Lecture Notes: Fertile Crescent Leadership, Gods, Ziggurat, and Naram-Sin Fortress

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key concepts: Ziggurat, Fertile Crescent, Akkadian Empire, Naram-Sin, divine kingship, Mesopotamian gods, autocratic leadership, and the contrast between religious and military symbols of power.

Ziggurat

A massive stepped temple platform in ancient Mesopotamia that served as a religious center and symbol of state power.

Fertile Crescent

A region in the Middle East with rich soils where early civilizations, including Mesopotamia, emerged.

Akkadian Empire

Ancient Mesopotamian empire known for centralized rule and expansion under rulers such as Sargon and Naram-Sin.

Naram-Sin

A prominent Akkadian king who asserted royal authority and promoted the idea of divine kingship.

Divine kingship

The concept that a king's authority derives from the gods and may include deification of the ruler.

Polytheism (Mesopotamian gods)

Belief in multiple gods worshipped by Mesopotamian societies, including Anu, Enlil, and Marduk.

Autocratic leadership

A leadership style characterized by centralized, unilateral decision-making by a single ruler.

Ziggurat vs Fortress

The contrast between a religious temple platform (ziggurat) and a defensive military structure (fortress) as centers of state power in Mesopotamia.

Theocracy (Mesopotamian context)

Rule or governance based on divine authority, often intertwining temple and political power.