Mesopotamia G.R.A.P.E.S. TCAP Review

G.= Geography of Mesopotamia Southwest Asia Present Day- Southern Iraq Called the Cradle of Civilization and the Fertile Crescent Mesopotamia means the land between 2 rivers Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Unpredictable Flooding= silt, fertile soil for the FIRST farming community to become a civilization. Sumer is an area with many city-states (Ur, Uruk, Eridu)

R= Religion in Mesopotamia Polytheistic= many gods and goddesses Believed in rain/wind gods Each city-state claimed its own main god Believed gods lived in the very top of the ziggurats

A= Achievements in Mesopotamia 1st Irrigation!-to help bring water to crops (dams, dikes, canals) Ziggurats- used for worship of gods large city walls for protection 1st written laws- Hammurabi's Code ("eye for an eye") 1st written language- Cuneiform (wedge shaped stylus on clay)-keep records of trade

Achievements con'd Epic of Gilgamesh- epic is a long story poem about a hero Invented the wheel, wheeled carts, chariots, sailboat, wooden plow, bronze, Number system based on 60 (60 sec. in a min.; 60 mins. in an hour, 360 degrees in a circle), followed a 7 day week, sundial

P= Politics in Mesopotamia Government= Monarchy (king/ queen) Empire= many lands under 1 ruler Sargon conquers and unites Akkad and Sumer into the 1st Empire Later- Hammurabi conquers Mesopotamia and names the capital Babylon and builds the Babylonian Empire; Hammurabi's Code- 1st written laws!

Politics con'd Assyrian Empire- conquers Mesopotamia area; strong army- chariots, horses, food soldiers; tribute (forced payments from conquered people); Iron Weapons (learned from Hittites); split empire into provinces; built roads; 1st Library at Nineveh; conquered by Chaldeans Chaldean Empire- Nebechadnezzar (ruler); capital is Babylon; huge Ziggurat with gold top- shined for miles; Hanging Gardens (7 Wonders of Ancient World)- kings palace; God-Marduk; built canals Fall of Mesopotamian Empires= weak rulers, poor harvests; Persians attacked and took over, allowed them to keep their culture!

E=Economics in Mesopotamia Trade Routes- Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Caravans-traveling groups for trade (camels) Barter (trade without money) was used Money was also mentioned in Hammurabi's code Agriculture- wheat, barley, dates, sheep, pigs, goats. Traded to get metal, timber, red and blue stones

S= Social Structure in Mesopotamia Men farmed or learned a skilled trade from a father Boys went to school and generally learned the job of the father Girls didn't go to school, learned to weave cloth, take care of house and children Women at home teaching girls women duties Social Hierarchy (social classes)- people are born into a class King (gods gave power to kings) Priests, warriors, gov't officials Merchants, farmers, fishers, artisans Slaves- captured in war, criminals, or couldn't pay debts