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

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

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

With a partner list some positives and negatives to living in the Fertile Crescent. What do you think the words cultural diffusion mean?

cultural diffusion 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 city and all its surrounding lands that function as an independent political unit City-states evolved into empires Empire- controlled by a single ruler aka a monarchy

Contributions of Mesopotamian Cultures

Major Groups in Mesopotamia Sumerians Babylonians Chaldeans Assyrians Persians Hebrews Phoenicians                

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

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

Hittites Iron, chariots, hunters.

Phoenicians alphabet & writing with phonetic symbols commerce & shipbuilding, sailing, trade dyes and other products murex

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

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

Assyrian Treasures

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

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

EARLY LAW CODES

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

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

Hammurabi’s Code of Laws How would these strict laws better the community as a whole? This document made the laws more consistent and predictable.

LAW OF MOSES Includes Ten Commandments

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