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Civilizations of Mesopotamia The Ancient Fertile Crescent Area: “The Cradle of Civilization” Mesopotamia Greek meaning “Land Between two rivers” What two rivers? Tigris and Euphrates Rivers This is the area that is now modern day Iraq A desert climate dominated the area between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea in Southwest Asia.Yet within this dry region lies an arc of land that provided some of the best farming in Southwest Asia. The regions curved shape and the richness of its land led scholars to call it the Fertile Crescent Economy * barter long distance trade traded agriculture surplus: wheat, barley, dates, veggies imported what they didn’t have: stone wood Crossroads of Three Continents •Unpredictable flooding •No natural barriers for protection •Limited natural resources •Building materials and other necessary items were scarce The Sumerians Political Organization Sumerian Civilization was not united, but divided into warring city-states. city-states - cities with own individual governments Sumerian city-states rivaled each other which led to the emergence of warrior-kings to provide protection. warrior kings eventually passed on leadership to sons, who eventually passed it on to their heirs. Such a series of rulers is known as a dynasty ruler seen as chief servant to the gods and led ceremonies meant to please them. Sumerian city-states were eventually captured and unified into the Akkadian and then Babylonian Empires Sumerian Political Organization Priests with religious and power Success of crops irrigation Warrior kings Defense Dynasties City-states - Ur Laws & Taxes Public Works Ziggurats Walled cities Economy Agriculture Catastrophic floods Irrigation Canals Date Palms, grains such as barley and wheat Trade Traded—grain, cloth, crafted tools Received—stone, wood, metal Sumerian Religion Polytheistic - believed that many different gods controlled the various forces of nature Humans are servants to gods, at any moment a god might send a flood or set a fire if he was angered Each city-state worshipped its own primary deity and offered tributes (grain, jewelry, pottery, wine or animals at the ziggurat) People worked hard to earn the gods’ protection in this life They had a bleak/grim afterlife, not paradise. “Dust is their fare and clay is their food” Innana Enki Sumerian Social Hierarchy Kings, land of holders, and some priests made up the highest level in Sumerian society. Wealthy merchants ranked next The vast majority ordinary Sumerians people worked with their hands in fields and workshops. At the lowest level of Sumerian society were the slaves Sumerian Scribes Innovations Cuneiform Canals, dams, irrigation Mud bricked walls Wheeled vehicles, sail, plow?? Number system based on 60 Arches, columns, ramps Ziggurat Deciphering Cuneiform Metallurgy Skills Traded for wood or stone to make wheel Trade was enhanced by the introduction of the wheel. Reduced the time it took to transport goods. Arithmetic and Geometry In order to build city walls and buildings, plan irrigation systems, and survey flooded fields, Sumerians needed arithmetic and geometry. They developed a number system based on 60 60 secs= 1 min) 360 degrees of a circle. They also developed a 12 month calendar Sumerian Art Statues with large eyes (focus on god) Art and Architecture Sumerian Architecture Ziggurat tiered pyramid center of religious ceremonies and government “Mountain to God” Made of clay found all around them…no wood or stone in this desert climate Literature – Epic of Gilgamesh (similar to Hercules) Board Game From Ur The Akkadians 2334 BC–2154 BC Worlds First Empire Sargon brought both northern and southern Mesopotamia together An empire brings together several peoples, nations, or previously independent states under the control of one ruler. Sargon’s empire lasted 200 yrs Akkadians The Babylonians Babylon In about 2000 B.C. nomadic warriors known as Amorites invaded Mesopotamia. They established their capital in Babylon The Babylonian empire reached it’s peak during the reign of Hammurabi Hammurabi’s most enduring legacy is the code of laws he put together Hammurabi’s Code 1792-1750 B. C. E. Hammurabi’s Code Cause: Hammurabi recognized that a single, uniform code of laws would help to unify the diverse groups within his empire. Effect: He collected existing rules, judgments, and laws into the Code of Hammurabi Most of the laws focused on heavy fines & severe punishment What do you think would happen? False or unproven accusation Theft Help an escaped slave Breaking & entering A slave talks back to his master A son hits his father You steal another man’s slave Incest with daughter Hit someone from a higher class Incest with mother A man hits a woman & she loses Infidelity her baby If she dies If a woman leaves her husband after being disobedient Two people having an affair kill their mates A man has sex with his son’s wife