MesopotamiaObjective: To have students acquire knowledge about Mesopotamian

civilizations

River Valleys

Two important rivers that were

important to the daily lives of the

Mesopotamian civilizations: The

Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers

These river systems played a

central role in the development of

civilizations by providing water in a

hot dry climate and soil fertility by

flooding and silting the surrounding

lands.

Sumer

Sumerians were the first civilization to settle in Mesopotamia.

They comprised of city-states (the basic political unit of Mesopotamian

civilization). These city-states were Uruk, Ur, Akkad, and Lagash.

Local kings or priests exercised both economic and political control in the

city-state governments.

Kings believed in divine authority.

Rulers

Around 2350 BC, The Akkadians

lead by Sargon, conquered the

Sumerian city-states and

established an empire that

included the majority of

Mesopotamia as well as territory to

the west.

Rulers were commanders of army,

judges in all political disputes, and

owners of all property.

Learning

Sumerians studied mathematics, astronomy and medicine.

They were able to make bronze by combining tin and copper.

Invented the wheel by 3000 BC.

Buildings were built out of brick and stone.

Developed a numerical system as well as a calendar with twelve months.

Invented a system of writing known as cuneiform.

Famous literature: Epic of Gilgamesh, which contains legends of gods, kings

and heroic events.

Commerce and Law

Due to the major waterways nearby, Mesopotamians were able to trade with

civilizations in India, Egypt, North Africa, Syria, and Asia Minor.

Used a barter system for trade.

Society was separated by strict class lines: Priestly caste, ordinary citizens,

peasants, and slaves.

Religion

Polytheistic

Worshipped the sky, sun, earth,

water, etc.

Gods included Anu (chief god),

Inanna (goddess of love and war),

Enlil (wind), and Enki (earth and

rivers).

Ziggurats were buildings that

served as temples.

Babylonians

Invaded Mesopotamia around 1950

BC and put an end to the Sumerian

empire.

King Hammurabi become ruler

around 1790 BC and increased

trade and agriculture.

Society

Priests were the higher class. They acted as judges, teachers, and officials in

the bureaucracy. They also practiced astrology and predicted the future.

The next social class was the land owning nobility who influenced agriculture

(which was the chief source of wealth).

Third class was freeholders, which were farmers and occasionally owned the

land.

Lowest class was slaves.

Industry and Commerce

Irrigation techniques such as a network of canals were introduced.

Metal objects, weapons, jewelry, woven materials, earthenware, and building

materials were produced.

Trading was based on bartering.

Organized corporations that regulated prices and sales contracts were

engraved on mud brick tablets.

Trade when to east Asia and to the western parts of the Mediterranean.

Law

Hammurabi’s code regulated all aspects of social life: public, professional,

business, and family affairs.

An eye for an eye made many crimes punishable by death.

Extended protection of the law for all classes, including slaves. However,

punishments were different depending on which class the victim belonged to.

Fall of Babylon

A weak central power proved to be the downfall for Babylon as attacks from

the north and south weakened the empire.

Around 1550 BC, the Hittites invaded the Babylonian empire and conquered

them with horse-drawn war chariots.

Hebrews

Saul established a small kingdom

in the Mesopotamian region.

Around 1000 BC, his successor,

King David, conquered Jerusalem

and extend the borders to the

shores of the Red Sea.

Hebrews were monotheistic

(Yahweh).

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Hebrews under King Solomon

King Solomon became king in 950 BC.

During his rule, a period of peace, prosperity, cultural expansion, building and

lively trade took place.

After his death, revolts broke out and the unity of the Kingdom was

destroyed.

Hebrew land were dived into two regions, Judea and Israel.

Judea was conquered in 586 BC and Jerusalem was destroyed.

Assyrians

The Assyrians invaded Syria in the

9th Century BC and conquered the

cities of Damascus and Babylon.

They extended their empire south

to Egypt in the 7th Century BC.

Established capital at Nineveh.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Political Organization

Solved most issue by force, such as using terrorist tactics to enforce

obedience.

Weapons were made of iron.

Conquered peoples were dispersed throughout the empire.

For the first time, coins were used instead of the barter system.

Fall of Assyria

After expanding too far, the empire began to fall apart.

Between 650 and 520 BC, conquered peoples rebelled and freed themselves

from the Assyrians.

Capital of Nineveh was destroyed by the Babylonians.

Persians

Persians defeated their neighbors,

the Lydians along with their former

allies, the Medes to establish

control of the region.

They conquered the Greek cities

on the coast of Asia minor and

conquered Babylon in 539 BC.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Persian Culture

Babylonian and Assyrian traditions were preserved. Allowed Hebrews to return

to their homeland.

Zoroaster established a religion that was monotheistic.

Zoroastrianism taught individuals that there was an eternal struggle between

good and evil. It taught ideas of immortality, truth and justice.

Persian Government

Established capital city at Susa.

Borders extended from Egypt to India by 525 BC.

Persian military comprised of a highly trained military force called the Ten

Thousand Immortals.

The empire was divided into satrapies (provinces) where a governor would

have local control and was under the strict supervision of the central

government.

Allowed conquered regions to keep their laws, officials, and taxed them

lightly. Monetary system was introduced.

Roads were constructed and a canal between the Nile and Red Sea was

established.