1. The Land Between Two Rivers
Mesopotamia
The Greeks later called this region Mesopotamia, which means “between the rivers.”
The Land Between Two Rivers

2. Mesopotamia

3. Development Of Cities: Farm Settlements eventually developed into
civilizations.

4. Timeline Mesopotamia was ruled by four different empires
Sumerian 3,500 BCE – 2,300 BCE
Akkadian 2,300 BCE – 1,900 BCE
Babylonian ,900 BCE – 1,300 BCE
Assyrian 1,300 BCE – 612 BCE
The Sumerians moved to the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers about 3500BC, but we do not know where they came from. They were probably nomads who discovered the fertile land between the rivers. Many different civilizations developed in this small region.

5. Geography l Mesopotamia in Greek means between the rivers.
Ancient Mesopotamia was located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
The rivers were the most important physical feature.
Most of Mesopotamia was located in present day Iraq.
The hot dry climate was mixed with annual flooding from the rivers. l
The rivers stretch some 1,700 miles to the southeast, from their headwaters in Turkey to their common mouth on the Persian Gulf.

6. Geography
During times of drought or long periods of time without rain. They developed irrigation canals to bring water to their fields.
In the spring when the snow melted and flooding occurred, levees or flood walls were built to control the flooding.

7. Geography leads to the Rise of a Civilization
Mesopotamia is part of a larger area of rich farmland called the Fertile Crescent.
Mesopotamia was divided into two regions in ancient times: northern and southern Mesopotamia.
Annual floods on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers brought silt that made the land ideal for farming.
Plentiful food led to population growth and the formation of villages.
Villages later developed into the world’s first civilization.

8. Agriculture “The Fertile Crescent”
Farmers turned the land into a rich food growing area by using irrigation and the plow.
They grew wheat, barley, dates, vegetables, and fruit.
Farmers also raised goats, pigs, sheep, and cattle.
Irrigation created a surplus of food which meant fewer people were needed to farm.
New occupations developed, as did the growth of cities.
Surpluses also led to a flourishing system of trade.

9. Fertile Crescent

10. Economy
The Mesopotamian plain was lacking in resources such as metals, timber, stone, and grapevines, so the Sumerians had to trade to get them.
At first, the Sumerians traded surplus barley for these goods.
Later, the Sumerians began to manufacture trading goods that they could transport more easily, such as cloth and bronze ornaments.
The Mesopotamians made written contracts, loans and created a credit system.
They used a barter system (goods or services are exchanged for other goods or services).

11. First to invent the wheel First to use sails on boats
Mesopotamia “Land of Firsts” Mesopotamia is known as, “The Cradle of Civilization,” because it was first in many things:
First to invent the wheel
First to use sails on boats
One of the first to make up a story (Gilgamesh)
First to use cuneiform (writing)
First to use the calendar
First to use the seeder plow
First to give a number place value and recognize the concept of zero

12. Language
Mesopotamians were the first to use writing (around 3,000 BC).
The system of writing was called cuneiform.
Cuneiform was wedge shaped symbols pressed into clay tablets.
The Mesopotamians wrote many myths.
The most famous was the epic poem called Gilgamesh.

13. Language Writing allowed people to keep records of their transactions.
People could send messages with couriers to far away lands without traveling.
Writing allowed people to pass on their accumulated knowledge to future generations.

14. Cuneiform Writing

15. Scribes- official writers/Tablet School or Edubbas where boys went to become scribes

16. Cuneiform Tablets

17. Cylinder Seals

18. Religion
The people of Mesopotamia believed in many gods, they were polytheistic. (Enki and Innana).
Each town was protected by its own, unique deity or god who had enormous power.
The temple, the center of worship, was also the center of every city.
Around the year 2000 B.C.E., temple towers called ziggurats were built to link heaven and earth. At the top was a shrine to the chief god or goddesses of the city.
The Sumerians were polytheistic, which means they believed in many gods. They worshiped their gods at huge temples they called ziggurats. Each ziggurat was dedicated to a specific god, whom the Sumerians believed ruled over their city. When one city was conquered, the invaders would force the conquered people to accept their gods.

19. Ziggurat

20. Government
The Mesopotamians had written laws that everyone in the empire had to follow.
There were 282 laws created by King Hammurabi and they dealt with almost every part of daily life.
Specific crimes brought specific penalties.
Social class was taken into account.

21. Government
Known as Hammurabi's Code, the laws were written in stone and placed in a public location.
The Mesopotamians believed the gods called the king to establish justice and order; whoever disobeyed the king disobeyed the gods.

22. Hammurabi’s Code
Criminal laws dealt with offenses against others. Hammurabi’s Code limited personal vengeance and encouraged social order.
Civil law dealt with private rights and matters such as business contracts, marriage, taxes, and divorce.
Hammurabi’s Code was designed to protect the powerless.
Law #196: “If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out.” Does this sound familiar?

23. Social Organization & Daily Life
Social Hierarchy: the division of society by rank or class.
Kings were at the top of the order because they claimed to be chosen to rule by the gods.
Social Order
-Kings
-Priests
-Skilled craftspeople, merchants, and traders
-Large working class of farmers and laborers
-Slaves

24. Social Organization & Daily Life
Sports, games, and entertainment were part of their everyday life.
Boxing and wrestling were popular sports.
Board games were also popular.
The kings were famous hunters of lions, elephants, ostriches, and wild bulls.
Harps and lyres were played

25. Mesopotamian Banquet

26. Art Sculptors produced many statutes of the gods for their temples.
Jewelry was a popular item made from imported gold, silver, and gems.
Engraved cylinder seals are one of Sumer’s most famous types of art.
Architecture was sophisticated, but since most building was done in mud-brick, examples have not survived as well as stone counterparts in Egypt and Greece. Immense ziggurats (stepped temple platforms) and large palaces were built, and even private houses had drainage systems.

27. Art