Download Geography of Mesopotamia Mesopotamia is a Greek word meaning

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Date: ____________________ Geography of Mesopotamia Mesopotamia is a Greek word meaning 'between the rivers'. ○ The rivers are the Tigris and Euphrates which flow through modern Iraq. The Euphrates also flows through much of Syria. ○ They flow into the Persian Gulf. Mesopotamia is made up of different regions, each with its own geography. ○ The geography of each area and the natural resources found there affected the ways that people lived. Northern Mesopotamia is made up of hills and plains. ○ The land is quite fertile due to seasonal rains, and the rivers and streams flowing from the mountains. ○ Early settlers farmed the land and used timber, metals and stone from the mountains nearby. ○ Pieces of rock and soil (silt) flowed from the mountains to the rivers to create rich farmland. Southern Mesopotamia is made up of marshy areas and wide, flat, barren plains. ○ Cities developed along the rivers which flow through the region. ○ Early settlers had to irrigate (the use of canals, ditches, or pipes to move the water to dry areas) the land along the banks of the rivers in order for their crops to grow. ○ Since they did not have many natural resources, contact with neighboring lands was important. ●
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Architecture Ziggurats (temples) were the center of Mesopotamian cities. Each city­state was owned by a different god or godess, and it was believed that the reason for life was to serve them ○ Ziggurats honored a city­state’s most important god or goddess Ziggurats were the largest and most important buildings in the city­state Activities that were carried out at the Ziggurats ○ Worship ○ Food distribution ○ Trading of goods Staircases or ladders were built to connect earth and heaven ○ Each king would add to the temple ­ this is why there are numerous levels and stairways The Hanging Gardens are a ziggurat built by King Nebuchanizzer for his wife ○ Considered one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World ○ Special materials were brought in to build the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the materials were needed to help support fifty­foot trees, vines, bushes, and water ponds ■ Water had to be pumped from the Euphrates River by slaves to water the plants and fill the ponds Name: _______________________________________
Date: ____________________ Religion p. 71 green textbook ● Mesopotamians were polytheistic (which means they worshiped many gods) ● Temples/Ziggurats were the main places of worship ● Beliefs: ○ believed their purpose in life was to serve the god ○ believed statues of the god contained the actual presence of the god ○ believed priests interpreted the will of the gods ○ believed gods and godesses took human form ○ believed kings received their powers directly from the gods Social Classes ● Mesopotamians were separated by ○ social classes ○ economic status ○ labor lines ● Classes: ○ Upper class: made up of free citizens, nobility, priests, rich and powerful ○ Middle class: made up of artisans, craftsmen, businessmen ○ Lower class: made up of slaves ●
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Economy Economy ­ the way people use resources to meet their needs Economics ­ The study of the way that goods and wealth are produced, distributed, and used Mesopotamians had a significant trade system Strict business records were kept of all transactions ○ Sumer was considered “the birthplace of economics” because of these transactions and the artifacts recovered by archeologists The ziggurats/temple were the main place for most commercial activity ○ Artisans, scribes, priests, local administrators, teachers were all employed by the temple Land ownership ○ Temples were the largest single land owner in a city­state ○ Land was so valued that even kings had to buy land ○ People of all classes had the opportunity to own land ○ Many who were considered poor by Sumerian standards owned houses, gardens, and fishery ponds ● Trade ○ Sumer did not have many natural resources aside from fish, reeds, and mud bricks ○ Merchants and those living in the mountains had many resources that Sumerians desperately needed including stone, wood, and metals such as copper ○ A complex trade system developed ○ People who lived in Zagros and Taurus mountains needed wheat and barley from Sumer ○ In exchange Sumerians received their timber, limestone, gold and silver Name: _______________________________________
Date: ____________________ ○ Money was not usually used, they used the barter system ●
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Writing The first known form of writing is called cuneiform Most writing was done on clay tablets A writing utensil called a stylus was used to make wedge­like impressions Writing began as a way to keep records of food supply and for keeping track of the goods and services that were traded Mesopotamians also began writing for enjoyment or personal expression as they kept journals, wrote letters, and created stories Scribes were people that knew how to read and write cuneiform Government System – p. 70­71 green book ● City­States and Lugals ○ As communities grew in population people needed a permanent leader. ○ Someone had to organize trade and food supplies. ○ Specialized jobs such as irrigation systems, building homes, and farming had to be organized. ○ Each Mesopotamian region of farmland was called a city­state. A leader called a “lugal” or “big man” was in control of each city­state. ○ The lugal did not act alone. Two groups made decisions ■ The Upper House­ a council of elders (older people who were experienced with the issues of the region) ■ The Lower House­ a group of educated people who helped make decisions ■ This bi­cameral (two house) system shows the beginnings of a democratic government. ● Major Regions that were Governed ○ Sumerian Empire prospered 3000­2000 B.C.E. (B.C.) ○ Babylonian Empire flourished 1800­1600 B.C.E. ○ Assyrian Empire at its height 1350­600 B.C.E. ● Well Known Kings (Lugals) ○ Nebuchadnezzer: Known best for having built the “Hanging Gardens of Babylon” ○ Hammurabi: Known best for the first Code of Laws “eye for eye, tooth for tooth” concept; citizans needed to be accountable for all their actions. ■ He was King of Babylon city­state ■ Code of Laws divided into 3 sections – Prologue (introduction, explained the power and purpose for the laws); Actual Laws (282 of them); Epilogue (describes rewards for following the laws and punishments if they are broken)