Chapter 2 Section 1 Mesopotamia Between Rivers Iraq today Mesopotamia 1
Mesopotamia w Tigris & Euphrates River Valley w Fertile Crescent w 25 miles to 250 miles apart w Flood rich soil for agriculture w Not predictable, 90 day window w Not isolated w Revolving door- conquering then being conquered. w No natural barriers for protection. w Natural resources are limited. (building material scarce) Mesopotamia w Problems solved through organization w Irrigation to control river and flooding w City walls are built. (no natural protection) w Traded crops with people for stone, wood and metal (natural resources) 2
Sumerian City States w 5 key characteristics of a civilization w (Ch 1) Civilization =! 1. Advanced cities! 2. Specialized workers! 3. Complex institutions! 4. Record keeping! 5. Advanced technology! Ur, Uruk, Kish, Lagash, Umma,! (map pg 30)! Sumerian Culture Belief systems reflect civilization s triumph over its dry and harsh environment Polytheism = belief in more then one god Enlil = god of storms and air. Fear angering the gods might strike fire, floods or enemy upon their city. Built ziggurats for them and offered rich sacrifices of animals, food and wine. Work hard to earn god s protection 3
Sumer - 3,000 BC w Architecture & Science w Arch - wheel, (60 seconds, 60 minutes, 360 degrees) w Temples = Ziggurats w Lunar calendar = added a month every few years Sumer - 3,000 BC w Social Classes w Kings, landholders, some priest (highest level) w Wealthy merchants w Workers (hands in fields and workshops) Majority w Slaves (buy freedom) w Women had more rights then later civilization (History is not kind to women) 4
Sumer - 3,000 BC w Arithmetic and geometry w City walls, buildings plan irrigation systems and survey flooded fields Sumerians required skills in math. w DEVELOPED A NUMBER SYSTEM IN BASE 60 w 60 seconds, 60 minutes, 360 degrees in a circle w Architectural innovations w Arch - columns, ramps and the pyramid shaped the designs of the ziggurat (wheel), w Temples = Ziggurats w Cuneiform = system of writing (Ch 1) w Lunar calendar = added a month every few years w Farmed dates, grains, w Education very important (mainly men) Chapter 2 Section 1 Empires of the Fertile Crescent 5
Akkadians 2350 Conqueror named Sargon Conquered Sumerians Came from Akkad (city to north) = Akkadians Last about 200 years Centered at Babylon Created first empire Spread culture even more Babylonians 2000 BC Nomadic invaders known as amorites invade mesopotamia SE part of Valley Hammurabi - strong ruler- political leader and lawmaker 6
Babylonians 1792-1750 BC Hammurabi - strong ruler- political leader and lawmaker Lasting legacy is the code of laws he put together Code of Hammurabi 282 specific laws An Eye for an Eye Single uniform code of laws Engraved in stone and copies place all over the kingdom Babylonians 1792-1750 BC Code of Hammurabi Code applied to everyone Different punishments for rich and poor Retaliation (eye for an eye) Government/complex institutions had responsibility for what occurs in society! Eventually other civilizations adopt these ideas (assyrians, phoenicians and Isrealites) 7
Other Conquerors Hittites 1600-1200 BC Invaded Mesopotamia and ended up in Egypt as well (Ch 2 pp.25) Other Conquerors Hittites 1600-1200 BC Invaded Mesopotamia and ended up in Egypt as well (Ch 2 pp.25) Iron Age - Smelt Iron 8
Other Conquerors Hittites 1600-1200 BC Invaded Mesopotamia and ended up in Egypt as well (Ch 2 pp.25) Iron Age - Smelt Iron Invaded not conquered Defeated but did not have complete control Other Conquerors Assyrians 1300 BC on outskirts 900-650 BC moving in and controlling Came from Syria Fierce Warriors- not nice, vicious Violent, aggressive Used chariot - Wheel Introduced Cavalry (army on horses) Got from point A to point B faster than enemies 9
Other Conquerors Assyrians 1300 BC on outskirts 900-650 BC moving in and controlling Came from Syria Fierce Warriors- not nice, vicious Violent, aggressive Used chariot - Wheel Introduced Cavalry (army on horses) Got from point A to point B faster than enemies 700 BC Captured and destroyed Babylon Nineveh - capital city, huge double wall (70 ft high, 7.5 miles) Library Tablets out of clay Epic of Gilgamish - one of the first pieces of literature Other Conquerors Chaldeans - 612 BC Also called Neo Babylonians Nebuchadnezzer Rebuild Babylon One of his wives was from the mountain area so he built her a garden, called the Hanging Gardens **One of the Seven Wonders of the World 10
Persians 539 BC First Great complete empire Present day Iran Army - 300,000 - big Built roads - trade Treated people well Persians 539 BC First Great complete empire Present day Iran Army - 300,000 - big Built roads - trade Treated people well Conquered Mesopotamia Smart - used locals on their side Created Uniform system of weights and measures Alexander the Great defeated them 11
Persians 539 BC Cyrus the Great #86 out of 100 10,000 immortals - job is to protect their leaders Persians 539 BC Cyrus the Great #86 out of 100 10,000 immortals - job is to protect their leaders Started longest reigning monarch 539 bc-1979ad Overthrown by religious group- religious revolution (American hostages) 12