Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Mesopotamia “The land between the rivers” “The earliest civilization in history” “Creation out of Chaos!” Geographical influence on Mesopotamia Known as the “land between the rivers” Location – Middle East, “Fertile Crescent” Rolling hills, plains, open land, rivers, very few natural obstacles Tigris and Euphrates Rivers “UNPREDICTABLE” environment led to a “CHAOTIC” society Beginnings of civilization Mesopotamia was about… Cooperation – (choose any 5) Conflict – (choose any 3) City-states Independent thinking Trade Rivalries and jealousy Controlling the environment Warfare Religion Territory Laws and government Controlling the environment Number systems Written/spoken language Time/record keeping Knowledge… Cooperation was vital to surviving in the Fertile Crescent, but conflict has always prevented a permanent lasting civilization. Cultural Characteristics… Regions that were key to Mesopotamian development – Sumer, Akkad, Ur, Kish, Babylon (amongst others) Trade throughout the region was vital; allowed for necessities and growth Basic Facts During the 4th Millennium BCE the region and its areas grew in population and continually developed; concept of CHAOS is significant to understanding long-term ramifications of Mesopotamia Two rivers = support system of Tigris & Euphrates Little rainfall, barley, wheat and peas were main crops Flat land; few natural barriers 6000 BCE - small scale irrigation began Sumer (Southern half of Mesopotamia) grew rapidly 5000 BCE - Sumerians in area (elaborate irrigation systems) 4000 BCE - 1st major cites (Sumerians); Neolithic villages vs. Cities Cities - military and political centers; economic marketplaces; cultural centers 3000 BCE - 100,000 people in Sumer many Semitic people followed (Akkadian, Aramaic, Hebrew and Phoenician) From which regions of Middle East did these peoples originate? – Arabian/Syrian deserts; intermarried with Sumerians; assimilation 1. Pottery 2. Woodworking 6. Textile 3. leather production 7. Manufacturing 4. brick making 8. Metallurgy 5. Masonry Charismatic leaders led to a hierarchy of inherited leadership Rivalries were primarily over resources and hatred Social hierarchy – Ruling family/government leaders – priests/artisans/merchants – peasant farmers – slaves/prisoners/debtors Cuneiform – Earliest written language Found on clay tablets Known as “wedgeshaped” Carvings in wet clay and then dried Used a stylus to write and keep records and important information Written language allowed for rulers to codify their leadership Civil law – Private laws dealing with personal issues Criminal Law – Public laws dealing with public safety issues •Religion – •Polytheistic, control of everything in life and nature, gods like ordinary people (flaws), gods favored truth and justice (control) but experienced suffering and violence (river flooding) •Built ziggurats (step pyramids) •Superstitions, sacrificial offerings of animals •Believed in a “life after death” Over-riding mentalities in Mesopotamia – Live life to the fullest Death is inevitable Grim existence in the afterlife (cave of dust and bone, eat mud, darkness, ghosts/spirits) Other Middle Eastern Peoples… Akkadians Babylonians Hittites Phoenicians Hebrews Assyrians Lydians Persians Akkadians 2400 b.c. Southern Mesopotamia City-state Sargon created first Mesopotamian empire Conquered environment and neighbors Babylonians 1790 b.c. Central Mesopotamia City-state Hammurabi created first written laws…called the “Code of Hammurabi” – 282 laws “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” Hittites 1600 b.c. Northwest of Mesopotamia Warlike cultural group Brought “iron” technology to Middle East Premeditation and fines for breaking laws 1200 Phoenicians b.c. Western Middle East on Mediterranean Sea Sea-faring people who became “greatest traders of the ancient world” Colony creation throughout Mediterranean Alphabet 1200 b.c. Western Middle East Ancestors of modern Jews Peaceful, hard-working, valued human life 10 commandments, covenant, prophets, Old Testament stories JUDAISM Good vs. evil Ethical monotheism Hebrews 900 b.c. Assyrians Most hated of all ancient peoples Fierce, cruel, violent, warlike Cavalry, iron weapons, battering rams Killed or enslaved enemies Terrorized Mesopotamia Lydians 600 b.c. Western Middle East Introduced coins to world history Used barter (trade), but simplified it by having a money economy 500 b.c. North of Mesopotamia Efficient government and postal system Believed in justice, fairness, tolerance and assimilation “Why recreate the wheel?” “Lying bad, truth good!” Persians REMEMBER… The region known as Mesopotamia consisted of many civilizations that developed in a crowded, crazy, chaotic environment; but somehow this region developed unique cultural characteristics that transformed World History. Mesopotamia and Middle East Peoples 3250 b.c. to 500 b.c.