Mesopotamia “The Land between Two Rivers” Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

River Civilization u With your elbow partner discuss: u Why would people group up and settle near rivers? what challenges might they face? _____________________________

Mesopotamia u “land between two rivers” - the Tigris and Euphrates u the Fertile Crescent - area of rich soil in the Middle East where the agricultural revolution took place u Tigris and Euphrates had unpredictable flooding

cultural diffusion u process of a new idea or a product spreading from one culture to another culture as trade began to develop from one city-state to another

city-state vs. empire u city and all its surrounding lands that function as an independent political unit u City-states evolved into empires u Empire- controlled by a single ruler aka a monarchy

Contributions of Mesopotamian Cultures

Major Groups in Mesopotamia u Sumerians u Babylonians u Chaldeans u Assyrians u Persians u Hebrews u Phoenicians

Sumerians Technology u arch, wheel, plow, & sail u astronomy & fortune telling u number system - 6’s & 12’s u concept of city-state u Ziggurat – Temple “Mountain of God” u Cuneiform – Form of writing using stylus and wet clay tablet

Babylonians u Hammurabi’s Law Code –1 st written code of laws u imperial government u first to build Babylon

Hittites u Iron, chariots, hunters.

Phoenicians u alphabet & writing with phonetic symbols u commerce & shipbuilding, sailing, trade (trade =$$) u dyes and other products –murex

Phoenicians u In early civilization, explain how creating a universal phonetic symbols or the alphabet was a helpful tool? u Explain how being an experienced sailor was beneficial in a rising economy for the Phoenicians?

Hebrews (Israelites, Jews) u Monotheism – One God u Torah--Old Testament u concept of human dignity u Judaism

Assyrians u warfare: weapons, armor, cavalry, tactics, catapult and other siege tools u postal service u some roads u built city of Ninevah u improved writing

Assyrian Treasures

The Bronze Age u time when a people use bronze (mix tin and copper) rather than stone, bone, or copper u begins in 2500 BCE in Mesopotamia

polytheism monotheism u a belief in many gods u a belief in one god (originated with the Hebrews – Judaism)

EARLY LAW CODES

Think - Pair - Share u What governmental systems were established in early civilizations and why? u What legal ideas can be traced to ancient civilizations? u How were religious philosophies integrated into these ancient systems?

HAMMURABI’S CODE OF LAWS u first set of written/codified laws (282) –In cuneiform u deal with what Mesopotamians value: family relations, crime, and property issues u follow “eye for an eye” philosophy u Emphasizes government responsibility for society u This document made the laws more consistent and predictable.

LAW OF MOSES u Includes Ten Commandments

LAW OF MOSES cont. u Transcribed by Moses on Mt. Sinai u Sometimes resembles “eye for an eye” u strict justice softened by expressions of God’s mercy u Goal: moral life in accordance with God’s laws