Mesopotamian History Chapter 2 Art History Roxanna Ford 2014
Settled Agriculture in an Unstable Landscape
Is the location of Mesopotamia significant to history? YES! Mesopotamia is located on the alluvial plain area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This area is difficult for agriculture Little rainfall Rivers flood at various times not conducive for agriculture Rivers change course unpredictably What is GOOD in Mesopotamia? Warm climate and good soil Farmers were using cattle-pulled plows in the cultivation of barley Irrigation canals were developed and used just after 3000 BCE Watering fields became much easier!
The Ancient Near East
The earliest peoples of Mesopotamia were the Sumerians! Created early Mesopotamian cultures Present as early as 5000 BCE Who replaced the Sumerians? Semitic-speaking peoples dominated the area by 2000 BCE Many elements of Sumerian culture were preserved by this group.
Cities, Kings, & Trade
What was it like to live in early Mesopotamia? Societies of villages and cities linked together mutual interdependence! Cities depended on villages Food surpluses from the villages would feed the urban elite and craftsman. What do cities provide for villages? Protection Markets Specialized goods What area defines an ancient citystates? The city and its agricultural lands
Does warfare occur among city-states? YES! Usually over resources! Was peaceful interaction possible? ABSOLUTELY! We have evidence of trade and sharing of resources among the city-states. How did city-states use human resources? To open new agricultural lands To build and maintain irrigation systems To construct palaces and temples! When do we see the advent of secular leaders? Approximately the 3 rd millennium BCE Lugal big men leaders of armies, became leaders Lugal ruled from palaces Lugal also took religious controls Is there a written example of secular power? Epic of Gilgamesh
Some city-states became exceedingly powerful. Powerful city-states often absorbed others creating territorial states. Akkadians founded by Sargon c. 2350 BCE Third Dynasty of Ur (2112-2004 BCE) Old Babylonian State Founded by Hammurabi For what is Hammurabi best known? His law codes! Provides us with information about Old Babylonian Society Carved on a diorite stele and delineates punishments based on social status. Stele of Hammurabi. Louvre Museum, 2014
Mesopotamian Society
Mesopotamian Society was a stratified society. Kings and priests controlled much of the wealth. 3 Classes are found in these city-states Free landowning class Dependent farmers and artisans Slaves Slavery was NOT a fundamental part of the economy most slaves were prisoners of war.
Is there a societal change because of the agricultural revolution? Possibly! The status of women may have declined because men would plow and irrigate the fields. Women also had no political role in these civilizations. Women were allowed to own property, control their dowry, and participate in trade. How did the rise of the merchant class impact social structure? In the 2 nd millennium, we have found evidence of a greater emphasis on male privilege and a decline in the status of women.
Gods, Priests, & Temples
Mesopotamian beliefs were a variation of Sumerian and other Semitic beliefs. What kinds of deities did this group worship? Deities were anthropomorphic having human form and/or human attributes. Humans were regarded as servants of the gods. Assyrian Relief Sculpture British Museum, 2014
What about temple structure? Sargon II Palace Reconstruction (Dur Sharrukin Present Khorsabad) Temples were walled compounds Contained both religious and functional buildings Most visible portion of the compound was the ziggurat. Oriented to the cardinal points of the compass. Ancient Ziggurat - Iraq
What do we know about Mesopotamian religious practices? Not much writings indicate prayer offerings and service to the gods. What does evidence indicate? A popular belief in magic Use of magic to influence the gods Votive figures have been found at the temple of Votive figures were found at the Square Temple in Eshnunna indicate individual worship. Open-eyed stare represented eternal wakefulness and prayer to the deity.
Technology & Science
Technology = any specialized knowledge that is used to transform the natural environment and human society. What kinds of advances are found in Mesopotamian cultures? Cuneiform Writing wedge shaped evolved from pictures and represents sounds of words or parts of words. Primarily used for record keeping Used by professional scribes only Considered to be a complex system Developed by the Sumerians used by the Akkadians and other groups. Math of Sumerians based on 60 Geometry = measure fields and erect buildings Chart the heavens Calendar of 12 lunar months (extra month time to time)