MESOPOTAMIA FERTILE CRESENT LAND BETWEEN THE RIVERS Mesopotamia

MESOPOTAMIA “FERTILE CRESENT” LAND BETWEEN THE RIVERS

Mesopotamia

Overview and Objectives • Learn about the ancient achievements of the early people in this region. • Learn about the geography of the land how the people used it. • Discuss the law codes of the early civilizations and compare them to our own. • Understand a brief timeline of history and development of this area.

The Birth of Civilization in Western Asia • Cities vs. Villages • Earliest cities emerge in Mesopotamia • Importance of cooperation in irrigation • Militarism produced rulers • The role of religion

The Birth of Civilization (cont. ) • Standing in awe of the divine • Religion organized society • Temples were complex institutions • Mesopotamia was “civilized” by 3200 B. C. E.

Sumer- one of the earliest citystates • City-states were the first form of civilization • Walled city • Temple in the center (Ziggurat) • Each usually had its own god-king • Often fought against other city states • City inside the wall, farming outside

• Large city-state • Death Pits- royalty buried with precious goods and members of household • Discovered 2, 500 of these graves in the 1920’s • 1 tomb uncovered with 6 males and 68 female servants- all dressed up for the big day! UR

Ziggurats • Built up to 7 platforms • Not tombs • Not pyramids

* Nineveh Assyrian Region Akkad Region Israel Sinai Peninsula Babylon Persia

Sumer Achievements Wedge shaped writing – Cuneiform Invented the wheel 3700 BC Created early math systems (base 60 system) Created a system of complex sewers and flushable toilets Plow Polytheism – the worship of many gods

Cuneiform • When a city was conquered, it was pillaged and set on fire • Positive side effect - burned the cuneiform clay to preserve it far longer

Ancient Sumer (3200 -2000 BC) • Southwestern territory of the Valley • Independent cities conquered by “Sargon of Akkad” around 2300 BCE • Unpredictable Weather Conditions and floods • Evolution of view of the Sumerian gods

Sumer • 3500 B. C. • Tigris and Euphrates • All-knowing priests • Ziggurat • Cuneiform

Old Babylonia (2000 -1600 BCE) • Invasion of Semitic language groups like the Amorites • Amorites created Babylonian Empire • Most famous Babylonian ruler = Hammurabi • Hammurabi’s Code of Law -- “An Eye for an eye” -- “Let the Buyer Beware” • Procedures in Amorite trials • First written laws

Old Babylonia (cont. ) • Some sense of justice • Some sense of a “welfare state” • The Epic of Gilgamesh • Introduction of personal religion • Major mathematical achievements • Babylonian social life

Famous Rulers Gilgamesh – King of Ur/God-King, hero/warrior Sargon – First king to unite city-states into one Kingdom Hammurabi – First king of Babylonian Empire; built the city of Babylon Nebuchadnezzar II – rules Babylon and makes it a great empire and the city of Babylon the most remarkable city of its time Many others – too many to name!

Civilizations of Mesopotamia Chaldeans Amorites Sumer Akkadians Assyrians Babylonian Empire 3500 - 2340 - 1800 B. C 125 B. C. King Sargon tried to unite The kingdom 18001530 B. C. Hammarabi Babylon is Capital 1170612 B. C. dramatic growth in science and mathematics North of Babylon 612539 B. C. Nebuchadnezzar II Babylon became largest city

“The Dark Age” (1600 -1300 BCE) • Reasons for the fall of the Babylonians (Amorites) • Horse-drawn chariots challenge traditional oxdrawn chariots • Invasion of the Hittites • Prestige of Iron weapons and implements • Assimilation of previous cultural accomplishments

The Assyrian Empire (1300 -612 BCE) • Semitic language group settling in the north Tigris area as early as 3000 BCE • Became skilled in chariot warfare and began to conquer neighbors • Reign of Sennacherib (705 -681 BCE)

The Assyrian Empire (cont. ) • The Assyrian capital city: Nineveh • Palace Library • Assyrians known for brutality in warfare --only Mesopotamian civilization to submit to a queen • Brutality of Assyrian art

The Assyrian Empire (cont. ) • Assyrian brutality produced hatred and rebellions among subjugated peoples • Sophisticated and effective military organization --invented concept of a corps of engineers • The defeat of the Assyrians and the destruction of Nineveh

New Babylonia (612 -539 BCE) • Medes and Chaldeans (Babylonians) defeat the Assyrians in 612 BCE • Most famous Babylonian ruler was Nebuchadnezzar II

New Babylonia (cont. ) • The ancient city of Babylon (very impressive) • The Ishtar Gate • The Hanging Gardens • Babylonian astronomical achievements • Babylonian court astronomers and their diaries

GATE OF ISHTAR in Babylon *Built by King Nebuchadrezzar *Only purple gate in city *Honored the Goddess of Love and fertility *Saddam Hussein recreated it with hopes to become the next Babylon Kingdom

Hanging Gardens of Babylon • One of many spectacular building projects by him • Tiered structure • For his foreign wife because she missed her forested homeland • Belshazzar was defeated by the Persians in 539 BCE

The Persian Empire (539 BCE on) • Far-sighted Diplomats who allowed subjects to practice native customs and religions—Cyrus the Great allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem • Persians gave the Ancient Near East political unity and cultural diversity • The rule of Cyrus the Great

The Persian Empire (cont. ) • Later Rulers: Darius and son Xerxes were not as well liked • Efficient administration of a huge empire (Satraps) • Persian Road system • Aramaic language • Wealthy and Distant Royal Absolutism • Early Persian Religion • Introduction of Zoroastrianism (circa 600 BCE)

• Satraps • Well-Built Roads • Coinage • Diverse Languages

The Phoenicians • Set up a trading Empire • Settled city states around the Mediterranean Sea (Carthage in N. Africa will become enemy of Rome) • Became excellent navigators • Became wealthy through trade • Invented alphabet • Created blue dye (used for clothing of royalty) • Expert glass blowers

Review What is a City-State. A walled City, with a God-King, their own govt. and a Ziggurat temple in the center. Another name for Mesopotamia. Fertile Crescent What term is used to describe the organization of people into communities with specialized workers, organization, and writing? Civilization

Review What is retribution? Revenge, returning a wrong for wrong, “an eye for an eye” What is a Ziggurat? A temple in the center of a City State to worship the Gods.

Review What is cuneiform? Wedge shaped early writing system. What does Mesopotamia mean? Land between the Tigris & Euphrates Where is it located on today’s map? Middle East _ Modern day Iraq