MesopotamiaMesopotamia
Social StudiesSocial Studies
MesopotamiaMesopotamia
MesopotamiaMesopotamia
Mesopotamia means: “land between Mesopotamia means: “land between two rivers”two rivers”
Civilization developed between the Civilization developed between the Euphrates and the Tigris RiversEuphrates and the Tigris Rivers
By 3000 B.C. a number of cities are By 3000 B.C. a number of cities are established by the Sumeriansestablished by the Sumerians
Role of the EnvironmentRole of the Environment
Created in a region that agriculture is Created in a region that agriculture is possible- IMPORTANCE?possible- IMPORTANCE? Irrigation and drainage possible- HOW?Irrigation and drainage possible- HOW? Forced people to work together and Forced people to work together and
formed communitiesformed communities
Role of the EnvironmentRole of the Environment
Rivers supplied basics for existenceRivers supplied basics for existence foodfood waterwater sanitationsanitation
Also provided for shelterAlso provided for shelter How?How? basics of building?basics of building?
Role of the EnvironmentRole of the Environment
Problems with living near a river Problems with living near a river valley?valley? Destroyed by frequent floods that Destroyed by frequent floods that
ravaged entire citiesravaged entire cities restrained political development (Sumer restrained political development (Sumer
was a geographical maze)was a geographical maze) Communication amongst the various Communication amongst the various
isolated cities was very difficultisolated cities was very difficult
Invention of WritingInvention of Writing
Origins of Writing probably go back to Origins of Writing probably go back to the ninth millennium B.C. the ninth millennium B.C.
4th millennium- realized that drawing 4th millennium- realized that drawing tokens was easier than making tokenstokens was easier than making tokens
Result was the development of Result was the development of cuneiform:cuneiform: ““wedge-shaped”wedge-shaped” pictographic systempictographic system
CuneiformCuneiform
Sumerian SocietySumerian Society
Sumer was different from all other earlier Sumer was different from all other earlier civilizationscivilizations Advanced citiesAdvanced cities Specialized workersSpecialized workers Complex institutionsComplex institutions Record keepingRecord keeping Advanced technologyAdvanced technology
Developed city-statesDeveloped city-states Food surplus increased populationFood surplus increased population
expanded trade expansion of Sumerian expanded trade expansion of Sumerian societysociety
Sumerian SocietySumerian Society
PolytheisticPolytheistic Wrote myths (Wrote myths (Epic of GilgameshEpic of Gilgamesh)) Had social classesHad social classes
Priests and kings were at the topPriests and kings were at the top Slaves were at the bottomSlaves were at the bottom
Women probably couldn’t attend school but Women probably couldn’t attend school but had many other rightshad many other rights
Advances in mathematicsAdvances in mathematics Number system based on 60 (60 seconds=1 Number system based on 60 (60 seconds=1
minute)minute)
Sumerian InventionsSumerian Inventions Wagon wheelWagon wheel Potter’s wheel Potter’s wheel
(shape containers)(shape containers) Number systemNumber system 12 month calendar12 month calendar Metal plowMetal plow SailSail Some of the earliest Some of the earliest
known mapsknown maps New architectureNew architecture
From Sumerians to From Sumerians to BabyloniansBabylonians
The Sumerian city-states eventually fell to The Sumerian city-states eventually fell to foreign invaders (2000s BC)foreign invaders (2000s BC)
The Akkadians:The Akkadians: Semites- nomadic people from the Arabian Semites- nomadic people from the Arabian
Peninsula that migrated to MesopotamiaPeninsula that migrated to Mesopotamia Sargon I (2300-2200 BC) unites all Sargon I (2300-2200 BC) unites all
Mesopotamian cities (creates first empire)Mesopotamian cities (creates first empire) Under Sargon IUnder Sargon I
Akkadians adopted Sumerian religionAkkadians adopted Sumerian religion Akkadians adopted Sumerian farmingAkkadians adopted Sumerian farming
Babylonian Babylonian EmpireEmpire
Amorites (2000-1600 BC)Amorites (2000-1600 BC) Located in modern day SyriaLocated in modern day Syria Conquered many parts of old Sumeria Conquered many parts of old Sumeria
(including Babylon)(including Babylon) Hammurabi--created a law code with harsh Hammurabi--created a law code with harsh
punishmentspunishments Borrowed heavily from Sumerian cultureBorrowed heavily from Sumerian culture After Hammurabi’s death Babylon declinedAfter Hammurabi’s death Babylon declined
HittitesHittites Began to conquer Asia Began to conquer Asia
Minor (2000 BC)Minor (2000 BC) A strong army with A strong army with
chariotschariots Conquered Babylon in Conquered Babylon in
1595 BC)1595 BC) Borrowed from Borrowed from
Mesopotamian and Mesopotamian and Egyptian cultureEgyptian culture
Had a law code less harsh Had a law code less harsh than Hammurabi’sthan Hammurabi’s
Lasted until about 1200 Lasted until about 1200 BCBC
AssyriansAssyrians
Started to gain Started to gain strength about strength about 900 BC900 BC
Powerful armyPowerful army Treated conquered Treated conquered
people cruellypeople cruelly Large empire with Large empire with
good roadsgood roads Collapsed about Collapsed about
612 BC612 BC
ChaldeansChaldeans Defeated the Assyrains in Defeated the Assyrains in
about 612 BCabout 612 BC Descended from Descended from
Hammarabi’s Hammarabi’s BabyloniansBabylonians
At its height during the At its height during the rule of Nebuchadnezzar rule of Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC)(605-562 BC) Spent a lot of money on Spent a lot of money on
BabylonBabylon Built Hanging GardensBuilt Hanging Gardens
Empire collapsed in 539 Empire collapsed in 539 BC after being defeated BC after being defeated by the Persiansby the Persians
PersiansPersians Were Indo-EuropeansWere Indo-Europeans Cyrus (conquered from Cyrus (conquered from
the Nile to the Indus)the Nile to the Indus) Darius IDarius I
Administered the empire Administered the empire using satraps (governors)using satraps (governors)
Tolerant to those who were Tolerant to those who were conqueredconquered
Increased trade and built Increased trade and built roadsroads
Lost to the Greeks in 480 Lost to the Greeks in 480 BCBC
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