerian civilization. We learn that the people civilization. We learn that the people believed in powerful goddesses who believed in powerful goddesses who exhibited very human emotions.exhibited very human emotions.

The Sumerians valued gold, copper, and The Sumerians valued gold, copper, and gems, rode in wheeled chariots, and gems, rode in wheeled chariots, and used mules to carry goodsused mules to carry goods

Sumerians practiced Sumerians practiced POLYTHEISM- The POLYTHEISM- The belief in MANY godsbelief in MANY gods

Myths told of punishment and rewards of Myths told of punishment and rewards of the godsthe gods

Music food and statues were used to Music food and statues were used to honor the godshonor the gods

Fall of SumerFall of Sumer

I think that title is pretty funny!I think that title is pretty funny! ANYWAYANYWAY City- states fought over land and waterCity- states fought over land and water ******Whenever a society is weak, other ******Whenever a society is weak, other

people can come in and conquer people can come in and conquer it.******it.******

Babylonians conquer in 1700s BCBabylonians conquer in 1700s BC

The BabyloniansThe Babylonians

Conquered the SumeriansConquered the Sumerians King Hammurabi (1792-1750BC)King Hammurabi (1792-1750BC) Code of HammurabiCode of Hammurabi ““An eye for an eye”An eye for an eye” First organized set of lawsFirst organized set of laws

CODE OF CODE OF LAWS.docLAWS.doc

The King

The Governors

The Aristocracy

The Peasantry

Social and political organization: • The King: he had military powers.

• The Governors: they governed the territories of the kingdom. They were generals and judges at the same time.

• The aristocracy: they were priests and traders.

• The peasants: the people who work the land.

Social ClassSocial Class

Nobility- Kings and members of Nobility- Kings and members of governmentgovernment

Freemen- Artisans and tradesmenFreemen- Artisans and tradesmen The poor- farmersThe poor- farmers Slaves- Worth nothing wives and children Slaves- Worth nothing wives and children

sold to pay debt. Many were….sold to pay debt. Many were…. Foreign captives and children of slavesForeign captives and children of slaves

FamilyFamily

This was a PATRIARCHAL societyThis was a PATRIARCHAL society Marriage was contractualMarriage was contractual Man had one wife, but many concubinesMan had one wife, but many concubines Man could sell his children into slavery to Man could sell his children into slavery to

pay debtspay debts Women were not that importantWomen were not that important Divorce was O.K. Divorce was O.K. ifif wife couldn’t have wife couldn’t have

childrenchildren

The Assyrians 1600-The Assyrians 1600-612BC612BC

They conquered the BabyloniansThey conquered the Babylonians Very warlike- Had an armyVery warlike- Had an army Swords made of IRONSwords made of IRON Very cruel warriorsVery cruel warriors They were conquered by the ChaldeansThey were conquered by the Chaldeans

GeographyGeography

Assyria is located in north Mesopotamia Assyria is located in north Mesopotamia two great rivers run through Assyria, the two great rivers run through Assyria, the Tigris and the Euhprates, To the north Tigris and the Euhprates, To the north and east of Assyria lie the Taurus and and east of Assyria lie the Taurus and Zagros mountains.. These two features Zagros mountains.. These two features create a geographical boundary between create a geographical boundary between Assyria and the neighboring land to the Assyria and the neighboring land to the south. south.

To the south of Baghdad lies Babylon. To the south of Baghdad lies Babylon.

The ChaldeansThe Chaldeans

After the fall of Assyrian power in After the fall of Assyrian power in Mesopotamia, the last great group of people Mesopotamia, the last great group of people dominated the area. dominated the area.

They had suffered under the Assyrians They had suffered under the Assyrians The city of Babylon finally rose up against its The city of Babylon finally rose up against its

hated enemy, the city of Nineveh, the capital of hated enemy, the city of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire, and burned it to the the Assyrian empire, and burned it to the ground. ground.

The chief of the Babylonians was The chief of the Babylonians was NabopolassarNabopolassar

Nabopolassar was succeeded by his son, Nabopolassar was succeeded by his son, Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BC). Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BC).

Nebuchadnezzar was the equal of all the great Nebuchadnezzar was the equal of all the great Mesopotamian conquerors combinedMesopotamian conquerors combined

he conquered the Phoenicians and the state of he conquered the Phoenicians and the state of Judah (586 BC) Judah (586 BC)

""New BabyloniansNew Babylonians," or ," or ChaldeansChaldeans forced a forced a large part of the Jewish population to relocate. large part of the Jewish population to relocate. this deportation marks the beginning of the this deportation marks the beginning of the ExileExile in Jewish history. in Jewish history.

Gate of Ishtar

Under Nebuchadnezzar, the city of Under Nebuchadnezzar, the city of Babylon was rebuilt with great splendor. Babylon was rebuilt with great splendor.

It would eventually become one of the It would eventually become one of the most magnificent human cities in the most magnificent human cities in the area of the Middle East and area of the Middle East and Mediterranean.Mediterranean.

The entire period dominated by the The entire period dominated by the Babylonians. Babylon in 555 BC came Babylonians. Babylon in 555 BC came under the control of a king loyal to the under the control of a king loyal to the Assyrians, Assyrians,

Nabonidus (555-539 BC), placed the Nabonidus (555-539 BC), placed the Assyrian moon-god, Sin, above the Assyrian moon-god, Sin, above the Babylonian's principal god, Marduk.Babylonian's principal god, Marduk.

Priests and those faithful to Babylon Priests and those faithful to Babylon would welcome Cyrus the Conqueror would welcome Cyrus the Conqueror

of Persia into their city and end of Persia into their city and end forever Semitic domination of forever Semitic domination of

MesopotamiaMesopotamia

The center of the Middle Eastern world The center of the Middle Eastern world shifted to Cyrus's capital, Susa, and it shifted to Cyrus's capital, Susa, and it would shift again after the Greeks and would shift again after the Greeks and then the Romans.then the Romans.

For almost two and a half centuries, For almost two and a half centuries, Mesopotamia and Babylon dominated Mesopotamia and Babylon dominated early civilization in the Middle Eastearly civilization in the Middle East

Sumerians 3500-2000 BCSumerians 3500-2000 BC Babylonians 2000-1155 BCBabylonians 2000-1155 BC Assyrians 1600-612 BCAssyrians 1600-612 BC Chaldeans “New and Improved”Chaldeans “New and Improved” Hittites 1750-1200 BCHittites 1750-1200 BC

SummarySummary

WhereWhere- Between Tigris and Euphrates rivers- Between Tigris and Euphrates rivers WhenWhen- 3500BC-2000BC- 3500BC-2000BC First CivilizationFirst Civilization Invented written languageInvented written language Mathematics 60 seconds-60 minutesMathematics 60 seconds-60 minutes Divided the circle into 360 partsDivided the circle into 360 parts Developed a twelve month calendar based on lunar Developed a twelve month calendar based on lunar

cyclescycles Used the wheel and made vehiclesUsed the wheel and made vehicles Invented the plow and the sailboatInvented the plow and the sailboat Ancient wonders of the worldAncient wonders of the world