1. Ancient Mesopotamia
School Year

2. Aspects of a Civilization

3. 1. Stable Food Supply Farming is required
More food supports larger populations
Invention: The Plow
Modern Examples:
Farms
Stores

4. 2. Social Structure Different jobs and social levels
Your status affects your quality of life
Slavery appears in the lowest classes
Modern Examples:
Upper Class
Family Roles

5. 3. Government Makes life orderly Protects and guides the people
Creates and enforces laws
Modern Examples:
Democracy
King/Queen

6. 4. Religion/Philosophy A set of beliefs A common way of life Values
Modern Examples:
Buddhism
Human Rights

7. 5. Developed Culture
Art forms such as music, art, architecture, & literature
Proof of advanced thinking strategies
Modern Examples:
Picasso
Beatles

8. 6. Technology Practical tools and inventions
Creations to make life easier
Wheel created in B.C.E.
Modern Examples:
Internet
Car

9. 7. Writing Created from a more basic form: Pictographs
Detailed written language
Used to record information about society
Modern Examples:
Phonetic Alphabet
Character Writing

10. Code of Hammurabi Hammurabi defeated many cities and wanted order
Ended corruption
One set of laws for everyone
The Empire was well maintained

12. Mesopotamia Modern day Iraq Meso (Greek) = middle
Potamos (Greek) = river
“The land between the rivers”

13. Fertile Crescent Green Strip of Land
From Persian Gulf to Mediterranean Sea
Rich soil good for farming
First cities appear here

14. Cuneiform Writing Wedge shaped writing
Taught in school, the focus was on neatness
Used to record information about Kings and Laws
Tells us information about the past

15. Akkadian Empire Years: 2300 B.C.E. – 2100 B.C.E. Main Ruler: Sargon
First ever empire (multiple people groups ruled by one person)
Strong army
Broke down city walls
Replaced leaders with loyal followers
Required payment (tribute)

16. Babylonian Empire Years: 1800 B.C.E. – 1500 B.C.E.
Main Ruler: Hammurabi
The Code of Hammurabi - one set of laws for everyone
United under the god Marduk
The Empire was well maintained

17. Assyrian Empire Years: 911 B.C.E. – 612 B.C.E.
Main Leader: Ashurbanipal
The King obeyed the gods
Treated conquered people harshly
Aqueducts brought water to the city
Large Empire from Egypt to the Persian Gulf
The army was stretched out too thinly and was defeated

18. Neo-Babylonian Empire
Years: 605 B.C.E. – 562 B.C.E.
Main Leader: Nebuchadnezzar II
Capital: Babylon
Built 2 walls (an outer and inner wall)
Created the sundial
Built the hanging gardens of Babylon