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City-States in Mesopotamia

City-States in Mesopotamia. Main Idea : The earliest civilization in Asia arose in Mesopotamia and organized into city-states. Why It Matters Now : The development of this civilization reflects a pattern that has occurred repeatedly throughout history. Geography of the Fertile Crescent.

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City-States in Mesopotamia

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  1. City-States in Mesopotamia Main Idea: The earliest civilization in Asia arose in Mesopotamia and organized into city-states. Why It Matters Now: The development of this civilization reflects a pattern that has occurred repeatedly throughout history.

  2. Geography of the Fertile Crescent • Tigris and Euphrates Rivers flow southeastward to the Persian Gulf • Fertile plain between them is known as Mesopotamia (Greek for “land between the rivers”) • Rivers would flood leaving behind silt in which farmers could plant wheat and barley

  3. Environmental Challenges • Flooding Unpredictable • No Natural Protection • Limited Natural Resources Solutions • Irrigation • City walls of mud brick • Trade

  4. City-States Sumer had a number of cities. Although these cities shared the same culture, they developed their own governments, each with its own rulers. A city-state functioned much as an independent country does today.

  5. Sumer’s earliest governments were controlled by the temple priests. The place of worship or ziggurat was like a city hall. Priests took a portion of the farmers’ crops as taxes. In time of war, military leaders took control. Over time, they became full-time rulers. Then their sons would come into power, starting dynasties.

  6. Sumerian Culture • Polytheism: many different gods controlled the various forces in nature • Approximately 3,000 gods • Gods had human traits but were immortal and all powerful • Afterlife

  7. Priests and Kings Wealthy Merchants, Artisans Regular Farmers and Workers Slaves Women were not treated horribly but did not have same rights as men.

  8. Sumerian Brain Power • Wheel • Sail • Plow • Bronze • Cuneiform • Maps • Base 60 • Epic of Gilgamesh

  9. First Empire Builders City-states of Sumer were constantly at war with each other which made them weak. Invaders attacked and adapted Sumerian culture to fit their needs.

  10. Sargon of Akkad • Semitic • Took control of large area of Mesopotamia, 2300 B.C.E. • Empire lasted 200 years • Epic tales and poems about him

  11. Babylon • In 2000 B.C.E., Amorites invaded • Capital was at Babylon on Euphrates • King Hammurabi ruled at peak, 1792-1750 B.C.E. • First Written Law Code, 282 laws • Retaliation, Inequality, Government Responsibility • Civil and Criminal Law

  12. Hittites • Arrived about 1400 B.C.E. from Asia Minor • Used iron for their weapons • Horse-drawn chariot

  13. Phoenicians • Lived near present day Lebanon • Sailors and Traders • Glass makers • Purple dye • Alphabet

  14. Assyrians • Cruel, Military People • Conquered Mesopotamia from 850-650 B.C.E. • Enemies struck back and destroyed Nineveh • Babylon revived under King Nebuchadnezzar (Ishtar Gate, Hanging Gardens)

  15. Persians • Located in present-day Iran • From 550-539 B.C.E., King Cyrus conquered Fertile Crescent and Anatolia, ruled kindly with tolerance • Darius, good administrator of huge empire • Royal Road, Coins • Zoroastrianism=Good v. Evil, Day of Judgment

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