Civilizations of Mesopotamia Sumer The first civilization Organized
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Civilizations of Mesopotamia
Sumer • • The first civilization Organized into city-states • • • Ziggurat: religious temples Inventions • • City-states: Each city state had its own government. Not united Cuneiform: Oldest written language written by scribes Epic of Gilgamesh: Oldest known piece of literature Wagon wheel, cart, plow, number system based off 60, 12 month calendar, & sailboats Defeated by Sargon and the Akkadians
Akkad • Sumer was not united and therefore was vulnerable to attacks from large armies • The Akkadians eventually under King Sargon conquered Sumerian city states one by one and all of Mesopotamia • He set up the world’s first empire- a group of many lands under one ruler • Sargon’s empire fell because of a severe drought
Babylon • Hammurabi=King of Babylon • Most powerful Amorite City • Defeats other Amorite cities • Hammurabi created the Babylonian Empire. • Hammurabi is best remembered for creating his code of laws. • It was the first set of written laws, everyone knew them • His laws influenced the laws of Greece and Rome which influenced us • After Hammurabi, weak rulers came to power and the empire fell
Assyrians • Assyrian Empire arose about a 1000 years after Hammurabi died. • Assyrians had a very powerful army • well organized, ferocious warriors • first large army to use iron weapons • • • Brutal punishments for lawbreakers world’s first library Cruel Treatment of people led to rebellions
Chaldeans (Descendants of Babylon) • Built an empire and developed a calendar with a 7 day week. • Nebuchadnezzar: -was a king that controlled all of Mesopotamia for around 40 years • • he made them strong and rebuilt Babylon made it the world’s richest city through trade (caravans) studied astronomy built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon for his wife • After Nebuchadnezzar’s death, weak rulers took over and the Persians conquered them
Social Hierarchy of Mesopotamia • • • Kings and governmental officials Priests Free Citizens • • Merchants, Artisans, Scribes Commoners • • Wealthy, Upper Class Farmers Slaves Poor, Lower Class
