“land between the rivers”

- The word Mesopotamia comes from the Greek meaning “land between the rivers” – those rivers, of course, are the Tigris & Euphrates located in modern-day Iraq…

Mesopotamia is part of the larger Fertile Crescent sometimes called the “cradle of civilization”.

The close proximity of Mesopotamia & Egypt led to trade & cultural diffusion.

Features of Mesopotamian Civ. Cities: Ur, Babylon, Nineveh, etc. Government: Monarchy (kings) Religion: Polytheism Writing: Cuneiform Public Works: Ziggurats, irrigation systems, walled cities, etc. Social Structure: Hierarchical (pyramidal) Specialization: Kings, priests, soldiers, artisans, farmers, slaves, etc. Art: Statues, carvings, gardens, etc.

Cities More like city-states b’c each urban center was linked to the surrounding countryside, which provided the necessary food for city life to be possible… Typically, the city was dominated by the royal palace, a temple structure, a marketplace & artisan shops & housing…

Ur – the first great city

Babylon

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

City Walls at Nineveh

Government Mesopotamian city-states were ruled by kings, who asserted their authority over their subjects through force… Unlike Egypt, Mesopotamian kings were not considered gods… Like Egypt, their reign was dynastic (hereditary)…

Polytheism Like the ancient Egyptians, the peoples from Mesopotamia were polytheists… However, their view of life was much more pessimistic than the Egyptians b’c of the unpredictable flooding of the Tigris & Euphrates…

Cuneiform The Sumerians were also the first writers… They used cuneiform – wedge-shaped carvings into soft, clay tablets with a stylus (sharp stick) which then hardened, preserving the inscriptions…

The Epic of Gilgamesh, written c The Epic of Gilgamesh, written c. 2000 BCE, is the most famous story from Mesopotamia. This heroic tale has influenced many other ancient stories, most notably the story of Noah & the flood from Genesis (Hebrew Scriptures)…

Like Egypt, Sumer engaged in large-scale public works projects, such as ziggurats & irrigation systems.

Ziggurats were large stepped temples, where priests conducted religious rituals to please the gods.

Social Structure of Mesopotamia

Innovation & Achievement The Sumerians were extremely innovative… They invented writing & arithmetic, as well as the wheel, sail & plow...

Trade routes helped spread new ideas!

Limited resources often led to war Limited resources often led to war. Those who possessed the latest weapon technologies had a distinct advantage.

Like the Egyptians, the peoples of Mesopotamia were master artisans & craftsmen.

The following slides will illustrate the true craftsmanship of the peoples of Mesopotamia…

Sumer is often recognized as the first civilization Sumer is often recognized as the first civilization. But other peoples of Mesopotamia, namely the Akkadians, Babylonians & eventually the Persians would soon build empires far outstripping Sumerian lands.

Sargon of Akkad In 2350 BCE Sargon I moved his armies against the city-states of the Sumerians, defeating them & establishing the world’s first empire (Akkadian)

Hammurabi First ruler of the Babylonian Empire (1795-1750 BCE)… Unites all of Mesopotamia under his 43 year reign… Creates a legal code bearing his name…

Hammurabi’s Code Not the first set of laws ever written HOWEVER it was significant b’c: Collection of laws which were codified… Publicized for all to see (read) & understand… Punitive in nature… Justice distributed according to one’s social class (unlike today’s justice)…

Indeed, for Hammurabi justice was not blind Indeed, for Hammurabi justice was not blind! That concept will develop later with the Romans…

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth…” Hammurabi’s Code “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth…”

Primary Source Students will analyze & interpret specific excerpts from Hammurabi’s Code…

Students must create their own law code similar to Hammurabi’s, i. e Students must create their own law code similar to Hammurabi’s, i.e., it must be codified, punitive, unequal & publicized…

Saddam’s palaces

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