Download Ancient Mesopotamia

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ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA & NEAR EAST
I.
ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA & NEAR EAST
A.
GENERAL REMARKS
1.
C. 4000 B.C. PEOPLE BEGAN TO MOVE IN LARGE NUMBERS
INTO RIVER-WATERED LOWLANDS OF MESOPOTAMIA
2.
BEGINNING OF URBAN SOCIETY & CIVILIZATION
3.
SHIFT ACCOMPANIED BY GRADUAL INTRODUCTION OF NEW
TECHNOLOGIES
a.
INVENTION OF WRITING
b.
INVENTION OF CALENDAR
c.
INVENTION OF WHEEL
4.
OUT OF THIS CIVILIZATION CAME OUR FOUNDATIONS OF
a.
LAW CODES
b.
RELIGION
c.
ASTRONOMY
d.
MATHEMATICS
e.
LITERATURE
f.
CULTURE IN GENERAL
B.
BOUNDARIES OF ANCIENT NEAR EAST
1.
MODERN DAY COUNTRIES OF
a.
IRAN
b.
IRAQ
c.
TURKEY
d.
SYRIA
e.
LEBANON
f.
ISRAEL
g.
EGYPT
h.
JORDAN
C.
WHY DID CIVILIZATION OCCUR HERE IN MESOPOTAMIA?
1.
MESOPOTAMIA - GREEK FOR LAND BETWEEN RIVERS
a.
TIGRIS & EUPHRATES RIVERS
2.
PART OF FERTILE CRESCENT
3.
EXCELLENT CLIMATE
4.
WATER AVAILABLE FOR GROWING FOOD
5.
SOIL NOT ROCKY NOR LACED WITH TREES
6.
NO RAINFALL 8 MONTHS OF YEAR
7.
TORRENTIAL SPRING SHOWERS TOO LATE TO WATER MAIN
CROPS HARVESTED IN APRIL
8.
FLOODING NOT PREDICTABLE AS NILE
9.
SUMMER MONTHS UNPRODUCTIVE AS 125 DEGREES
10. PRODUCTIVITY OF MESOPOTAMIAN AGRICULTURE EXTREMELY
HIGH
a.
COMPARED TO PREMODERN EUROPEAN STANDARDS
11. SOIL ALONG BANKS OF RIVERS SOME OF MOST FERTILE ON
EARTH
12. COULD BE FARMED GENERATION AFTER GENERATION
a.
WITHOUT LAYING FALLOW LIKE REST OF EUROPE
13. LATER WORKERS EXCAVATED LONG CANALS TO CHANNEL WATER
TO DISTANT FIELDS
14. NOT ONLY GOVERNMENTS BUT RICH PERSONS ALSO SPENT
MONEY ON CANAL MAINTENANCE & BUILDING
15. AS FIELDS MOVED FROM SOFT MUCK TO HARDER GROUND
a.
SUMERIANS INVENTED PLOW
II.
SUMERIANS - WHERE CIVILIZATION BEGAN
A.
WHO WERE SUMERIANS?
1.
PROBABLY ORIGINATED IN REGION EAST OR NE OF
2
MESOPOTAMIA
LANGUAGE RELATED TO ONE SPOKEN NEAR CASPIAN SEA
SURPLUS OF GRAIN FAR BEYOND DAILY NEEDS
SO GAVE SUMERIANS TIME TO DEVELOP NEW SKILLS, ETC.
BECAME INVENTIVE
a.
ARTISANS, TRADERS, PRIESTS, SCRIBES & MERCHANTS
CREATED
b.
SUSTAINED BY EFFORTS OF FARMERS
POLITICAL STRUCTURE
1.
SYSTEM OF GOVT EMERGED
2.
FIRST CLANS/TRIBES THEN VILLAGES, THEN CITIES, THEN
CITY-STATES
3.
RULED BY THEOCRACY - PRIEST/KING
4.
SUMER'S KINGS ESTABLISHED THEORIES OF
a.
JUSTICE
b.
RAISED ARMIES
c.
BUILT NETWORKS OF TRADE
5.
ORIGINS OF CITIES
a.
THESIS - STARTED OUT AS SHRINES OR TEMPLE (1)
PILGRIMAGE SITES
6.
URUK - BIBLICAL ERECH IN GENESIS
a.
FIRST OF THESE CITY -STATES
b.
BECAME PROTOTYPE FOR OTHERS IN ANCIENT WORLD
c.
BY 2700 B.C. URUK INCLUDED 76 OUTLYING VILLAGES
d.
CITY ITSELF SPRAWLED OVER MORE THAN 1000 ACRES
e.
HOUSED NEARLY 50,000 PEOPLE
f.
EARLIEST EVIDENCE FOR WRITING DISCOVERED HERE
g.
CITY'S WALLS BUILT BY GILGAMESH
(1) URUK'S LEGENDARY KING
h.
REMAINED IMPORTANT RELIGIOUS CENTER
i.
ITS SHRINES EMBELLISHED CONTINUALLY BY
SUCCESSIVE RULERS
7.
UR
a.
1 OF GREAT METROPOLISES OF 3RD MILLENNIUM B.C.
b.
NEAR CENTER TEMPLE COMPLEX DEDICATED TO NANNA &
NINGAL
c.
SAW ZIGGURAT & CITY AS SANCTUARY
d.
COULD SEE ZIGGURAT AS BEACON FROM 20 MILES AWAY
e.
PEASANT COULD SEE THIS & BE ASSURED OF NANNA'S
PROTECTION
8.
IN PEAK PERIOD OF 3RD MILLENNIUM B.C.E.
a.
SOME 40 CITIES IN SUMER & AKKAD
b.
MOST INDEPENDENT CITY-STATES
c.
DENSELY SETTLED
WAR ENDEMIC - WHY?
1.
PARTLY GEOGRAPHY
a.
NO NATURAL BARRIERS TO INVASION OF BARBAROUS
PEOPLE TO EAST & WEST
2.
MORE IMPORTANTLY CONFLICT BETWEEN SUMERIAN CITIES
a.
AS CITIES EXPANDED CITIZENS QUARRELED ABOUT
THEIR COMMON BOUNDARIES
b.
& INCREASINGLY ABOUT DIVERSION OF WATER FROM
RIVERS FOR IRRIGATION
c.
EVERY NEW CANAL UPSTREAM LESSENED AMOUNT OF
WATER DOWNRIVER
d.
GIVEN IMPORTANCE OF IRRIGATION DISPUTE ABOUT
WATER OFTEN MATTER OF LIFE & DEATH
3.
PERENNIAL HOSTILITIES CHANGED GOVERNMENT OF SUMERIANS
2.
3.
4.
5.
B.
C.
3
4.
D.
E.
UNTIL ABOUT 2800 B.C. COUNCILS
a.
COMPOSED OF ARISTOCRATIC ELDERS LED
b.
IN TIMES OF CRISIS SUCH AS WAR
(1) COUNCIL APPOINTED SINGLE LEADER
(a) LUGAL = BIG MAN
(2) HE LED FOR DURATION OF EMERGENCY
(3) THEN HONORED HERO RETURNED TO HIS FORMER
OCCUPATION
5.
AS PEACE INTERVALS SHORTENED LUGAL TENDED TO STAY IN
POWER LONGER
a.
INEVITABLY HIS MILITARY AUTHORITY EXTENDED TO
ALL PHASES OF GOVERNING COMMUNITY LIFE
(1) SUPERSEDING COUNCIL OF ELDERS ORIGINALLY
APPOINTED HIM
6.
WORD LUGAL CAME TO MEAN KING
7.
IN TIME ONE LUGAL AFTER ANOTHER APPOINTED HIS
SUCCESSOR
a.
THUS VARIOUS DYNASTIES RULED SUMERIAN CITYSTATES
8.
POWER OF KINGS GREW TO RIVAL TEMPLES
a.
BUT CITY-STATE SOVEREIGNS CAREFUL TO MAINTAIN
CORDIAL RELATIONS WITH PRIESTS
b.
BASICALLY PRIEST & RULER CUT DEAL
c.
KING TO BE DEITY 'S EARTHLY REPRESENTATIVE
(1) RULER BY DIVINE RIGHT
9.
SEMIDIVINE STATUS OF KING OF UR SANCTIFIED BY NUMBER
OF RITUALS
a.
MOST NB ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
b.
KING ASCENDED IN SOLEMN PROCESSION TO TOP OF
CITY'S PRINCIPAL ZIGGURAT
c.
WHERE SYMBOLIC MARRIAGE PERFORMED
(1) UNITED HIM AS SUBSTITUTE FOR 1 OF GODS
(2) TO PRIESTESS WHO REPRESENTED INANNA
(a) GODDESS OF FERTILITY
10. BUREAUCRACIES CAME INTO BEING TO HANDLE INCREASED
CIVIC ACTIVITIES
a.
SOON OVERSEERS, INSPECTORS, TAX COLLECTORS &
SCRIBES
SARGON THE GREAT
1.
BORN ABOUT 2335 B.C.
2.
STORY LIKE MOSES OF BEING ILLEGITIMATE & PLACED IN
REED BASKET
3.
FOR FIRST TIME ALL OF MESOPOTAMIA UNITED AS SINGLE
NATION UNDER ONE RULER
4.
SARGON ESTABLISHED NEW CAPITAL CALLED AGADE
a.
SITE REMAINS UNKNOWN
5.
DYNASTY OF SARGON'S LASTED LESS THAN CENTURY
6.
THEN IT TOO BROKE UP WITH INTERNAL CONFLICT &
INVASIONS
DEVELOPMENT OF WRITING
1.
INVENTED FIRST FORM OF WRITING
a.
CUNEIFORM
2.
AS EARLY AS 3300 B.C.E. NUMERICAL NOTATION TABLETS
3.
WHEN WE FIRST SEE WRITING SYSTEM IN URUK IT IS
ALREADY HIGHLY COMPLEX
a.
& HAS GREAT MANY SIGNS
4.
TO ENABLE MERCHANTS TO KEEP TRACK OF TRANSACTIONS
5.
& SO 1 GENERATION COULD PASS INFORM TO NEXT
4
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
F.
ALSO USED BY PRIESTHOOD
PICTOGRAPHS EVOLVED OVER TIME
FROM CONCRETE REPRESENTATION TO ABSTRACTION
NEXT SCRIBES EXPERIMENTED WITH PHONETIC SYMBOLS
EVENTUALLY WITH 600 CHARACTERS STANDING FOR SOUNDS &
IDEAS RATHER THAN CONCRETE OBJECTS
11. BY 2500 B.C. REED POINT HAD TAKEN ON TRIANGULAR SHAPE
a.
PUSHED EASILY INTO CLAY
b.
LEAVING NEAT, WEDGE SHAPED IMPRESSION
c.
MUCH LATER GAVE SUMERIAN WRITING SYSTEM NAME
(1) CUNEIFORM
(a) FROM LATIN FOR WEDGE-SHAPED
LITERATURE - EPIC OF GILGAMESH
1.
OLDEST SURVIVING EPIC IN WORLD MYTHOLOGY
2.
ORIGINAL DATES FROM 2000 B.C. OR BEFORE
3.
GILGAMESH - HERO- REAL HISTORICAL FIGURE
a.
SUMERIAN KING RULED C 2600 B. C.
4.
LIKE HOMER'S ODYSSEUS HERO GILGAMESH WANDERS EARTH
5.
GILGAMESH LIKE BIBLICAL NOAH SURVIVED GREAT FLOOD
6.
AFTER FIGHTING BATTLES, SEXUALLY ABUSING WOMEN
GILGAMESH SEEKS SECRET OF IMMORTALITY
7.
W/ HIS FRIEND ENKIDU
a.
GIVEN TO GILGAMESH BY GODDESS ISHTAR
(1) GILGAMESH PROMISES TO LIE W/ISHTAR
b.
AFTER ENKIDU CIVILIZED BY HARLOT
(1) IDEA WOMAN CIVILIZING INFLUENCE
8.
FROM OLD MAN & WIFE SAVED BY TAKING REFUGE IN ARK
a.
WHEN GODS DECIDED TO DESTROY WORLD BY FLOOD
9.
COUPLE SAY IMMORTALITY UNOBTAINABLE
a.
BUT DISCLOSE LOCATION OF PLANT CAPABLE OF
RESTORING LOST YOUTH
10. UNFORTUNATELY AFTER GAINING PLANT GILGAMESH LEAVES IT
UNGUARDED WHILE ASLEEP & SNAKE EATS IT
11. GILGAMESH FINALLY ADMITS HE SHOULD ENJOY EACH DAY AS
IT COMES W/O WORRYING ABOUT TOMORROW
III. ACCADIANS OR OLD BABYLONIANS
A.
GENERAL REMARKS
1.
SEMITIC SPEAKING GROUP CAME IN & CONQUERED SUMERIANS
B.
HAMMURABI C. 1792-1750 B. C. E.
1.
REIGNED 42 YEARS
2.
CONQUERED ALL OF SUMER & AKKAD
3.
CAPITAL AT BABYLON
4.
HIS COLLECTION OF LAWS FROM ALL OVER EMPIRE
a.
HIS MOST FAMOUS LEGACY
C.
LAW CODES BEFORE HAMMURABI
1.
AS SUMERIAN SOCIETY MORE COMPLEX
a.
DEMAND FOR UNIFORM LAWS AROSE
b.
NOT ONLY FOR COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS
c.
BUT ALSO CIVIL & CRIMINAL CONDUCT
2.
EARLIEST COLLECTION UNEARTHED SO FAR DATES FROM REIGN
OF UR-NAMMU
a.
KING OF CITY OF UR
b.
IN 21ST C. B.C.
c.
PRECEDING BIBLICAL TEN COMMANDMENTS BY ABOUT
1000 YEARS
d.
UR-NAMMU'S LAWS PRESCRIBED FINES INSTEAD OF
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT OR MUTILATION AS PENALTY FOR
5
PHYSICAL INJURY INFLICTED
THE CODE OF HAMMURABI
1.
WHEREAS HAMMURABI'S CODE INFLICTED SUCH PENALTIES
a.
MUTILATION
b.
WHIPPING
c.
BURNING
2.
DESPITE SEVERITY- SPIRIT OF JUSTICE & SENSE OF
RESPONSIBILITY PERVADE CODE
3.
CODE HAS 2 CHARACTERISTICS
a.
1ST - LAW DIFFERED ACCORDING TO SOCIAL STATUS OF
OFFENDER
(1) ARISTOCRATS NOT PUNISHED AS HARSHLY AS
COMMONERS
(2) NOR COMMONERS AS HARSHLY AS SLAVES
b.
2ND - CODE DEMANDED PUNISHMENT FIT CRIME
(1) EYE FOR EYE TOOTH FOR TOOTH
(a) AT LEAST AMONG EQUALS
(2) ARISTOCRAT WHO DESTROYED COMMONER'S EYE OR
SLAVE'S EYE
(a) COULD PAY FINE & NOT LOOSE HIS OWN EYE
c.
AS LONG AS CRIMINAL & VICTIM SHARED SAME SOCIAL
STATUS
(1) VICTIM COULD DEMAND EXACT VENGEANCE
4.
NO PUBLIC PROSECUTORS OF DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
a.
SO PEOPLE BROUGHT OWN COMPLAINTS BEFORE COURT
5.
CONSUMER PROTECTION OR BUYER BEWARE NOT JUST MODERN
IDEA
6.
MERCHANTS & BUSINESSMEN TO GUARANTEE QUALITY OF THEIR
GOODS & SERVICES
7.
HOUSE BUILDERS GUARANTEED THEIR WORK WITH THEIR LIVES
8.
CARELESS WORK COULD RESULT IN COLLAPSE OF HOUSE &
DEATH OF ITS INHABITANTS
9.
IF THAT HAPPENED BUILDER PUT TO DEATH
10. IF SON OF OWNER DIED THEN BUILDER'S SON KILLED
11. CODE DEALT EXTENSIVELY WITH AGRICULTURE
12. ANYONE WHO NEGLECTED CANALS RESULTING IN DAMAGED
CROPS
a.
HAD TO BEAR ALL EXPENSE OF LOST CROPS
b.
THOSE WHO COULDN'T PAY FORCED INTO SLAVERY
MESOPOTAMIAN SOCIETY
A.
STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY
1.
DURING 3RD MILLENNIUM 3 DISTINCT CLASSES EMERGED
a.
ARISTOCRACY OR PATRICIANS
(1) KING
(2) GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
(3) MOST PROMINENT PRIESTS
(4) WEALTHIEST MERCHANTS & LANDOWNERS
b.
MIDDLE GROUP OR COMMONERS OR PLEBEIANS
(1) GREAT MAJORITY OF SUMERIANS
(2) FREE CITIZENS LIKE
(a) FARMERS
(b) FISHERMEN
(c) ARTISANS
(d) SCRIBES
c.
SLAVES
(1) FORCED INTO BONDAGE BECAUSE OF POLITICAL OR
ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES
(2) PARENTS COULD SELL THEIR CHILDREN INTO
D.
IV.
6
SLAVERY
MAN COULD ENSLAVE HIMSELF & FAMILY TO PAY
DEBTS
MARRIAGE & DIVORCE CUSTOMS
1.
POLYGAMY PROBABLY OPTION FOR RICH
2.
IN PAST EVIDENCE OF POLYANDRY
a.
THOUGH RULERS CONDEMN PRACTICE
3.
MARRIAGE ARRANGED BY PARENTS
4.
BETROTHAL LEGALLY RECOGNIZED WHEN GROOM GAVE MONEY TO
BRIDE'S FATHER
a.
CONTRACT SPECIFIC AMONG OTHER PROVISIONS
(1) DUTIES OF EACH SPOUSE
(2) PENALTIES HUSBAND WOULD PAY IF HE DECIDED
TO DIVORCE WIFE
5.
FAMILY PATRILINEAL
6.
PROPERTY FROM FATHER TO SON
7.
HUSBAND COULD TAKE 1 OR MORE CONCUBINES
8.
DIVORCE HIS WIFE IF SHE BARREN
WOMEN'S ROLE & STATUS
1.
LABOR SEEMS TO BE SEXUALLY DIVIDED
2.
COMMONERS GENERALLY ALL WORKED IN VARIOUS OCCUPATIONS
3.
MOST COMMON FOR WOMEN TEXTILE INDUSTRY
a.
EXPORTS OF FINISHED CLOTH GOODS MAJOR SOURCE OF
WEALTH IN MUCH OF AREA
4.
& FOOD & BEER MANUFACTURE & DISTRIBUTION
5.
WOMEN WOVE AS JOB COULD BE INTERRUPTED
a.
SO COMPATIBLE WITH CHILD CARE
6.
WOMEN GENERALLY FROM UPPER CLASSES PRIESTESSES
a.
SOME HIGHEST OFFICIAL IN TEMPLES
7.
MOST POWERFUL PRIESTESS ENHEDUANA
a.
DAUGHTER OF SARGON
b.
FIRST HIGH PRIESTESS OF MOON GOD AT UR
c.
HIGH PRIESTESS AT TEMPLE TO INANNA AT URUK
d.
WROTE NUMEROUS HYMNS TO INANNA
8.
WOMEN'S RIGHTS UNDER SUMERIAN LAW
a.
COULD OWN PROPERTY & BUY & SELL IT
b.
ENGAGE IN BUSINESS
c.
QUALIFY AS WITNESSES IN COURT
SUMERIAN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS & PRACTICES
1.
GREATLY INFLUENCING SUCCEEDING PEOPLES TO AREA
2.
SUMERIAN BELIEF ERIDU SITE OF CREATION
3.
AT LEAST 3000 DEITIES
a.
BEFORE HUMAN SHAPED - ANIMAL FORM
4.
VIRTUALLY EVERY REALM OF NATURE & HUMAN ENDEAVOR
a.
PRESIDED BY DIFFERENT DEITY
b.
PLOWS, PICKS, MOLDS FOR MAKING BRICKS, RAIN, SUN
MOON,
c.
EACH SETTLEMENT HAD OWN DEITY
5.
GODS NOT EQUAL
6.
SUMERIANS BELIEVED 4 MAIN GODS
a.
HEAVEN
b.
AIR
c.
EARTH
d.
WATER
e.
1 OF THESE ALWAYS REIGNED SUPREME
7.
AT FIRST MOST POWERFUL AN
a.
RULER OF HEAVENS
b.
LATER SUPERSEDED BY ENLIL,
(3)
B.
C.
D.
7
(1) GOD OF AIR
NB WORSHIP OF NANNA, MOON GOD & HIS WIFE NINGAL
CHARACTERISTICS OF DEITIES
a.
THEY COMMUNICATED THEIR WISHES TO HUMANS
(1) LETTING PRIESTS & PRIESTESSES KNOW WHAT
THEY WANTED THROUGH SUCH OMENS AS
(a) SHAPE OF LIVER FOUND IN SACRIFICIAL
SHEEP
10. CHARACTERISTICS OF RELIGION
a.
NOT PARTICULARLY HOPEFUL RELIGION
b.
ACCORDING TO 1 SUMERIAN MYTH
(1) PEOPLE MOLDED OUT OF CLAY BY GODS
(a) FOR SOLE PURPOSE OF SERVING AS THEIR
SLAVES
c.
FAILURE TO REVERE & PROPITIATE DEITIES
(1) COULD BRING CATASTROPHES
(a) FLOODS
(b) DROUGHT
(c) PESTILENCE
(d) RAIDS BY HILL TRIBES
d.
AS SUCH CALAMITIES OCCURRED FREQUENTLY
(1) PEOPLE DEVELOPED CHRONIC ANXIETY
e.
THIS MADE RELIGION POWERFUL & PERVASIVE
(1) GREATLY BENEFITTED PRIESTS & THEIR TEMPLES
11. TEMPLES USUALLY MOST PROMINENT STRUCTURES IN SUMERIAN
COMMUNITIES
a.
REACHING SKYWARD IN STEPPED STRUCTURES KNOWN AS
ZIGGURATS
12. FACADES DECORATED WITH BLUE GLAZED TILES
13. JUST AS CAN BE SEEN TODAY ON MOSQUES OF IRAQ
14. TEMPLES OWNED SIZABLE TRACTS OF LAND
a.
SOME PRIESTS FARMED
b.
C. 3000 B.C. TEMPLE IN CITY OF LAGASH PROVIDING
DAILY BREAD & BEER RATION FOR 1200+
DIET OF SUMERIANS
1.
DIET STAPLE GRAIN
a.
SOMETIMES WHEAT
b.
BUT USUALLY BARLEY
2.
BEER
a.
BARLEY PRINCIPAL INGREDIENT FOR BEER/ALE
b.
MOST POPULAR BEVERAGE
c.
SPECIAL GODDESS NINKASI
(1) MEANS LADY WHO FILLS THE MOUTH
3.
PLENTY VEGETABLES AVAILABLE
4.
AT LEAST 50 VARIETIES OF FISH FROM RIVERS
5.
CATTLE & GOATS KEPT PRIMARILY FOR MILK
a.
ALSO MADE INTO CHEESE, BUTTER, YOGURT
6.
PROBABLY WEALTHY ATE MEAT REGULARLY
a.
PROBABLY MUTTON
7.
DATE PALM
a.
DATE PALMS YIELDED ABOUT 100 POUNDS OF FRUIT PER
TREE EVERY YEAR
b.
DATES
(1) EATEN FRESH
(2) DRIED FOR LATER USE
8.
9.
E.
V.
OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS OF MESOPOTAMIANS
A.
ECONOMY - TRADE
8
1.
B.
C.
D.
MERCHANT CLASS OF SUMER
a.
EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT TRAVELING MERCHANTS
2.
ALL MEANS OF CONVEYANCES USED IN TRADE
a.
RAFTS ON RIVERS
b.
DONKEY CARAVANS
c.
SAILBOATS
(1) PROBABLY ANOTHER SUMERIAN INVENTION
LUNAR CALENDAR
1.
ANOTHER MOST CRUCIAL INVENTION
2.
ESSENTIAL TO BEGIN PLANTING & HARVESTING AT PROPER
TIME
3.
BASED ON LUNAR MONTHS OF 28 DAYS
a.
BUT CYCLE IS REALLY 29 1/2 DAYS
4.
BUT DEVISED 6 MONTHS 30 DAYS & 6 MONTHS 29 DAYS
5.
BUT 12 LUNAR CYCLES OR MONTHS FALL 11 DAYS SHORT OF
SOLAR YEAR
6.
OVER CENTURIES ADDED MONTH TO CALENDAR EVERY FEW
YEARS
MATHEMATICS
1.
OLD BABYLONIAN ERA C. 2000-1600 B.C.E. USED SIXTY =
SEXAGESIMAL
a.
NUMBER 60, DAYS OF 24 HOURS, 60 MINUTES, 60
SECONDS
INVENTION OF WHEEL
1.
PROBABLY 1ST USED FOR POTTERY MAKING
2.
SUMERIANS FIRST TO THINK OF FLIPPING POTTER'S WHEEL
ON ITS SIDE & ADAPTING IT FOR TRAVEL
3.
OX OR DONKEY HITCHED TO WHEELED CART COULD PULL
a.
3 TIMES LOAD
(1) ANIMAL COULD CARRY ON ITS BACK