Welcome to Mesopotamia!
History
• First farm settlement appears in 7000 BC
• Cities gradually develop in 4000-3000 BC
• Sumarian city-states fight for dominance from 3500 to 2500 BC
• Several hundred Sumerians are assumed in 3000 BC
• Sargon creates an empire in 2300 BC and rules for 50 years
• In 2000 BC, the largest cities contain 100,000+ residents
• Ur lay in ruins in 2000 BC
• Two centuries later, Hammurabi becomes Babylon's king and rules for 42 years
• Babylon is conquered by the Hittites in 1595 BC
• Kassites gain Babylon and rule for 400 years
• Assyrians control Babylon in 1200 BC
• Assyrians conquer the Fertile Crescent in 900 BC
• In 652 BC, war breaks out against the Assyrians
• Chaldeans win in 612 AD
• First farm settlement appears in 7000 BC
• Cities gradually develop in 4000-3000 BC
• Sumarian city-states fight for dominance from 3500 to 2500 BC
• Several hundred Sumerians are assumed in 3000 BC
• Sargon creates an empire in 2300 BC and rules for 50 years
• In 2000 BC, the largest cities contain 100,000+ residents
• Ur lay in ruins in 2000 BC
• Two centuries later, Hammurabi becomes Babylon's king and rules for 42 years
• Babylon is conquered by the Hittites in 1595 BC
• Kassites gain Babylon and rule for 400 years
• Assyrians control Babylon in 1200 BC
• Assyrians conquer the Fertile Crescent in 900 BC
• In 652 BC, war breaks out against the Assyrians
• Chaldeans win in 612 AD
Geography
• Two rivers run in the east, the Euphrates and the Tigris
• Rich soil is a result of the rivers flooding and is great for farming
• Very protected area
• Mountains to the north and the east
• The Mediterranean Sea to the west
• They grew cedar, wheat, and barley
• Ate fish, livestock, and different birds
• Two rivers run in the east, the Euphrates and the Tigris
• Rich soil is a result of the rivers flooding and is great for farming
• Very protected area
• Mountains to the north and the east
• The Mediterranean Sea to the west
• They grew cedar, wheat, and barley
• Ate fish, livestock, and different birds
Economy
• Bought and sold with gold, silver, and copper coins
• Taxes were paid by giving the government part of their crops
• Trade was immensely important
• Moved goods by boat or by caravan
• Barter was important too. Barter is where items of similar value are exchanged.
• Money was originally clay tokens and ten turned into coins.
• Bought and sold with gold, silver, and copper coins
• Taxes were paid by giving the government part of their crops
• Trade was immensely important
• Moved goods by boat or by caravan
• Barter was important too. Barter is where items of similar value are exchanged.
• Money was originally clay tokens and ten turned into coins.
Social Structure
• Kings were chosen to rule by the gods
• Priests led religious ceremonies, gave offerings, and built temples
• Scribes wrote and kept records of daily life and were allowed to rise in social status
• Craftspeople created trading goods and made offerings
• Merchants and traders traveled far away to to trade and sell gold, silver, copper, lumber, and precious stones like lapis lazuli
• Farmers, laborers, and slaves made up most of the working class
• Slaves were on the bottom of the social hiarchy
• Kings were chosen to rule by the gods
• Priests led religious ceremonies, gave offerings, and built temples
• Scribes wrote and kept records of daily life and were allowed to rise in social status
• Craftspeople created trading goods and made offerings
• Merchants and traders traveled far away to to trade and sell gold, silver, copper, lumber, and precious stones like lapis lazuli
• Farmers, laborers, and slaves made up most of the working class
• Slaves were on the bottom of the social hiarchy
Government
• Hammurabi's code was the basis of the government
• Hammurabi's Code was comprised 282 daily life laws relating to trade, marriage, injury, theft and even murder
• The penalty for a crime was dictated by the severity of the crime
• Government and religion were closely intertwined
• Hammurabi's code was the basis of the government
• Hammurabi's Code was comprised 282 daily life laws relating to trade, marriage, injury, theft and even murder
• The penalty for a crime was dictated by the severity of the crime
• Government and religion were closely intertwined
Beliefs/Religion
• Religion was polytheistic in basis
• Each city-state was protected by a different god
• Ziggurats were pyramidal temples used to bring offerings closer to the gods
• The gods were believed to have enormous powers such as providing good soil or a drought
• Life was dependent upon pleasing the gods
• Religion was polytheistic in basis
• Each city-state was protected by a different god
• Ziggurats were pyramidal temples used to bring offerings closer to the gods
• The gods were believed to have enormous powers such as providing good soil or a drought
• Life was dependent upon pleasing the gods
Advancements/Achievements
• Pictographs, or picture symbols, were used in writing
• They are credited with devising the first writing system, called cuneiform
• They utilized styluses and clay tablets for record keeping
• A number system based on the number 60 was used in the calculation of rectangles and triangles
• They invented an alphabet system that utilized sets of letters to create words
• History, law, grammar, and math were recorded in story form
• Songs, tales and proverbs were also created along with long poems, called epics
• They invented the pottery wheel, and also used wheels to make chariots mobile
• The oxen powered plow was invented by this civilization
• Falling water was used to create a timer
• Waste was managed by their invention of sewers
• Bronze was used in the creation of tools and weapons
• They created make-up and glass jewelry
• Extensive investigation and study of plants, animals, and minerals was completed
• Healing drugs and treatments according to symptoms and injured body part was devised
• Many advancements in art were achieved, especially focused on statuary, music, and painting
• Pictographs, or picture symbols, were used in writing
• They are credited with devising the first writing system, called cuneiform
• They utilized styluses and clay tablets for record keeping
• A number system based on the number 60 was used in the calculation of rectangles and triangles
• They invented an alphabet system that utilized sets of letters to create words
• History, law, grammar, and math were recorded in story form
• Songs, tales and proverbs were also created along with long poems, called epics
• They invented the pottery wheel, and also used wheels to make chariots mobile
• The oxen powered plow was invented by this civilization
• Falling water was used to create a timer
• Waste was managed by their invention of sewers
• Bronze was used in the creation of tools and weapons
• They created make-up and glass jewelry
• Extensive investigation and study of plants, animals, and minerals was completed
• Healing drugs and treatments according to symptoms and injured body part was devised
• Many advancements in art were achieved, especially focused on statuary, music, and painting
Architecture
• Rulers lived in large two story palaces containing twelve or more rooms
• Subjects lived in single story houses containing a small courtyard and only six to seven rooms
• Houses were usually side-by-side in close proximity and separated only by narrow unpaved streets
• Houses were constructed of mud bricks
• Ziggurats were pyramid like temples with several outdoor staircases leading to a shrine at the apex
• Rulers lived in large two story palaces containing twelve or more rooms
• Subjects lived in single story houses containing a small courtyard and only six to seven rooms
• Houses were usually side-by-side in close proximity and separated only by narrow unpaved streets
• Houses were constructed of mud bricks
• Ziggurats were pyramid like temples with several outdoor staircases leading to a shrine at the apex