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The Rise and Achievements of Mesopotamia: Civilization in the Fertile Crescent

Explore the fascinating geography and history of Mesopotamia, known as the cradle of civilization. This region, characterized by its desert climate and the fertile land of the Fertile Crescent, thrived through agriculture, particularly wheat and barley. Its independent city-states, such as Ur, developed complex societies led by temple priests and military generals. Innovations like cuneiform writing, the wheel, and Hammurabi's Code revolutionized governance and trade. Discover how religion, ziggurats, and the arts shaped their culture amidst invasions and the need for resources.

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The Rise and Achievements of Mesopotamia: Civilization in the Fertile Crescent

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  1. Mesopotamia

  2. Geography • Desert climate • Arc of land = Fertile Crescent • Unpredictable flooding • Harvest wheat and barley • Surpluses Job specialization – WHAT ELSE HAPPENS? • No natural boundaries – so…INVASION • Natural resources had to be imported • What would they want to import? • Why?

  3. Sumer • Cities • Built cities with mud and brick surrounded by walls • Each city independent (city-states) • Ur was the largest and most powerful • Rulers • Cities ruled by temple priests • Why? • Go-between with the gods • Generals led the cities during war • System of Writing • Cuneiform • Wedge-shaped writing • Scribes – professional record keepers • Why couldn’t anyone do this job?

  4. Ziggurat • “Mountain of god” • Priests conducted rituals, irrigation, and ran gov’t from ziggurat • Storage areas for grains, fabrics, and gems Ziggurat at Ur

  5. Religion • Polytheistic – gods controlled forces in nature • Animal sacrifices/wine – WHY? • No after life • “Dust is their fare and clay their food” • What does this reveal about their society?

  6. Achievements?

  7. Achievements • Wheel, sail, and the plow • What purpose does each one serve? • Developed number system based on 60 to measure time (60 seconds = 1 min) • Cuneiform • First writing system record on a clay tablet around 2300 BC

  8. The evolution of simple to complex symbols. Why would this have occurred?

  9. examples of cuneiform Pictures from the Pergamon Museum, Berlin

  10. Babylon • 2000 BCE nomadic warriors invade Mesopotamia • Capital at Babylon • Golden age during reign of Hammurabi from 1792-1750 BCE • Hammurabi’s Code – Single, uniform code of laws to unify the diverse people in his empire • Copies brought throughout the empire • “To bring about the rule of righteousness sin the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil-doers; so that the strong should not harm the weak”

  11. The Ishtar Gate in Babylon

  12. Extent of the Empire

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