Rise of Civilization in Mesopotamia: Mesopotamia and Sumer

1. “It’s not the years in your life that count, but the life in your years.” - Abraham Lincoln A flamingo can swallow only if its head is facing downwards.

4. Mesopotamia and Sumer Main Idea The first known civilization arose in Mesopotamia, and its culture and innovations influenced later civilizations in the region for thousands of years.

5. Fertile area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers became site of world’s first civilization Fertile Crescentwell suited for agriculture Farming in Mesopotamia posed challenges: If water levels too high, crops washed away If water levels too low, crops died People developed methods to control water: Basins, canals, and dikes Organization: assigning jobs, allocating resources Geography Promotes Civilization

7. Question: What factors influenced the rise of civilization in Mesopotamia? Answer(s): fertile land; plentiful food; need to organize people for jobs

8. Religion and Government The Cities of Sumer • Shaped life in city-states • Polytheism: worship of many gods • Priests had high status and were the first rulers • War chiefs began to rule as kings • Dynasty: series of rulers from one family • Large cities developed by 4000 BC • Structures made of mud bricks • Ziggurat: pyramid-shaped temple • Massive wall encircled each city • Each city and its land formed a city-state, with its own government Sumer

10. Sumerian Culture • Writing • Cuneiform: Sumerian writing • Business accounts and records • Law, grammar, literature • Math and Sciences • System based on number 60 • Geometry • May have been the first to use the wheel • Invented the plow • Basic surgery • The Arts • Arches, ramps, columns • Sculpture • Cylinder seals • Trade and Society • Traded for wood and metals • Social hierarchy • Distinct male/female roles

14. Anu Enki

15. Enlil Inanna

16. Utu Gilgamesh

17. The Epic of Gilgamesh

19. Question: Why was the Sumerians’ development of cuneiform a major turning point in history? Answer(s): After the development of cuneiform, humankind moved from prehistory into the historical age.

20. Sargon’s Empire The Babylonian Empire • Sargon I: • Around 2330 BC, created first permanent army • Conquered Sumer and northern Mesopotamia • Established world’s first empire (Akkadian), which lasted about 100 years • Sumerian culture spread far beyond Tigris and Euphrates valleys • Hammurabi became king in 1792 BC • United all of Mesopotamia • Able ruler and administrator • Hammurabi’s Code: • 282 laws covering everything from trade to murder • Written for all to see • Babylon became Mesopotamia’s greatest city Empires in Mesopotamia • Each conquering invader adapted aspects of Sumerian culture. • Thus Sumerian civilization continued to influence life in Mesopotamia.

25. Fertile Crescent Empires Main Idea Indo-European invaders introduced new technologies to the Fertile Crescent while adapting earlier technologies developed by the civilizations they encountered there.

26. The Hittites • Decline of Babylonian Empire • Nomadic tribes moved into the region, drawn by wealth • Included Indo-Europeans • Steppes: arid grasslands north of the Black Sea • Hittite Military Might • Hittites: warlike Indo-European tribe • Built strong empire in Asia Minor (now Turkey) • Horse-drawn war chariot and new techniques • Hittite Culture • Blended their culture with cultures around them • First to make objects out of iron • Rule reached peak in 1300s BC

33. Question: How were the Hittites able to build an empire in Asia Minor? Answer(s): With their military advantages, they were able to conquer people in surrounding areas.

34. The Assyrians War Machine Assyrian Rule • (Neo) From Northern Mesopotamia • Barley, cattle • Adopted Sumerian culture • New empire in 900 BC • Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, Egypt • Nineveh - capital • Fierce warrior society • War chariots, foot soldiers, cavalry • Masters of siege warfare; terror • Bible called it “the Land Bathed in Blood” • Efficient system • Local leaders • System of roads • Brutal with opposition • Cultural achievements, library – Nineveh – 22,000 cuneiform tablets The Assyrians and the Chaldeans After the Hittite empire fell, other peoples fought for dominance in western Asia. In time, the Assyrians became the supreme power in the region; later the Chaldeans formed their own empire.

38. Notable Assyrian Kings • Assurbanipal – 668-627 BC • Had the library of Nineveh built (Epic of G) • Last of the Neo-Assyrian kings • Gave way to the Neo-Babylonians • Sargon II – 721-705 BC • Sennacharib – 704-681 BC • Both involved in the conquest of Israel • The Ten Lost Tribes

39. Sargon II Sennacharib

40. Assurbanipal

41. As Assyria began to decline, the Chaldeans swooped in. Babylon, capital of their new empire Nebuchadnezzar II Warrior and builder Hanging Gardens of Babylon Chaldean culture Admired ancient Sumerian culture Developed calendar; advances in astronomy The Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonians)

43. Biblical references: • Daniel Ch. 3 – story of the three Hebrew children who were thrown into the fiery furnace for not worshipping the Babylonian idol at Dura. • Daniel Ch. 4 • Had a bout of insanity for 7 years – boanthropy or porphyria?

46. Trading Society Alphabet • Western end of Fertile Crescent • Farming difficult • Trade and sea for livelihood • Expert sailors • Founded colonies on routes • Trade brought great wealth • Invented glassblowing • Exports: ivory, silver, slaves • Greatest achievement • Invented by traders to record activities • Adopted by many, including the Greeks • Ancestor of the English language alphabet The Phoenicians In an area of western Asia called Phoenicia, city-states emerged as trading centers, and Phoenicians built a wealthy trading society.