1. Western Civilization to 1500 Lecture 2: Mesopotamia

2. Mesopotamian Geography “Fertile Crescent” “Land between the rivers” Tigris Euphrates Modern Iraq Unpredictable floods No natural boundaries

3. Rise of Civilization Agricultural Technology Agricultural Technology Wheel Wheel Plow Plow Irrigation Irrigation Writing: cuneiform (pictographic) Writing: cuneiform (pictographic)

4. Social Organization City-states (Sumer) City-states (Sumer) Kings as divine representatives Kings as divine representatives Competition and warfare Competition and warfare Land Land Water rights Water rights Castes Castes Nobles (royal and priestly) Nobles (royal and priestly) Commoners (farmers, merchants, artisans) Commoners (farmers, merchants, artisans) Slaves (of kings and priests) Slaves (of kings and priests)

5. Overview of Ur with Ziggurat

6. Sumerian Religion Polytheistic and animistic Polytheistic and animistic Gods sponsored city-states Gods sponsored city-states Capricious gods Capricious gods Sacrificial system Sacrificial system Propitiation of the gods Propitiation of the gods Function of temples, ziggurats Function of temples, ziggurats Role of priests Role of priests

7. Current Consensus Chronology Ca. 3000: rise of Sumer Ca. 3000: rise of Sumer 24 th Century: Akkadian conquest 24 th Century: Akkadian conquest City-states vs. Empire, Invasions City-states vs. Empire, Invasions Ca. 1790- Hammurabi’s reign begins Ca. 1790- Hammurabi’s reign begins

8. Law: The Code of Hammurabi “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth” “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth” Punishment varied according to caste Punishment varied according to caste Social and Economic regulations Social and Economic regulations Price controls Price controls Inheritance rules Inheritance rules Officials’ duties Officials’ duties

9. The Epic of Gilgamesh Discovery in mid-19 th century Characters Gilgamesh Enkidu Ishtar Utnapishtim Themes Civilization Friendship Meaning of Life

10. Science Mathematics Mathematics Base-60 number system Base-60 number system Multiplication, division, interest tables Multiplication, division, interest tables Practical geometry (fields, architecture) Practical geometry (fields, architecture) Astronomy Astronomy Charted constellations Charted constellations Lunar calendar of twelve months Lunar calendar of twelve months