MESOPOTAMIA
Also known as: THE FERTILE CRESCENT Meaning: “Land Between Two Rivers” MESOPOTAMIA 3500 BC – 1750 BC Also known as: THE FERTILE CRESCENT Meaning: “Land Between Two Rivers” Rivers: TIGRIS and EUPHRATES http://www.missedinhistory.com/podcasts/mesopotamia-the-first-civilization/
EARLY SETTLERS 3300 B.C. Sumerians 1.Dug irrigation ditches – lack of water (Unpredictable flooding combined with periods of little or no rain) 2. Built City Walls – lack of natural barriers 3. Traded – lack of natural resources, especially building materials
ZIGGURAT Pyramid shaped monument “mountain of god” Conducted rituals, sacrifices offerings to gods
RELIGION POLYTHEISTIC Over 3000 Gods example: ENLIL god of storms/air Wanted Gods protection in life
EPICS ex: EPIC OF GILGAMESH Ex.) The Epic of Gilgamesh Long narrative poem celebrating deeds of heroes
Social Classes: (from highest to lowest) Kings/Priests Wealthy Merchants Workers (majority) Slaves
SOCIAL CLASSES 1. Priests/Kings 2. Wealthy Merchants 3. Workers 4. Slaves Women- more rights than later civilizations – hold property, pursue work, join priesthood, not allowed to attend schools – upper class could read & write
INVENTIONS WHEEL,SAIL,PLOW WRITING, BRONZE WORKS,NUMBER SYSTEM (60)
Sumerians & arithmetic Sumerians used arithmetic to: Erect city walls & buildings Plan irrigation systems Survey flooded fields
ARCHITECTURE ARCHES COLUMNS RAMPS ZIGGURAT
Writing: Cuneiform Sumerian writing that consisted of pictographs Developed a number system based on 60 Ex.) 60 seconds = 1 minute
Cuneiform
Babylonian leader who led area to height of power Hammurabi: (1792 BC-1750 BC) Babylonian leader who led area to height of power
Hammurabi: (1792 BC-1750 BC) Created the Code of Hammurabi First major written law code established 282 specific laws dealing with everything that effected the community
Hammurabi continued… Different punishments for rich and poor Punishments often applied the principle of retaliation Ex.) eye for an eye codes were engraved on stone pillars and place throughout the empire
http://www. missedinhistory http://www.missedinhistory.com/podcasts/how-the-code-of-hammurabi-worked/