Mesopotamia

The Land Between Two Rivers

Development of Cities

Timeline
Mesopotamia was ruled by four different empires

Sumerian
Akkadian Babylonian Assyrian

3,500 BC 2,300 BC
2,300 BC 1,900 BC 1,900 BC 1,300 BC 1,300 BC 612 BC

http://www.timelines.info/history/empires_and_civilizations/ancient_civilisations/

Geography

Mesopotamia is a Greek word meaning between the rivers Ancient Mesopotamia was located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Most of Mesopotamia was located in present day Iraq The hot dry climate was mixed with seasonal flooding from the rivers

http://www.wsu.edu/~wldciv/brians_syllabus/maps/map labels1.html
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Mesopotamia
(Land of Firsts)
Mesopotamia is known as, The Cradle of Civilization, because it was first in many things:

First to invent the wheel First to use sails on boats One of first to make up a story (Gilgamesh) First to use cuneiform (writing) First to use the calendar First to use the seeder plow First to give a number place value and recognize the concept of zero

(The Fertile Crescent)

Agriculture

Farmers turned the land into a rich food growing area by using irrigation and the plow Farmers grew wheat, barley, dates, and other vegetables and fruit They raised goat, pig, sheep and cattle Irrigation created a surplus of food which led to the growth of cities Surplus led to a flourishing system of trade

Economy

The Mesopotamian plain was lacking in resources such as metals, timber, stone, and grapevines, so the Sumerians had to trade abroad to get them At first, the Sumerians traded surplus barley for these goods Later, the Sumerians began to manufacture trading goods that they could transport more easily, such as cloth and bronze ornaments The Mesopotamians made written contracts, loans and created a credit system They used a barter system

Trade Routes

Language

Mesopotamians were the first to use writing (around 3,000 BC) The system of writing was called cuneiform Cuneiform was wedge shaped symbols pressed into clay tablets The Mesopotamians wrote many myths The most famous was the epic poem called Gilgamesh

Writing allowed people to keep records of their transactions People could send messages with couriers to far away lands without traveling Writing allowed people to pass on their accumulated knowledge to future generations

Cuneiform Tablets

Religion

The people of Mesopotamia believed in many gods Each town was protected by its own, unique deity or god The temple, the center of worship, was also the center of every city Around the year 2000 B.C., temple towers called ziggurats were built to link heaven and earth

Government

The Mesopotamians had written laws that everyone in the empire had to follow There were 282 laws created by King Hamurabi Known as Hamurabi's Code, the laws were written in stone and placed in a public location The Mesopotamians believed the gods called the king to establish justice and order; whoever disobeyed the king disobeyed the gods

Social Organization & Daily Life

The King held military

powers.

The Governors governed

the territories of the kingdom. They were generals and judges at the same time. The aristocracy were priests and traders. The peasants worked the land.

Sports, games and entertainment were part of their everyday life Boxing and wrestling were popular sports Board games were also popular The kings were famous hunters of lions, elephants, ostriches, wild bulls Harps and lyres were played

Mesopotamian Banquet

Art

Art