Mesopotamia Ch. 1 (pp. 16 – 24) Key Concept 1.2 The Neolithic Revolution and Early Agriculture Societies Key Concept 1.3 The Development and Interactions of Early Agricultural, Pastoral and Urban Societies Essential Question: How did Mesopotamian civilization emerge, and what technologies promoted its advancement?

Geography ~8,000 B.C.E. agriculture & civilization arose in the “Fertile Crescent” –Arc of rich farmland in the Middle East

Geography Mesopotamia (“land b/t the rivers”) –On the flood plains b/t Tigris & Euphrates Rivers Located mostly in modern Iraq Rivers deposit silt from mountains, making the soil fertile Flooded unpredictably

Geography States (like Mesopotamia) were powerful new systems of rule that mobilized surplus labor and resources ~5000 B.C.E., agriculture reached Mesopotamia –Area required irrigation to cultivate Artificial provision of water to crops

Cities Farming villages occasionally grew into urban centers (cities) –Relied on agriculture from surrounding villages Cities allowed for specialized in crafts, religion or administrative duties Surrounding villages looked to cities for protection & manufactured goods –City-states = a city & its surrounding agricultural areas Self-governed Sumer, Akkad, Ur, etc.

City-States in Mesopotamia

Political Beliefs Early city-states were ruled by kings –Some were believed to be gods (theocracy) –Others claimed to have divine support –Had the support of an army

Political Beliefs One of Mesopotamia’s most influential kings was Hammurabi –First king of the Babylonian Empire –Created a common set of laws known as the Code of Hammurabi Reflected existing hierarches in society Facilitated government rule over people

Trade Mesopotamians participated in long distance trade (often with pastoralists) Trade was done through barter –Acquired new weapons and modes of transportation Ex. Compound bows, iron weapons, chariots –Exchanged goods, cultural ideas and technology Over time trade expanded from local to regional to transregional

Mesopotamian Society Social and gender hierarchies intensified as states expanded Three social classes –Free landowning –Dependent farmers & artisans –Slaves

Mesopotamian Society Women lost social standing with the spread of agriculture –In Mesopotamia, women could own property, maintain control of their dowry & engage in trade, but men controlled political life

Religion Mesopotamians were polytheistic –These gods embodied the forces of nature & were anthropomorphic –Each city-state worshipped specific deities Early civilizations developed monumental architecture –Ziggurats were huge pyramidal temples built as monuments to local gods

The 4100 year old Great Ziggurat of Ur, near Nasiriyah, Iraq

Technology & Science Early civilizations developed urban planning –Sewage, streets & roads, etc. Writing (appeared ~3300 B.C.E.) –Systems arose independently in early civilizations and later diffused –Cuneiform = system of writing involving wedge-shaped symbols representing words or symbols Hundreds of symbols confined literacy to small groups of scribes

Technology & Science Examples (continued) –Bronze weapons/tools –Clay structures & pottery Potter’s wheel –Military tactics/inventions Horseback riders Archers Chariots –Base-60 number system –Early advances in astronomy