Download Mesopotamia 2016 PPT Ch 2

Mesopotamia
The Land Between Two Rivers
Mesopotamia
Development
Of Cities:
Farm
Settlements
eventually
developed
into
civilizations.
Timeline
Mesopotamia was ruled by four
different empires
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Sumerian
3,500 BCE – 2,300 BCE
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Akkadian
2,300 BCE – 1,900 BCE
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Babylonian
1,900 BCE – 1,300 BCE
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Assyrian
1,300 BCE – 612 BCE
Geography
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Mesopotamia in Greek
means between the
rivers.
Ancient Mesopotamia
was located between the
Tigris and Euphrates
Rivers.
The rivers were the most
important physical
feature.
Most of Mesopotamia
was located in present
day Iraq.
The hot dry climate was
mixed with annual
flooding from the rivers.
Geography
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During times of
drought or long
periods of time
without rain. They
developed
irrigation canals to
bring water to their
fields.
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In the spring
when the snow
melted and
flooding occurred,
levees or flood
walls were built to
control the
flooding.
Geography leads to the Rise of
a Civilization
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Mesopotamia is part of a larger area of rich
farmland called the Fertile Crescent.
Mesopotamia was divided into two regions in
ancient times: northern and southern Mesopotamia.
Annual floods on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
brought silt that made the land ideal for farming.
Plentiful food led to population growth and the
formation of villages.
Villages later developed into the world’s first
civilization.
Agriculture “The Fertile
Crescent”
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Farmers turned the land into a rich food growing
area by using irrigation and the plow.
They grew wheat, barley, dates, vegetables, and
fruit.
Farmers also raised goats, pigs, sheep, and cattle.
Irrigation created a surplus of food which meant
fewer people were needed to farm.
New occupations developed, as did the growth of
cities.
Surpluses also led to a flourishing system of trade.
Fertile Crescent
Economy
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The Mesopotamian plain was lacking in resources such
as metals, timber, stone, and grapevines, so the
Sumerians had to trade to get them.
At first, the Sumerians traded surplus barley for these
goods.
Later, the Sumerians began to manufacture trading
goods that they could transport more easily, such as
cloth and bronze ornaments.
The Mesopotamians made written contracts, loans and
created a credit system.
They used a barter system (goods or services are
exchanged for other goods or services).
Mesopotamia “Land of Firsts” Mesopotamia is known as,
“The Cradle of Civilization,” because it was first in many
things:
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First to invent the wheel
First to use sails on boats
One of the first to make up a story
(Gilgamesh)
First to use cuneiform (writing)
First to use the calendar
First to use the seeder plow
First to give a number place value and
recognize the concept of zero
Language
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Mesopotamians were the first to use
writing (around 3,000 BC).
The system of writing was called
cuneiform.
Cuneiform was wedge shaped symbols
pressed into clay tablets.
The Mesopotamians wrote many myths.
The most famous was the epic poem
called Gilgamesh.
Language
Writing allowed people to keep
records of their transactions.
 People could send messages with
couriers to far away lands without
traveling.
 Writing allowed people to pass on
their accumulated knowledge to
future generations.
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Cuneiform Writing
Scribes- official writers/Tablet School
or Edubbas where boys went to
become scribes
Cuneiform Tablets
Cylinder Seals
Religion
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The people of Mesopotamia believed in
many gods, they were polytheistic. (Enki
and Innana).
Each town was protected by its own,
unique deity or god who had enormous
power.
The temple, the center of worship, was
also the center of every city.
Around the year 2000 B.C.E., temple
towers called ziggurats were built to link
heaven and earth. At the top was a shrine
to the chief god or goddesses of the city.
Ziggurat
Government
The Mesopotamians had written laws
that everyone in the empire had to
follow.
 There were 282 laws created by King
Hammurabi and they dealt with almost
every part of daily life.
 Specific crimes brought specific
penalties.
 Social class was taken into account.
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Government
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Known as Hammurabi's
Code, the laws were
written in stone and
placed in a public location.
The Mesopotamians
believed the gods called
the king to establish
justice and order; whoever
disobeyed the king
disobeyed the gods.
Hammurabi’s Code
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Criminal laws dealt with offenses against others.
Hammurabi’s Code limited personal vengeance and
encouraged social order.
Civil law dealt with private rights and matters such as
business contracts, marriage, taxes, and divorce.
Hammurabi’s Code was designed to protect the
powerless.
Law #196: “If a man put out the eye of another man,
his eye shall be put out.”
familiar?
Does this sound
Social Organization & Daily Life
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Social Hierarchy: the division of society by
rank or class.
Kings were at the top of the order because
they claimed to be chosen to rule by the gods.
Social Order
-Kings
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-Priests
-Skilled craftspeople, merchants, and traders
-Large working class of farmers and laborers
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-Slaves
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Social Organization & Daily Life
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Sports, games, and entertainment were
part of their everyday life.
Boxing and wrestling were popular sports.
Board games were also popular.
The kings were famous hunters of lions,
elephants, ostriches, and wild bulls.
Harps and lyres were played
Mesopotamian
Banquet
Art
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Sculptors produced
many statutes of the
gods for their temples.
Jewelry was a popular
item made from
imported gold, silver,
and gems.
Engraved cylinder seals
are one of Sumer’s most
famous types of art.
Art