Download Mesopotamia Lecture 5 - Manasquan Public Schools

• I. Mesopotamia
– (Greek = land between two rivers)
–A. Environment
• 1. Regions receives limited rain
• 2. Soil enriched & enlarged by silt
deposited by Tigris & Euphrates
• 3. Late spring floods
–a. irregular
–b. catastrophic
• 4. Irregularity caused farming through
irrigation & drainage ditches
• 5. Large scale irrigation =
– a. expansion of agriculture
– b. abundant food = material base for
Mesopotamia
• B. Origins of Mesopotamian
City-States
–1. Sumerians= creators of
Mesopotamian culture
• (origins unclear)
• 2. By 3000 BCE established independent
cities in Southern Mesopotamia:
– Eridu
– Ur
– Uruk
– Umma
– Lagash
• 3. Growth of Cities
– a. Enabled them to exert poltical &
economic control over country side
– b. Formed city-sates
• (basic unit of Sumerian civilization)
• B. Characteristics of City- States
–1. Surrounded by walls
• ex: Uruk= occupied aprox. 1,000 acres
encircled 6 mile long wall
defense towers every 35 ft.
2. Material= mud bricks / sun-dried
invented arch & dome
3. Temple- most prominent building in
the city
a. Dedicated to chief god/ goddess
b. Ziggurat- massive stepped temple
c. Owned most land & livestock
d. Served as physical, political, &
economic center
• C. Government –
– 1. Initially a theocracy- government by
divine power
– 2. Eventually- power shared
between religious leaders & =kings
• 3. Kings
–a. viewed as divine / power from
gods
–b. led by armies
–c. initiated legislation
–d. provided courts
–e. supervised building of public
works & irrigation
• D. Economy
–1. Agriculture- primary
–2. Commerce / Industry
• a. woolen textiles
• b. pottery
• c. metalwork (esp. known for)
• 3. Foreign trade ( Royal Monopoly)
–a. Imported
• 1. copper
• 2. tin
• 3. aromatic woods
• 4. fruit trees
–b. Exchanged for
• 1. dried fish
• 2. wool
• 3. barley
• 4. wheat
• 5. metal goods
• E. Social Organization / 3 Groups
–1. Nobles- royal & priestly officials
–2. Commoners- clients of nobles that
worked for palace, temples,
estates, & other free citizens
–3. Slaves-belonged to palace officials/
utilized in building projects