The Advantaged Old World: Mesopotamia and the Americas

I. Introduction

Collision at Cajamarca Mesopotamia and the Americas

II. Sumeria

A. Geography’s Helping Hand1. Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

2. Favorable Crops

3. Favorable Animals

B. Surplus Food and Rapid Population Growth

II. Sumeria (cont.)

C. The Mother of Invention1. Government

a. Irrigation

b. Defense

2. Cities (City States)

3. Specialists and Innovation

II. Sumeria (cont.)

4. Writing--Cuneiform

5. The Law--Hammurabi's Code

D. Trade and Diffusion

II. Sumeria (cont.)

E. Geography's Revenge--Sumeria's Decline1. Akkadian Empire (2340-2100 B.C.E.)

2. Hammurabi’s Empire (1792-1750 B.C.E.)

3. Salt

III. The Americas

A. Civilizations of the Americas1. The Olmec (1st Millennia B.C.E.)

2. The Mayan Civilization (300 B.C.E.-8th Century C.E.)

III. The Americas

B. Technological Innovations1. Writing

2. The Wheel

III. The Americas

C. Developmental Problems1. Late Arrival

2. Geography

3. Difficult Diffusion

Sumeria

Templeat Choga

Aerial View of Choga

Ancient Envelope

LamassuGuardiansFromSargon II’s Palace

Hammurabi’sCode

The Americas

El Castillo

IV. Conclusion

• Cajamarca Revisited

• The Unfolding Middle East