CityStates in Mesopotamia Main Idea The earliest civilization

City-States in Mesopotamia Main Idea: The earliest civilization in Asia arose in Mesopotamia and organized into city-states. Why It Matters Now: The development of this civilization reflects a pattern that has occurred repeatedly throughout history.

Geography of the Fertile Crescent • Tigris and Euphrates Rivers flow southeastward to the Persian Gulf • Fertile plain between them is known as Mesopotamia (Greek for “land between the rivers”) • Rivers would flood leaving behind silt in which farmers could plant wheat and barley

Environmental Challenges • Flooding Unpredictable • No Natural Protection • Limited Natural Resources Solutions • Irrigation • City walls of mud brick • Trade

City-States Sumer had a number of cities. Although these cities shared the same culture, they developed their own governments, each with its own rulers. A city-state functioned much as an independent country does today.

Sumer’s earliest governments were controlled by the temple priests. The place of worship or ziggurat was like a city hall. Priests took a portion of the farmers’ crops as taxes. In time of war, military leaders took control. Over time, they became full-time rulers. Then their sons would come into power, starting dynasties.

Sumerian Culture • Polytheism: many different gods controlled the various forces in nature • Approximately 3, 000 gods • Gods had human traits but were immortal and all powerful • Afterlife

Priests and Kings Wealthy Merchants, Artisans Regular Farmers and Workers Slaves Women were not treated horribly but did not have same rights as men.

Sumerian Brain Power • Wheel • Cuneiform • Sail • Maps • Plow • Base 60 • Bronze • Epic of Gilgamesh

First Empire Builders City-states of Sumer were constantly at war with each other which made them weak. Invaders attacked and adapted Sumerian culture to fit their needs.

Sargon of Akkad • Semitic • Took control of large area of Mesopotamia, 2300 B. C. E. • Empire lasted 200 years • Epic tales and poems about him

Babylon • In 2000 B. C. E. , Amorites invaded • Capital was at Babylon on Euphrates • King Hammurabi ruled at peak, 17921750 B. C. E. • First Written Law Code, 282 laws • Retaliation, Inequality, Government Responsibility • Civil and Criminal Law

Hittites • Arrived about 1400 B. C. E. from Asia Minor • Used iron for their weapons • Horse-drawn chariot

Phoenicians • Lived near present day Lebanon • Sailors and Traders • Glass makers • Purple dye • Alphabet

Assyrians • Cruel, Military People • Conquered Mesopotamia from 850650 B. C. E. • Enemies struck back and destroyed Nineveh • Babylon revived under King Nebuchadnezzar (Ishtar Gate, Hanging Gardens)

Persians ©Located in present-day Iran ©From 550 -539 B. C. E. , King Cyrus conquered Fertile Crescent and Anatolia, ruled kindly with tolerance ©Darius, good administrator of huge empire ©Royal Road, Coins ©Zoroastrianism=Good v. Evil, Day of Judgment