Download Mesopotamia

Name:_______________________________
Civilization / Era:
MESOPOTAMIA
Date:_______________________________
Political Characteristics
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Time Period:
5000 BC – 1600 BC
Related Key Concepts
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1.2. The Neolithic Revolution and Early
Agricultural Societies
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1.3. The Development and Interactions of
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Early Agricultural, Pastoral, and Urban Societies
Most Important Thing to Remember:
A Tale of Two Rivers
Fertile Crescent started it all…
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Technological Characteristics (Cultural)
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Ist evidence of use of:
Wheel
Canals
Road systems
City-wall building
Calendar
Code of Laws
Bronze-working (copper alloy)
Mathematics – Number system based
on 60
Standardized weights & measures
Writing – Cuneiform (wedge-shaped
symbol language pressed into clay
tablets)
Chariots – transportation and war
Full-time trained army of warriors
City-states – self-governing urban centers
that controlled surrounding agricultural
lands
Ziggurat – heart of city-state. Site of
festivals, palace of king, high temple to
god)
Often competitive and at war with each
other, but could also become allied trading
partners
Sumerians (5000 BC – 2350 BC) are the
dominant cultural influence
Sargon of Akkad unites the city-states in
2350 BC to bring Akkadians to political
prominence. He does so by razing city
walls, installing governors backed by
Akkadian garrison. 120 yr dynasty will
follow.
3rd Dyansty of Ur – (2112 BC – 2004
BC) 5 kings from that city-state dominate
through marriage/alliances
Babylonians – (1900 BC – 1600 BC)
Establish capital at Babylon. Hammurabi
most notable king (1792 BC – 1750 BC)
Era referred to as Old Babylonian
Kingdom
Achievements (Cultural)
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Interaction with Environment
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Hot, dry climate
Unpredictable river flooding
Open centralized area very prone to
crossovers/invasions of peoples
Epic of Gilgamesh – early story of
superhero Uruk king with great
abilities
(shows reverence for god-like king)
Hammurabi’s Code – strict and
harsh set of laws that established an
early system of justice
(Ex: “eye for an eye”)
Religious Characteristics (Cultural)
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Economic Characteristics
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River region provided extensive
opportunity for mud bricks
(building) and clay tablets (record
keeping)
Barter Economy – trading items for
items
Cuneiform writing inscribed in clay
tablets allowed for record keeping of
standard weights and measures
(Ex: 10 grain bushels = 1 lb. copper)
Major trading hub between nearby
civilizations
Creation Myth – Idea that gods
created man, the environment, and
unexplainable natural phenomena
(river floodings, droughts, etc)
Polytheistic Beliefs – Many gods that
represented nature
Ziggurat – pyramid-like stepped
tower in center of city-states very
likely a temple
Social Characteristics
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Class hierarchy in place:
1. City-state king
2. Wealthy landowners
(administrators, priests, scribes)
3. Middle Class
(farmers, craftsmen, laborers)
4. Slaves
New job types now available due to
agricultural surplus (farmers can
provide for many)
Women can work jobs outside home,
own land, some marriage rights
(divorce, dowry decisions). However,
women’s place became domestic to
raise children, and men had complete
authority at home