Mesopotamia: The Fertile Crescent

Geography Environmental challenges very little rain Unpredictable flooding No natural barriers Limited natural resources Conflict Cooperation

Religion Polytheistic Anthropomorphic (human-like) Gods not always helpful –War-like-possessed total control reflected struggle w/ unpredictable environment Sacrifices, rituals, temples (ziggurats) priests & priestesses

Achievements Sumerian Culture Cuneiform Arithmetic & geometry Architectural innovations

Politics/Government Walled city-states Monarchy - priest/kings Law - Code of Hammurabi –Constant conflict over resources

Politics: First Empires

Epic of Gilgamesh Epic poem Reveals much about life in Mesopotamia Includes a story about a great flood

Economy Agricultural Extensive trade

Society Kings, landholders, priests Military Wealthy merchants Ordinary peasants Slaves

Women Not equal to men but still held rights/protections merchants, farmers, artisans could own property priestesses Elites could learn to read/write

Akkadian Empire ( BCE) –Semitic people from Arabian Peninsula –Conquered Sumerians –Akkad-later Babylon –World’s first empire –Sargon the Great- conquest to ensure metal supplies

Babylonia Empire ( BCE) Babylon located on Euphrates River Hammurabi was sixth king Important trade center Code of Hammurabi

–282 Laws-formed Babylonian legal system –One of earliest written laws –King’s responsibility to maintain order & justice –Basis of international commercial law: regulated contracts, interest, mortgages, etc. –Harsh penalties- reflects social hierarchy –Carved into a stela, (stone pillar)- kept in a special temple

Assyrian Empire ( BCE) –Assur, city on Tigris River originally under Babylonian rule –Expanded control overf 2 centuries –Lower Mesopotamia, Persia, Syria, Sinai Peninsula & along SE coast of Med. Sea into Egypt –controlled trade between Anatolia & Mesopotamia –highly centralized government headed by royal appointed governors – ruled with terror –Advanced weapons (seige engine) –Built a fine library (literature, math, science) –Encouraged private enterprise rather than state monopoly –Overthrown by Chaldeans

Chaldean Empire Neo-Babylonian ( BCE) Another name for Babylonia Took control of Babylon through bloody battles Known for cruelty King Nebuchadnezzar conquered Canaan & enslaved the Israelites “Babylonian Captivity” Hanging Gardens terraces rising to palace roof irrigated by pumps Astronomy-created manuals for later civilizations Timekeeping-divided the day into 12 double hours 7 day week division of the hour into sixty minutes

Persian Empire ( BCE) Originated on plateau east of Zagros Mtns Indo Aryran origins Cyrus the Great Tolerant rule-respected different religions, languages customs Divided into provinces- satrapies- constructed roads