Mesopotamia

World History Core

Geography/Interaction with Environment

LOCATION Southwest Asia Iraq and Syria Dry, desert climate

Geography/Interaction with Environment

Fertile Crescent Curve shaped area of rich soil

Geography/Interaction with Environment

Mesopotamia Greek translated to “Land between the

rivers”

Geography/Interaction with Environment

Tigris and Euphrates River Flow southeast to Persian Gulf Flood annually, leaving rich soil

Geography/Interaction with Environment

Challenges Solutions

Unpredictable floodingNo rain

Dug irrigation ditches

No natural boundaries Built mud brick walls around cities

Scarce natural resources

Traded grain for raw materials

Power and Authority

Sumerian City-States 1st settled in 3300 BC City-state is a city and its surrounding

lands

Power and Authority

Ziggurat Temple at the center of each city-state

Power and Authority

Priest were Rulers Priests acted as go betweens for the

people and the Gods Priests demanded crops as a form of

taxation for their services People believed that the Gods were

responsible for all things in their lives (crops, rich soil, rain, etc.)

Power and Authority Warriors become King

In time of crisis Priests were not the rulers

A strong leader was needed in time of crisis (ex. War)

Wars were for extended periods of time Warriors would continue to rule

Dynasty Series of rulers from a single family (pass

on to sons)

Power and Authority

Social Classes:

PriestKing

Landholders

Wealthy Merchants

Farmers and Shopkeepers

Slaves1. Foreigners captured

2. Children sold to pay parental debt

Power and Authority

Women’s Rights Most of the same as men

Priest Farmers Artisans Merchants

Religious and Ethical Systems

Polytheistic Belief in more than one God

Sumerians feared the power of their Gods Blamed natural disasters, poor crops,

and illness on a persons social actions Enlil

God of storms and air

Religious and Ethical Systems

Afterlife Souls of dead went to “Land of No

Return” A dark, gloomy place

Religious and Ethical Systems

Epic of Gilgamesh Long heroic poem Gives us an idea about Sumerian life

See handout….

Cultural Interaction/Economics/Empire

Building

Trading Surplus Allowed Sumerians to increase long distance

trade and develop new city-states Cultural Diffusion

When a new idea or product spreads from one cultural to another

Trading surplus allowed for cultural diffusion

Cultural Interaction/Economics/Empire

Building

Empire Bringing together of several nations

under one ruler

Cultural Interaction/Economics/Empire

Building

Sargon Created the 1st empire (Akkad)

Akkadian Empire 2350BC Helped spread Sumerian idea Lasted 200 years Internal conflicts will lead to its future

breakdown

Cultural Interaction/Economics/Empire

Building

Babylonian Empire Amorites: nomadic warriors Established empire along the Euphrates

River 2000 BC

Hammurabi Ruled during the peak of the B.E. from

1792 BC – 1750 BC

Cultural Interaction/Economics/Empire

Building

Codified Law (Hammurabi’s Code) Single, uniform code of laws

Unified a diverse empire Engraved on stone and place in various

cities around the empire 282 laws

Community, family relations, business, and crime

Principle of RETALIATION Set different punishments for rich, poor, and

women

Cultural Interaction/Economics/Empire

Building

Hammurabi’s Code

See handout

Science and Technology

Arithmetic and Geometry Needed to build walls, plan irrigation,

and survey fields Number system based on 60 Modern examples:

60 sec. = 1 min. 360*circle

Science and Technology

Architecture Arches, columns, ramps, and pyramids

Example: Ziggurat

Science and Technology

Cuneiform Sumerian writing system on clay tablets