Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia World History I

Development of Civilization Mesopotamia was located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. It is located in the Fertile Crescent, an area of rich farmland between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea. It was full of rich soil and crops. Soil was enriched by silt. Silt – material deposited by the two rivers when they flooded. Since there was little rain, people depended on controlling the water supply. Irrigation and drainage ditches allowed the Mesopotamians to grow crops regularly.

City-States of Ancient Mesopotamia The Sumerians are the creators of the first Mesopotamian civilization. They established independent cities in southern Mesopotamia. As the cities expanded, they came to have political and economic control over the surrounding countryside (city-states) Sumerian cities were surrounded by walls. Cities were built mostly from mud bricks. The most important building was the temple dedicated to the chief god or goddess of the city. This temple was often built on top of a massive stepped tower called a ziggurat. The temples were the physical, political, and economic centers of the city.

City-States of Ancient Mesopotamia Sumerians believed gods and goddesses ruled the cities, creating a theocracy. Theocracy – government by divine authority. Leadership was taken over by kings, who the people believe were given the power to rule by God. The economy was based mostly on farming, but trade and industry were developing. The invention of the wheel (3000 BC) made moving goods easier. Sumerian society was made up of three social groups: nobles, commoners, and slaves.

Empires of Mesopotamia The Akkadians were located to the north of the Sumerians. Around 2340 BC, Sargon led the Akkadians in taking over Sumerian city-states, creating the world’s first empire. Empire – Large political unit, usually under a single leader, that controls many people or territories. “Easy to create, difficult to maintain” Attacks from neighboring people led the Akkadian Empire to fall. In 1792 BC, a new Mesopotamian kingdom was established by the city-state Babylon and its leader Hammurabi.

The Code of Hammurabi Code of Hammurabi – early law code used in ancient Babylon. It was based on a system of strict justice and severe penalties. Penalties varied based on the social class of the victim. The principle of retaliation was significant in the code. “An eye for an eye” Public officials and craftspeople were held accountable for their work. The Code focused mainly on the family. Marriages were arranged by parents. Patriarchal, or male dominated, society in which women had few rights.

Mesopotamia, cont. Mesopotamians were polytheistic, they believed in many gods. The Sumerians are credited with creating cuneiform, the world’s oldest writing system. Created originally for record keeping, cuneiform eventually became a way to educate and communicate. Many boys became scribes. Sumerians made several tools to make life easier. Wagon wheel was used to transport. The potter’s wheel to shape containers. The sundial allowed Sumerians to keep track of time. The arch was used in construction. They also developed a number system to 60 and used geometry to measure fields and build buildings.