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Mesopotamia. “The land between the rivers” “The earliest civilization in history” “Creation out of Chaos !”. Geographical influence on Mesopotamia. Known as the “land between the rivers” Location – Middle East, “Fertile Crescent”
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Mesopotamia “The land between the rivers” “The earliest civilization in history” “Creation out of Chaos!”
Geographical influence on Mesopotamia • Known as the “land between the rivers” • Location – Middle East, “Fertile Crescent” • Rolling hills, plains, open land, rivers, very few natural obstacles • Tigris and Euphrates Rivers • “UNPREDICTABLE” environment led to a “CHAOTIC” society
Cooperation – (choose any 5) City-states Trade Controlling the environment Religion Laws and government Number systems Written/spoken language Time/record keeping Knowledge… Conflict – (choose any 3) Independent thinking Rivalries and jealousy Warfare Territory Controlling the environment Mesopotamia was about…
Cooperation was vital to surviving in the Fertile Crescent, but conflict has always prevented a permanent lasting civilization.
Cultural Characteristics… • Regions that were key to Mesopotamian development – Sumer, Akkad, Ur, Kish, Babylon (amongst others) • Trade throughout the region was vital; allowed for necessities and growth
Basic Facts During the 4th Millennium BCE the region and its areas grew in population and continually developed; concept of CHAOS is significant to understanding long-term ramifications of Mesopotamia Two rivers = support system of Tigris & Euphrates Little rainfall, barley, wheat and peas were main crops Flat land; few natural barriers 6000 BCE - small scale irrigation began Sumer (Southern half of Mesopotamia) grew rapidly 5000 BCE - Sumerians in area (elaborate irrigation systems) 4000 BCE - 1st major cites (Sumerians); Neolithic villages vs. Cities Cities - military and political centers; economic marketplaces; cultural centers 3000 BCE - 100,000 people in Sumer many Semitic people followed (Akkadian, Aramaic, Hebrew and Phoenician) From which regions of Middle East did these peoples originate? – Arabian/Syrian deserts; intermarried with Sumerians; assimilation
Pottery 2. Woodworking 3. leather production 4. brick making 5. Masonry • 6. Textile 7. Manufacturing 8. Metallurgy
Charismatic leaders led to a hierarchy of inherited leadership • Rivalries were primarily over resources and hatred • Social hierarchy – Ruling family/government leaders – priests/artisans/merchants – peasant farmers – slaves/prisoners/debtors
Cuneiform – Earliest written language Found on clay tablets Known as “wedge-shaped” Carvings in wet clay and then dried Used a stylus to write and keep records and important information
Written language allowed for rulers to codify their leadership Civil law – Private laws dealing with personal issues Criminal Law – Public laws dealing with public safety issues
Religion – • Polytheistic, control of everything in life and nature, gods like ordinary people (flaws), gods favored truth and justice (control) but experienced suffering and violence (river flooding) • Built ziggurats (step pyramids) • Superstitions, sacrificial offerings of animals • Believed in a “life after death”
Over-riding mentalities in Mesopotamia – • Live life to the fullest • Death is inevitable • Grim existence in the afterlife(cave of dust and bone, eat mud, darkness, ghosts/spirits)
Other Middle Eastern Peoples… Akkadians Babylonians Hittites Phoenicians Hebrews Assyrians Lydians Persians
Akkadians • 2400 b.c. • Southern Mesopotamia • City-state • Sargon created first Mesopotamian empire • Conquered environment and neighbors
Babylonians • 1790 b.c. • Central Mesopotamia • City-state • Hammurabi created first written laws…called the “Code of Hammurabi” – 282 laws • “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth”
Hittites • 1600 b.c. • Northwest of Mesopotamia • Warlike cultural group • Brought “iron” technology to Middle East • Premeditation and fines for breaking laws
Phoenicians • 1200 b.c. • Western Middle East on Mediterranean Sea • Sea-faring people who became “greatest traders of the ancient world” • Colony creation throughout Mediterranean • Alphabet