MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILIZATION

A.   Sumerian Contributions

A.   Sumerian Contributions

A massive stepped structure built as a temple to worship the gods.

Ziggurat Temple

The world’s first writing system, made using wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets.

 Cuneiform

: A major religious center in ancient Sumer, dedicated to the god Enlil.

Npurr

One of the earliest known works of literature, telling the story of a Sumerian king.

Epic of Gilgamesh

B. Akkadian Contribution

B. Akkadian Contribution

Founder of the Akkadian Empire, the world’s first empire

Sargon

A powerful empire that succeeded the Akkadians; known for its cities and laws.

Babylonians

First ruler of Babylon, though not much is known about him compared to Hammurabi.

Sumvabum

A famous Babylonian king known for his code of laws

Hammurabi

One of the earliest and most complete written legal codes, based on justice and punishment.

Hammurabi Code

C. Assyrian Contribution

C. Assyrian Contribution

: Assyrian king who built one of the first known libraries in Nineveh

Ashurbanipal

D. Chaldean Contribution

D. Chaldean Contribution

Famous Chaldean king who rebuilt Babylon and built the Hanging Gardens.

Nebuchadnezzar

E. Persian Contribution

E. Persian Contribution

Founder of the Persian Empire, known for tolerance and respect for local customs.

Cyrus

F. Hittites Contribution

F. Hittites Contribution

The Hittites adapted cuneiform writing for their own Indo-European language.

Hittites Cuneiform

G. Phoenician Contributions

G. Phoenician Contributions

The Phoenicians created the first phonetic alphabet, which influenced Greek and Latin scripts

Alphabet

H. Jews/Hebrew Contributions

H. Jews/Hebrew Contributions

The land promised by God to Abraham and his descendants (modern-day Israel/Palestine).

Canaan (Promised Land)

Belief in a single all-powerful God; key concept in Judaism.

Monotheism

Sacred scripture of the Jewish and Christian faiths

Bible

The religion of the Hebrews, focusing on belief in one God and following the Torah.

Judaism

A religion that grew out of Judaism, based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Christianity