1. Land between two rivers. S. Saunders
Mesopotamia
Land between two rivers.
S. Saunders

2. Civilization

3. Outcome 2.1
Identify the geographic factors which encouraged settlement in the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates river and the Nile

4. Mesopotamia ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
How are the chief characteristics of civilization evident in ancient Mesopotamia?
Mesopotamia Sumerians, first civilization on earth.
9.34 minutes
As you watch the clip, jot down some characteristics of the Mesopotamian civilization.

5. River Valley civilizations
The earliest civilizations began in river valleys.
Rivers generally flood at least once/year. The water deposits minerals and soil when it overflows.
This means the land around it is fertile (good for growing).

6. Geography of Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia means “land between the rivers” (Greek: meso = between, potamos = rivers), and is the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
These two rivers flood unpredictably each year.
The region is referred to as the Fertile Crescent.
It is also called the Cradle of Civilization.

7. The Tigris (SOUTHERN TURKEY AND SOUTHEAST IRAQ)

8. Euphrates River (EAST CENTRAL TURKEY, SOUTHEAST SYRIA AND IRAQ)

9. Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia was home to a number of civilizations over time. They are named for the city states that held dominance during that period of time.
The local geography was very open, which made it easy for outsiders to attack and meant several civilizations rose and fell.
The first civilization was the Sumer.

10. 4 Dominate Groups of People
The Sumerians, the Babylonians, the Assyrians and Chaldeans all dominated the Mesopotamian area from 3500 BCE to 530 BCE.
Each group contributed to the expansion of civilized life in the Mesopotamian area.

11. Government of Mesopotamia
Outcome 2.2: Identify those factors which characterized the governments of Mesopotamia and Egypt.
As Mesopotamia expanded, city-states began to form.
Each city-state was ruled by its own king that lived in a large palace.
Sumerians viewed kingship as divine – their power was derived from God.
Led armies, administered trade, judged disputes, lead religious ceremonies, held courts to make legal judgements.

12. The Role of Law in Mesopotamia
2.3: Demonstrate an understanding of the role of law in society and the contribution of the early civilizations to this development.
A significant contribution in the advancement of civilization.
The state was the authority responsible for enforcing the law and the law also confirmed that social justice should be guaranteed to all.
The king of Babylon, Hammurabi, created a code that had 282 laws.
The basic principle of the code was based on justice and retaliation: “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” Example: if a house collapsed killing the owner, then the builder of the house would be put to death.

14. Hammurabi Activity Create a set of laws for:
What should be done to the carpenter who builds a house that falls and kills the owner?
What should happen to a boy who slaps his father?
What should be done about a wife who ignores her duties and belittles her husband?
What should happen if a nobleman dies during surgery?
What should be done to the man who can not pay his debts?
What should the punishment be for robbery?

15. Questions to Consider Why does a society need laws?
What are the advantages of a written code of laws?
On what do we base our laws?

16. Hammurabi’s Code SHEG Documents
Remember: you must provide a quote from the reading to back up your answer.
What does the introduction tell us about Hammurabi’s position in society? What does it tell us about his relationship to the gods?
Are the laws applied equally to all people? What do the various punishments and fines tell us about Mesopotamian social hierarchy?
Are the laws applied equally to men and women? What might they tell us about gender status in Mesopotamia?
What do the laws tell us about job division?
Do you think the laws are fair? Why or why not?

17. 2.4 The Role of Religion in Mesopotamia
Polytheistic: believing in more than one god.
Physical environment impacted Mesopotamians: ferocious floods, oppressive humidity, scorching winds could result in famines = controlled by supernatural forces.
Gods = part of everyday life and had the power to directly influence the world.
Ziggurats: temples built to honour Gods in the heavens.
Anthropomorphic: attributing human traits to the gods. Example: flood= an angry god

18. Ziggurat

19. Gods Lived in the heavens, but could come down to earth
. Ziggurats were built in the gods’ honour, and food was placed there daily for the gods to eat when in the temple.
Gods controlled the rains, the floods, the seasons, the harvest, etc… And could influence major human events like peace and war, or individual events like business ventures or good luck.

20. 2.5 Social Structure in Mesopotamia

21. At the top of society were priests and kings
Social hierarchy
At the top of society were priests and kings
In the middle were skilled workers, like merchants
At the bottom, were common farmers and slaves

22. Job Specialization – a characteristic of ‘civilization’
Mesopotamian civilization had trained craftspeople and artisans.
Tanners, potters, weavers, carpenters, builders, smiths, traders, river boatmen...

23. 2.6 Technological Innovation in Mesopotamia
Remember: inventions by Ancient Mesopotamians became more advanced in later civilization, but these inventions enabled humans to settle in groups.
Wheel (Sumer): first use was a porter’s wheel.
Chariot (Sumer): earliest concept of personal transportation – key technology for warfare.
Sailboat: river transportation – helped with fishing, trade/commerce

24. 2.6 Technological Innovation in Mesopotamia
Plow(Sumer): domesticated animals- harness ox to plow
Time (Sumer): split units into 60 aspects, resulting in 60 minutes, etc.
Astronomy & Astrology (Babylonians): daily activity had spiritual meaning – planets were connected to high social/political positions – Stars marked activities, seasons for harvest or planting, etc.
Maps: simple sketches on clay

25. 2.6 Technological Innovation in Mesopotamia
Mathematics (Sumer): trade led to counting and the need for an accurate system
Cuneiform (Sumer): the first form of writing – to maintain business records (trade)
Agriculture and irrigation: stone hoes to plow, then wooden plow. Regulating the flow of water to crops during growing season. (Assyrians
Road Systems (Assyrians)

26. 2.7 The Role of Writing in Mesopotamia
Cuneiform ‘wedge shaped’
Form of writing
Uses symbols
Created by using a stylus (made from a reed)
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2 minutes

27. Write your name and birthday in cuneiform!!!

28. Literature Gilgamesh - A narrative epic about a universal flood.
Gilgamesh ruled as King of Uruk around BCE.

29. New Civilizations
How was the ancient civilization of Egypt similar and/or different from that of Mesopotamia???