Mesopotamia ACTUAL HISTORY Mesopotamia means between two rivers
Mesopotamia ACTUAL HISTORY
Mesopotamia means between two rivers the Tigris and Euphrates Unpredictable Also known as the fertile crescent The first civilization, known as Sumer, emerged here about 4000 BCE
Sumer Early cities formed around taming the rivers Practiced a form of socialism Farmers contributed food to the community This stored food gave rise to new occupations
Social Structure Organized as City. States Priests originally ruled these cities Military men took power = Kings Ruler and High Priest Merchants and Artisans Peasant Farmers/ Slaves
Sumerian Religion Polytheistic Unpredictable and violent, like the rivers Monumental Temples called Ziggurats built to appease the gods Did not have an “afterlife” outside of a box filled with ash
Inventions Writing – Called Cuneiform For trading purposes Base 10 and 60 mathematic system 10 = Decimals 60 = time, degrees of circles The Wheel Originally pottery, later transport Epic of Gilgamesh first literature
Fall of City-States Kings start conquering other cities Sargon of Akkad united most the cities After his death, conquered by nomads Established the Kingdom of Babylon Famous ruler was Hammurabi
Hammurabi's Law Code First written law code Displayed in public so all would know the rules Known for its eye for an eye principle Included presumption of innocence
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