Ancient Mesopotamia Early Middle East

Fertile Crescent Land between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Land was able to grow crops and fuel animal domestication Floods of the rivers helped fertilize the land making it a great place to start a civilization

Sumerian Civilization First cities formed along rivers Ur was one of the first cities as was Babylon Sumerian city states had farming people who started settling down together This made job specialization and hierarchies

Sumerian Religion Believed in many gods, Polytheistic Built temples for worship called Ziggurats Belief in afterlife, and we know that through “The Epic of Gilgamesh” Differences of polytheism and monotheism will form conflict with Israelites.

Advanced Learning System of Writing called cuneiform Wedge shaped marks made using a reed pen Used for recording harvests, myths, prayers, laws, treaties and business contracts.

The Empires of Sumer Empires of Sumer were formed when cities were taken over by other cities to form empires. These empires were more advanced then civilized cities and needed laws to control the masses of people.

Code of Hammurabi Hammurabi had artisans create a stone pillar with 300 laws that were the laws of the empire that everyone would follow. Hammurabi felt that he was given this right by the gods to protect the weak from the strong

Cont. Code of Hammurabi First written laws to govern the state and its people. Criminal Laws offences against others First people took law into their own hands Set of punishments encouraged social order “eye for an eye, life for a life” seem cruel by today's standards.

Warfare and Spread of Ideas Hittites developed iron working from ore from the ground With weapons, Mesopotamians expand and take over other cities. Tolerance for concurred people for customs and religions traditions.

Barter vs. Money Economy Barter – exchanging one set of goods for another good or service Money – goods and services are paid for with a token of an agreed value.

Monotheism and civilization Judaism Monotheism and civilization

Story of Israel 2000 BC → 722 BC Ur gave birth to Abraham Abraham moves to Canaan to today's Israel/Palestine Famine → moved to Egypt Enslaved, exodus to land believed God promised them.

Covenant with God Covenant = a binding agreement God and Abraham’s agreement made his people to the “chosen people” Torah or Old Testament is the history of the Hebrews

Men of Israel Abraham - Father or the first of the Hebrew people Moses - Leads the exodus or people out of slavery David – united Israelites Solomon – made Jerusalem capitol Story of Isaac and Ishmael

Lasting concepts Cleanliness and food preparation – Kosher 10 Commandments Friday Sabbath