Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt

Geography of Ancient Mesopotamia

The geography of Ancient Mesopotamia was characterized by its location between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which provided fertile land for agriculture, allowing for the early development of civilization. This region, often referred to as the "Cradle of Civilization," included diverse environments such as river valleys, deserts, and mountains.

Religion of Mesopotamia

Animism and polytheism were practiced. Shamans were the middle person between the people and the gods. The purpose was to explain why things happen and advise people in the world and how to please the gods.

Anthropomorphism

The attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities, often used in the context of deities in Mesopotamian religion to explain their actions and characteristics.

Mesopotamian architecture

Mesopotamian architecture is characterized by the use of mud bricks to construct ziggurats, temples, and palaces, reflecting the society's religious and political structures. Created the first ever columns and arches.

Mesopotamian government

Characterized by city-states ruled by kings, each with a defined authority over their territory. Laws and administration were often codified, with a focus on ensuring order and justice, exemplified by the Code of Hammurabi.

Mesopotamian peoples

• Sumerians —> invented city-states and cuneiform

• Babylonians —> invented the code of Hammurabi and currency

• Assyrians —> created a library and sewage/draining systems

• Chaldeans —> created the hanging garden, astronomy, and the calendar

Hammurabi and his code of law

Hammurabi:

• Born during the reign of the Babylonians

• Made Mesopotamia into a strong Empire

• Created the first ever written law as king

Code of law:

• Created in 1771 BCE

• 282 laws carved into a massive monolith of black diorite, eight feet high

• Laws of marriage, divorce, punishments for crimes and more

Mesopotamian social classes

1. King and nobility —> connection with and relationship with the gods, land owners

2. Priests and clergy —> rituals, literate, healers'

3. Upper class —> merchants, scribes, tutors, military, accountants, architects, astrologers

4. Lower class —> farmers, labourers, musicians/artists, bakers, fishers, butchers, and potters

5. Slaves

Role of Women in Mesopotamia

• Freedom from 400-2200 BCE, but declined due to patriarchal culture

• Discriminated against in Hammurabi’s code

• Could own property and businesses, live on their own, and initiate a divorce

• There were female deities

• The first ever author was a women

Mesopotamian education

• At 8, boys of wealthy families attended school

• Learned geography, history, arithmetic, and grammar

• Teachers would mark work on tablets'

• Poor children learned farming or a skill

Cuneiform

An ancient writing system used in Mesopotamia, characterized by wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets, primarily used for record-keeping and literature.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

A legendary structure, said to be an extraordinary series of tiered gardens containing a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and vines, built in ancient Babylon, often attributed to King Nebuchadnezzar II. There is no real evidence, however.

Ancient Egypt geography

Ancient Egypt was characterized by its dependence on the Nile River, which provided fertile land for agriculture, facilitated transportation and trade, and shaped the civilization's culture and economy. The geography included deserts to the west and east, and the delta region was crucial for farming.

Ancient Egypt social organization

1. Royalty

2. Priests, scribes, and nobles

3. Traders and craftspeople

4. Farmers

5. Slaves

The Pharaoh

• Most important figure in Egypt

• Was seen as the person with absolute power but also carried divine power, they were seen as living gods '

• Ruled by divine mandate

• Responsible for the construction of temples and public works

• Maintain peace, order, and balance

Ancient Egyption nobles/military leaders

• Highest position of administration

• Passed down to family members

• e.x supervising construction and overseeing the property of god

Ancient Egyption Priests and Scribes

• The educated class

• Had the ability to read and write in hieroglyphics

• Nicknamed “the white kilt class”

• Collected taxes, kept records, and wrote reports

Ancient Egyptian craftspeople and traders

• Created goods for trade

• Weavers, sandal-makers, potters, brickmakers, sculptures, etc…

Ancient Egyptian farmers

• Peasants/common folk

• The majority of the population

• Had to pay rent and taxes to the Pharaoh or land owner

• Illiterate

• “Corvee duty”

Ancient Egyptian Slaves

• Prisoners of war

• Could own property or rent land

• Women and children did household work

• Males were soldiers, farmers, or did maintenance

Ancient Egyptian Marriages

• Married within the same social class

• Mainly arranged marriages

• Legal contract and then a celebration

Ancient Egypt children

• Males were valued more than females

• Having children gave the parents roles in the afterlife

• Childless couples would pray to the gods

Ancient Egypt coming-of-age

• Male children had a lock of hair braided to one side that was cut off once they reached adulthood

• Marriage occurred at around 20 years for males and late-teens for females

The role of women in Ancient Egypt

• Right were not equal with men

• Could not become scribes, sculptures, or carpenters

• First wife = head of the household

• During the New Kingdom, their status improved

• They could keep inheritance after they married

• They could initiate divorce

• After divorce, they were entitled to 1/3 of the man’s property

Ancient Egypt writing and literature

• Hieroglyphics 3000 BCE

• Literature and types of stories

• Wrote of papyrus using reed pens

• Only 1-5% of the population was literate

Ancient Egyption painting and sculptures

• Tombs were covered in bright images to brighten and guide people to the afterlife

• Sculptures depicted cats, Pharaohs, religious festivals, military victories, and gods

Ancient Egyption architecture

• The development of the pyramids

• Used limestone blocks

Ancient Egyption mathematics

• Simple arithmetic/number systems and geometry

• Used for surveying land, architecture, and measuring Nile floods

Ancient Egyption time

• 24 hours in a day, 365 days in a year, and 30 day months

Role of Mummies

• To preserve soul (Ka) and personality (Ba)

• Akh, spirit of deceased in the next world

• Maat khera (trials) to get into the afterlife

Mummification 70 day proccess

Preparation/purification, extraction, drying, wrapping, sarcophagus

The Rosetta Stone

• Broken part of a bigger stone slab called a stela

• Hieroglyphics, Demotic, and ancient greek translations

• Was an official message/decree from Ptolemy V, placed in every temple

• A way to decode ancient egyption language