Mesopotamia and Egypt

Ancient Mesopotamia Timeline B.C.-Emergence of Sumerian Cities B.C.-Babylonian Kingdom 1780 B.C.-Code of Hammurabi B.C.-The Hebrews B.C.-Height of Persian Power

Mesopotamian Geography Mesopotamian located at Eastern end of Fertile Cresent Tigris and Euphrates flood often creating rich soil for crops Developed ditches for irrigation Open plane made area vulnerable to attack

Mesopotamia’s City States Surrounded by walls built of mud brick Temples most important building usually in center Sumerians state based on a theocracy (lead by divine authority) Economy based on farming, trade, and manufacturing. 3 classes: Nobles, commoners, and slaves.

Empires of Mesopotamia 2340 B.C. Akkadians led by Sargoin who sets up worlds first empire 1792 B.C. Babylonians led by Hammurabi take power.

Code of Hammurabi Collection of laws for strict justice (eye for an eye) Penalties depend on social class Reflected a patriarchal society

Mesopotamian Religion Polytheistic (over 3000 gods) Humans their to serve gods

Sumerian’s Creation Created cuneiform writing (wedge shaped) Used for record keeping, teaching, and law Gilgamesh-literature teaching of moral lesson Other inventions: wagon wheel, numbers system (60), advancements in engineering and astronomy

Egyptians

Egyptian Geography Civilization based around annual flooding of the Nile River (Over 4,000 miles) Used Geographic barriers to protect them from invasion

Egyptian Religion Polytheistic Land gods / Sun Gods Sun God was the lead god (Re or Atum) Pharaoh referred to as sun of Re

Egyptian History Divided into 3 major periods: Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms Begins with Menes around 3100 B.C.

Old Kingdom B.C. Rulers become known as pharaohs Absolute power Take advice from family and Vizer Pyramids built during this period, as well as mummification.

Middle Kingdom B.C. (Golden Age) Pharaohs now portrayed as shepherds of the people. Middle kingdom ended by invasion of Hysksos of Western Asia.

New Kingdom B.C. Period which Egypt created an empire Pharaoh’s very wealthy First female ruler comes during this time (Hatshepsut)

New Kingdom Continued Akhenaton-tries to make Egyptians monotheistic (starts the decline of the Egyptian Empire Tutankhamen-restores the old gods later Ramses II (The Great) B.C. regains some of the empire but again would later collapse. Cleopatra VII tries again later to restore empire but falls to the Romans.

Society and Daily Life Classes of society Ruling Class- Pharaohs, nobles, and high priest Merchants and priest Peasants were laborers for the upper classes

Marriage Married young (arranged marriages) Man the master: women took care of household including children’s education Marriages could end in divorce with compensation for women Women could be merchants, priests, and even pharaohs

Writing and Education Writing emerged around 3000 B.C. in Egypt Hieroglyphics/Hieratic Script Made advances in art, architecture, geometry, and medicine Due to mummification learned a great deal about human anatomy First to use splints, bandages, and compresses

Other Great Civilizations Hittites-pastoral nomadic group known for use iron Phoenicians-lived along the Mediterranean Coast Known for ships, seafaring skills, and trading abilities Also known for 22 letter alphabet later used by Greeks and Romans.

Civilizations Israelites-( B.C.) main contribution religion of Judaism. Assyrians-known for military prowess and use of iron weapons, disciplined army and calvary. Persians-created an enormous empire. Set up their own complex gov. structure.