Mesopotamia

Many historians believe that the earliest civilizations began in a region known as Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia was an ancient region in the eastern Mediterranean between the Zagros Mountains and the Arabian Plateau Mostly modern day Iraq Parts of Iran, Syria and Turkey

Mesopotamia was a collection of many separate civilizations and small city-states Mesopotamia is a region, not a united empire such as Egypt, Greece and Rome Ancient Cities Map of Mesopotamia Ancient Cities

Mesopotamia is located mostly in which modern day country? Was Mesopotamia a collection of several small city-states or a united empire?

The Fertile Crescent Mesopotamia is often referred to as the Fertile Crescent, because of the valuable farmland surrounded by desert The valuable farmland allowed ancient hunter-gatherers to settle in Mesopotamia and eventually develop cities

The Fertile Crescent provided some of the best farmland of the ancient world

Impact of the Tigris and Euphrates Mesopotamia means “between two rivers” in Greek Tigris and Euphrates River When the Tigris and Euphrates would flood, the floods would leave behind silt for farming

The floods of the Tigris and Euphrates were also destructive and unpredictable Devastating floods would regularly wash away top soil and destroy villages Villages had to work together to channel water to the fields and store water for the dry season

Why is Mesopotamia often referred to as the Fertile Crescent? What allowed ancient hunter-gatherers to settle in Mesopotamia and eventually develop cities? What does Mesopotamia mean? What was one positive of the floods of the Tigris and Euphrates? What were two dangers of the Tigris and Euphrates?

Use a textbook or iPad to quietly complete the following… If using an iPad, log into Quia.com/web and go to the Mesopotamia Class Page /or/ go to www.quia.com/pages/rasmussen/mesopotamia Username: firstnamelastname402 Password: student Open the link at the top of page named Mesopotamia Text and complete the map on the front page of your notes When you are done with the map, use the text to complete the last two pages of your notes using the text After you finish the reading guide (last two pages of your notes), play academic games from the Mesopotamia class page or go to Quizlet (link at the bottom of the page)

The Cradle of Civilization Mesopotamia is also referred to as the “Cradle of Civilization” Many important developments occurred in Mesopotamia

12 month calendar agriculture astronomy chariots common tools domestication of animals hours, minutes, seconds irrigation leather tires math rise of the city sophisticated weaponry and warfare the arch the plow the sail and sailboats trade wheel wheeled vehicles wind power writing

Why is Mesopotamia often referred to as the “Cradle of Civilization”? What were at least 6 important developments that occurred in Mesopotamia?

Writing An early form of writing, called cuneiform, developed in Sumer, a civilization in Mesopotamia Cuneiform is the earliest known writing system Cuneiform carved wedge-shaped characters onto clay tablets using a stylus

What is cuneiform?

Literature The Epic of Gilgamesh was the oldest written story in the world. The Epic of Gilgamesh tells the story of Gilgamesh, a powerful Sumerian king.

The Epic of Gilgamesh was the oldest written story in the world. The Epic of Gilgamesh tells the story of Gilgamesh, a powerful Sumerian king. adventures encounters with gods, spirits and demons search for immortality

Epic of Gilgamesh and the Cedar Forest

Math Math developed in Mesopotamia for many reasons, largely related to farming and trading creating a lunar calendar measuring plots of lands tokens for trading taxation

Sumerians and Babylonians used number system based on 60

Babylonian numbers used a true place-value system, where numbers in the left column represented larger values Tablets were found showing students practicing arithmetic and geometry in ancient Babylon

Evidence of Mesopotamian’s influence on math today 360 degrees in a circle 180 degrees in a triangle 60 minutes in a hour 60 seconds in a minute 12 months in a year dice

Economy Most people in Mesopotamia grew crops and raised livestock

In addition to farming, Mesopotamia relied heavily on trade Mesopotamians traded fish, wool and wheat for materials not available in Mesopotamia, including lumber

Other common jobs in Mesopotamia included scribes, healers, artisans, weavers, potters, shoemakers, fishermen, and teachers The most powerful people in Mesopotamia were the kings and priests 

Religion Mesopotamians were polytheistic, meaning they worshipped many gods Citizens were expected to honor the gods through the jobs they performed every day

Mesopotamians also prayed, offered sacrifices and built temples to please the gods

A ziggurat is pyramid-shaped temple that soared towards the heavens, common in Sumerian civilizations At the top of the ziggurat stood shrines to the chief god or goddess of the city

Cities and Government Mesopotamia also gave birth to the world’s first cities Most cities developed their own governments, becoming city-states

Kings were the leaders of the government A king was responsible for protecting the people, overseeing farming and making laws

Hammurabi the Lawgiver Around 1790 B.C., Hammurabi took steps to unite the Babylon empire by publishing the Code of Hammurabi The Code of Hammurabi was the first important attempt by a ruler to write down the laws of the kingdom

Goals of Hammurabi’s Code: Protect the weak Eliminate evil doers

The Code of Hammurabi called for strict justice, an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth and a life for a life

“If a son strike his father, his hands shall be cut off.” “If he break another man’s bone, his bone shall be broken...”

Mesopotamian cities Mesopotamian cities were well planned At the center of the city was the temple

Since water was the most important resource, most cities were built along a river Irrigation ditches, canals and aqueducts were used to move water throughout the city

Since Mesopotamia lacked stone and lumber, sun-dried clay bricks as well as reeds were commonly used for construction 

Walls were built around the city to protect the people from attack Ishtar Gate

Mesopotamians made many advancements in architecture Mesopotamians also created the world’s first columns, arches, and roofed structures

Hanging Gardens Tower of Babel