S1 M3 HOA

TIGRIS AND EUPHRATES

The two long, or “twin,” rivers around which West Asiatic civilization mainly developed.

FERTILE CRESCENT

A crescent-shaped region in West Asia and the Middle East, considered the cradle of civilization.

NILE RIVER IN EGYPT

One end of the Fertile Crescent; the Fertile Crescent stretches from this river to the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

FERTILE ALLUVIAL SOIL

Fertile soil found near the important rivers of the region.

MESOPOTAMIA

A region known as the “Cradle of Civilization” where some of the earliest architectural structures were built around 3500–539 BCE.

MODERN-DAY IRAQ, PARTS OF SYRIA, TURKEY, AND IRAN

The present-day AREAS where Mesopotamia is located.

THE LAND BETWEEN THE RIVERS

Meaning of Mesopotamia.

MESO

Ancient Greek word meaning “middle.”

POTAMOS

Ancient Greek word meaning “river.”

3500-539 BCE

Approximate period mentioned for some of the earliest architectural structures in Mesopotamia..

FLORA & FAUNA

Plants and Animals; The region had a wide variety of these, which contributed to its use by early civilizations.

SOFT SOIL

Soil that was not suitable for building foundations.

MUD & CLAY

Important materials obtained from the region and used for producing bricks.

BRICKS

Building materials produced using clay and mud.

AWAY FROM THE FLOODING RIVERS

A location chosen for construction to avoid this area while staying close enough to gather building materials.

IRAQ

Central and southern Mesopotamia (Babylon, Ur, Uruk, Nineveh).

SYRIA

Northwestern Mesopotamia (Mari, Ebla).

TURKEY (SOUTHEASTERN)

Source of Tigris and Euphrates.

IRAN (WESTERN)

Eastern fringes where Mesopotamian culture influenced Elam and persia.

KUWAIT

Where the Tigris and Euphrates meet and flow into the Persian Gulf.

KILN-DRIED OR SUN-DRIED BRICKS

Made from the mud and clay from the two rivers and relied upon for the building of structures due to the lack of stones within the region.

SOCIETY AND BELIEFS

Highly reflective of the magnificent buildings of massive scale produced by the ancient civilizations in West Asia.

WRITING, INVENTION OF THE WHEEL, & IRRIGATION

Helped create a more permanent and sustainable society.

ALLUVIAL DISTRICT OF THICK MUD AND CLAY

These are deposited by the two great rivers.

BRICKS – The usual building material in Babylonia because there was no stone was found, and no trees would grow

CHALDEA OR LOWER MESOPOTAMIA

Walls were made from crude; sun-dried brick faced with kiln-burnt and glazed bricks of different colors. (GEOLOGICAL)

ASSYRIA

Plenty of stone in the mountains but followed Babylonians in the use of brick. They generally faced the walls internally and externally, not with glazed bricks, but with alabaster or limestone slabs carved with low bas-reliefs and inscriptions, which are of great historic importance. (GEOLOGICAL)

ALABASTER OR LIMESTONE

Slabs that faced the Assyrian walls internally and externally.

LOW BAS RELIEFS & INSCRIPTIONS

carved through Assyrian walls which are of great historic importance.

PERSIA

Hard, colored limestone which were used in the building of Susa and Persepolis, and roof-timbers were obtained from Elam on the west, while Persian tiles have always been world-famous for their beauty of texture and color. (GEOLOGICAL)

HARD, COLORED LIMESTONE

Used in the building of Susa and Persepolis.

ROOF-TIMBERS

Obtained from Elam on the west.

PERSIAN TILES

Have always been world-famous for their beauty of texture and color.

CHALDEA

A region of swamps and floods, besides which torrents of rain fell for weeks at a time. These conditions were aggravated during the long summer by swarms of aggressive and venomous insects. (CLIMATIC)

ASSYRIA

Nearer the mountains and farther from the river mouths than Chaldea; Followed the Babylonian style. (CLIMATIC)

PERSIA

Extreme heat in summer and severe cold in winter. Named as the country of sunshine, gardens, and deserts. (CLIMATIC)

NUMEROUS OFFSPRING, LONG LIFE, AND INCREASE OF WORLDLY GOODS

The belief in divine rewards for moral conduct.

POLYTHEISM

Worship of many gods, each city had a patron deity. (RELIGION: THE BABYLONIAN)

MARDUK

Chief god of Babylon. (RELIGION: THE BABYLONIAN)

ZIGGURATS

Central to religious life; ____ were believed to connect heaven and earth. (RELIGION: THE BABYLONIAN)

LAW & RELIGION

The Code of Hammurabi was given divine authority by Shamash, the sun god of justice. (RELIGION: THE BABYLONIAN)

FESTIVALS

Religious festivals like the Akitu (New Year festival) celebrated the king's divine right to rule. (RELIGION: THE BABYLONIAN)

DIVINELY SANCTIONED

The Assyrians believed their conquests were ______. (RELIGION: MILITARY & RELIGION: ASSYRIA)

ASHUR

The national deity and symbol of empire. (RELIGION: ASSYRIA)

RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS, PROTECTIVE SPIRITS, LAMASSU

Palaces were decorated with _____, _____, and winged bulls (_____) to guard entrances. (RELIGION: TEMPLES & PALACES: ASSYRIA)

PRIESTS, OMENS, ASTROLOGY

Kings often consulted ______, ______, and ______ for military campaigns and governance. (RELIGION: DIVINATION: ASSYRIA)

KING

Earthly representation of the gods, especially Ashur. (RELIGION: ASSYRIA)

ANU (AN)

Sky god, father of the gods. (BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN DEITIES)

ENLIL

God of air, storms, and authority; chief god in Sumer and Assyria. (BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN DEITIES)

EA (ENKI)

God of wisdom, water, and creation. (BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN DEITIES)

MARDUK

Patron god of Babylon, supreme deity after Hammurabi's time. (BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN DEITIES)

ISHTAR (INANNA)

Goddess of love, fertility, and war. (BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN DEITIES)

SHAMASH (UTU)

Sun god, God of justice. (BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN DEITIES)

SIN (NANNA)

Moon god. (BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN DEITIES)

NINHURSAG (KI)

Mother goddess, earth deity. (BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN DEITIES)

ASHUR

Chief god of Assyria, symbol of Assyrian power and empire. (BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN DEITIES)

TIAMAT

Primordial goddess of chaos and the sea. (BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN DEITIES)

ADAD (HADAD)

God of storms and weather. (BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN DEITIES)

NERGAL

God of the underworld, war, and plague. (BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN DEITIES)

ERESHKIGAL

Goddess of the underworld. (BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN DEITIES)

NISABA

Goddess of writing, learning, and grain. (BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN DEITIES)

ZOROASTRIANISM

Main religion founded by the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra). (RELIGION: PERSIA)

AHURA MAZDA

Good. (RELIGION: PERSIA)

ANGRA MAINYU

Evil. (RELIGION: PERSIA)

HEAVEN, HELL, JUDGMENT, AND FREE WILL

Ideas introduced by Zoroastrianism. (RELIGION: PERSIA)

RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE

Unlike earlier empires, the Persians (especially Cyrus the Great) allowed conquered peoples to keep their own religions and traditions. (RELIGION: PERSIA)

CYRUS ALLOWED THE JEWS TO RETURN TO JERUSALEM AND REBUILD TEMPLES

A practice of religious tolerance under Cyrus. (RELIGION: PERSIA)

ARCHITECTURE & RELIGION

At Persepolis, royal palaces and ceremonial halls were decorated with carvings showing loyalty to the king and divine order. (RELIGION: PERSIA)

FIRE TEMPLES

Important in Zoroastrian worship, symbolizing purity and the eternal flame of Ahura Mazda. (RELIGION: PERSIA)

MONOTHEISM

Persians under Zoroastrianism leaned toward this belief with a dualistic struggle of good vs. evil.

AHURA MAZDA

Supreme god of light, truth, and creation. (PERSIAN/ZOROASTRIAN DEITIES)

ANGRA MAINYU (AHRIMAN)

Evil spirit, god of chaos and darkness. (PERSIAN/ZOROASTRIAN DEITIES)

MITHRA

God of covenant, truth, and loyalty. (PERSIAN/ZOROASTRIAN DEITIES)

ANAHITA

Goddess of water, fertility, and healing. (PERSIAN/ZOROASTRIAN DEITIES)

ATAR

God of fire, representing purity and divine order. (PERSIAN/ZOROASTRIAN DEITIES)

SPENTA MAINYU

Holy spirit of Ahura Mazda, symbolizing goodness. (PERSIAN/ZOROASTRIAN DEITIES)

AMESHA SPENTAS

"Holy Immortals," divine beings embodying aspects of creation. (PERSIAN/ZOROASTRIAN DEITIES)

VOHU MANAH

Good Purpose, Mind or Thought. (PERSIAN/ZOROASTRIAN DEITIES)

HAURVATAT

"Wholeness" or "perfection." (PERSIAN/ZOROASTRIAN DEITIES)

ASHA VAHISHTA

The Angel of Justice. (PERSIAN/ZOROASTRIAN DEITIES)

AMERETAT

Goddess of immortality. (PERSIAN/ZOROASTRIAN DEITIES)

KHSHATHRA VAIRA

Guardian of Metals. (PERSIAN/ZOROASTRIAN DEITIES)

SPENTA ARMAITI

Holy Serenity, Devotion. (PERSIAN/ZOROASTRIAN DEITIES)