MESOPOTAMIA

Sumerians

People of Mesopotamia where the first river valley civilization developed.

Mesopotamia

Civilization developed between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, meaning "between rivers."

Independent states consisting of a city and surrounding territory, each with its own government.

City-states

Polytheism

The belief in many gods, with each city-state worshiping a specific god.

Ziggurat

A large brick temple in each city, serving as a home for the gods and a center for worship.

A system of writing using wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets, developed by the Sumerians.

cuneiform

Craftspeople who used clay to create bricks and other materials due to the scarcity of stone and timber.

Sumerian artisans

Ruler of Babylon known for creating a code of laws engraved on a stone stele.

Hammurabi

Akkadian Empire

Established by Sargon the Great, who conquered the twelve city-states of Sumer around 2350 BC.

Assyrian Empire

Known for its ruthless conquests and advanced military technology, including iron weapons and chariots.

Babylonian Empire

Rose after the fall of Ur, with King Nebuchadnezzar known for rebuilding Babylon and the Hanging Gardens.

Persia

The first empire to extend across three continents, led by Cyrus the Great and later Darius the Great.

Zoroastrianism

A religion founded by Zoroaster, emphasizing the choice between good and evil and worship of Ahura Mazda.

Epic of Gilgamesh

One of the world's earliest literary works, exploring themes of death and immortality.

Advances in mathematics

Mesopotamians developed a base-60 number system and a twelve-month lunar calendar.

Trade

Mesopotamia engaged in widespread trade due to a lack of resources, with marketplaces in each city.

Clay tablets

Used for record-keeping, revealing history through trade contracts, laws, and literary works.

Behistun Rock

A site where Henry Rawlinson identified three types of writing, aiding in the understanding of cuneiform.