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Ancient Mesopotamia The Cradle of Civilization Ancient River Civilizations Mesopotamian Civilization • First civilizations arose in river valleys – Good farming conditions – Easy to fish - Good for travel and trade - Fresh drinking water What is a civilization? • A complex society which contains: – Cities • areas of large populations – Organized Government • leaders and system of laws – Art • examples: paintings, sculptor, architecture. Distinctive to that culture – Religion • could be more than one in the civilization. Could be polytheistic (belief in many gods) or monotheistic (belief in one God). – Writing • System of writing to keep track of record and write down laws – Class Division • How one in view by society. Could be based on wealth, job, etc. CLIMATE • Mesopotamia climate is very hot and dry • In the Spring, the rivers would flood, leaving behind rich soil • The flooding was sometimes unpredictable, so farmers built irrigation systems to control the amount of water in the fields. Irrigation Canal City-states • A city-state like a mini country. It included the city and the land surrounding it. • City-states were isolated by their geography and would fight over land Religion • The Mesopotamians believed in many gods – Polytheism – the belief in many gods – Monotheism – the belief in only one God • They believed the gods controlled nature and human activity Absu: Babylonian, god of the underwater ocean. Usually seen as a concept rather than a being. Marduk: Babylonian, god of magic. Main god of the pantheon, although he isn’t the chief. Killed Tiamat and used her body to create the earth and sky out of respect for her battle prowess. Ashur: Babylonian, god of war. Enten: Sumerian, god of winter. His name means “winter.” Huwawa: Sumerian, god of the cedar forest, killed by Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Ishum: Babylonian, god of fire. • Built grand temples, called ziggurats, to please their city-states patron god. Social Classes • In ancient Mesopotamia, everyone fit into a certain class based on wealth and power – Top = Kings, priests/priestesses and government officials – Middle = artisans, merchants, farmers, fishermen – Lower = slaves (prisoners of war, criminals, debtors) Standard of Ur Sumerian Contributions • Writing system (greatest contribution) – Cuneiform – used “wedge-shaped” characters • Literature – Wrote epics (long poem about hero. Ex. Gilgamesh • Wagon Wheel – The wheel was NOT invent by “cavemen” • Plow – Used in farming to dig up the soil • Sailboat – Used the wind to move the boat • Mathematical ideas – Geometry, number system based on 60 • 12 month calendar based on the moon • Gameboard The Royal Game of Ur Fall of Sumer • Too many conflict/fights among Sumer city-states caused weakness. • Outside groups took advantage of weakness and attacked\ • Akkadians (from Northern Mesopotamia) conquered all of Mesopotamia under the leadership of king Sargon – Sargon becomes the worlds first emperor – Lasted hundreds of years until conquered by Hammurabi, a Babylonian king • Hammurabi, famous for his code of laws that were written down • Hammurabi’s Code – Set of laws that governed most aspects of life. – Were carved onto 8 foot tall stone stellas for all to see Development of Writing