The River CivilizationsMesopotamia, 2800 – 539 BCE
The Importance of RiversThe most successful (i.e. long-lasting,
powerful, wealthy) early cultures were born near major riversNileYellowIndusTigris / Euphrates
Access to water, fertile land, and a good climate provided stability, allowing the people to focus their energies in other directions
Mesopotamia - The First “Civilization”Rose in the Fertile Crescent, between the
Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the same region as the oldest cities
This is not a single, continuous empire, but a series of groups who rose to dominance.
Very influential on concurrent and later cultures.
The Sumerians – 2800-2370 BCEThe region was dominated by a series of city-
states, each controlling approximately 100 square miles
Main ones were Uruk, Ur, Lagash, and EriduThese cities fought over water rights and
borders, with stronger ones conquering weaker ones and absorbing their territoryThis expansion led to the development of
kingdoms
Written with a wedge-shaped stylus into a slab of clay; later inscribed in stone or painted.
First civilization to develop writing
Cuneiform – started as pictographs, then simplified over timeThis concept was exported to
Egypt, Greece, and other nearby groups
Initially for record-keeping, so only nouns, numbers
Later evolved to abstract thoughts, all features of language as we know it
Also invented the wheel during this period
Why does the invention of writing change everything?
Social OrderThe city-states were ruled by Kings, who were
believed to be divinely appointedChief administrator, law-giver, judge, and soldierThe entire apparatus of government was believed
to have been created by the godsKing and nobility owned most of the land
Free clients – men and women who worked for the nobility in exchange for use of land
Commoners – free citizens who owned landCraftsmen, merchants, traders, administrators of
legal and tax systemSlaves
The Akkadians - 2334 or 2270-2193 BCEUnder a series of kings, the city-state of
Akkad began to grow in wealth and powerThe region conquered completely by King
Sargon, in either 2334 or 2270 BCEHe had been cupbearer to the previous king,
Ur-Zababa of Kish. He killed the king, usurped the throne, and then conquered all of Mesopotamia
In official versions of the story, his seizure of the throne was divinely ordained
Rule may have been cruel; his dynasty was short-lived.
As Sargon conquered other city-states, he installed Akkadian governors to rule, instead of native Sumerians
Respected religious traditions, even installing himself as head priest of Anu, a sky-god
Language of the empire became Akkadian
First known ruler to keep a standing army
More TurmoilFor the next 200 years, different groups, both
from within and without Mesopotamia vied for power
2125 BCE – Ur rose to dominance, with rulers extending its borders; like the Akkadians, this power was brief
2004 BCE – Elamites sacked Ur
Amorites – Babylon – 2000-1595 BCEThe Amorites were a people from West of the
EuphratesOverthrew a series of Akkadian kings,
eventually establishing power over all of Mesopotamia
Ruled out of the city of Babylon, thus also called the Old Babylonian dynasty
They kept the Sumerian language and writing for religious purposes, but spoke a Semitic dialect in everyday use
Freed citizens from forced labour
Freed up royal land for use by the people
Changed the economy by encouraging merchants and larger trade systems, and lowering or eliminating taxes
Culturally and religiously, the region kept the older traditions
Established a clear code of law
Hammurabi – ruled 1792-1750 BCEHe ascended the throne of
Babylon in 1792 BCE and immediately established it as the leading city of the region
Is responsible for the Code of Hammurabi, the one of the oldest known written legal codes.Code was said to be divinely
inspiredSet down consequences for
breaking the law, with consequences changing with rank
Assyria – 911-605 BCEThe Assyrian kingdoms,
north of Babylon, were ruled by Assyrian monarchs as vassals to Babylon under Hammurabi, but his successors quickly lost power
In the period of turmoil with the conquering of Babylon by the Hittites, the Assyrians managed to remain independent and fairly strong, while most of Mesopotamia experienced turmoil
Beginning in 911 BCE, the Assyrian kings waged a series of campaigns to conquer their neighboring states.
Assurnasirpal II (883-859 BCE)led his army to reunite Mesopotamia, building heavily fortified towns, but also collecting samples of plants for gardens in the capital
His successors would continue the expansion of the empire
Under the Assyrians, the kings were also the chief priests
This period saw a new resurgence of art, culture, and wealth, with vast trade routes
Overextended themselves, and could not control their empire
Babylon regained power briefly in 605, but the entire region fell to the Persians in 539 BCE
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