7. The Nineveh tablets reveal a civilization 1000 years older than Babylonia...and neolithic life going back to 7000 BCE

8. Two great rivers were fed by the winter rains of Syria and the spring thaws of the snows of the Taurus and Zagros mts : life-giving but unpredictable

9. Marshland and swampland

10. How was Mesopotamia transformed around 3200 BC?

11. Each city was believed to be the property of an individual god

15. U.S. soldiers, 2010

16. Religion was the central force: Explained the workings of nature Eased the fear of death United people in a common view Bolstered the authority of rulers Justified rules and morality Promoted creativity in art, literature and science

17. The functions of the temple priest class: >Anticipated the god's desires > Interpreted their actions > Soothing their wrath with prayer and sacrifice > collected taxes > coordinated all economic activity

18. How did Mesopotamians define the purpose of man’s existence?

19. Why did a mood of pessimism, uncertainty and anxiety pervade the Sumerian psyche? Frequent floods and droughts Windstorms The gods were unpredictable

20. Sumerian women: role and rights depended on the city-state, their social status and changed over time. > high born were literate > commoners were occupied with child- rearing and household duties > little individualism-daughter or wife > rulers of city-states- rare but possible > could inherit and own property > ran their own businesses > freedom of movement in the marketplace > arranged marriages-dowry/bride price >extra-marital affairs not uncommon > divorce was possible > singers in temples and palaces were highly regarded

21. How did King Sargon (2350 -2218 BCE ) earn a place in our history books?

22. The Akkadian Empire 2350 – 2100 BCE

23. Third Dynasty of Ur… Ur-Nammu, 2113-2096 BC

25. The Code of Hammurabi > 8 ft column of basalt inscribed with an engraving of the king receiving the laws from the god Marduk; a prologue (advertisement for Hammurabi's greatness!) and 282 decisions- the law code itself. Why were King Hammurabi's law codes obeyed?

27. The Hittites, 1600 bc- 1200 bc

28. examples of Hittite iron swords…

30. A Phoenician sailing vessel

31. The Phoenician Alphabet, circa 1400 bc

32. The Hebrews Monotheism Removed the gods from nature Assertion of human dignity 10 Commandments