Name origin: Comes from Greek, meaning "Land between two rivers".
Tigris River
Euphrates River
Referred to as the "Cradle of Civilization".
First complex societies formed here due to:
Rich soil from river flooding (Tigris and Euphrates).
Flooding was unpredictable, leading to:
Development of advanced irrigation systems to ensure agricultural success.
Writing System: Developed cuneiform, used clay for writing.
First civilization, forming city-states in Mesopotamia.
Built irrigation canals to manage unpredictable flooding.
Polytheism: Worshipped multiple gods.
Ziggurats: Temples for worship without inner chambers; square-shaped.
Example: Ziggurat at Choghā Zanbīl in Iran, now diminished in height.
Structure:
Kings and Priests
Merchants
Workers
Slaves
Social oppression of certain groups and elevation of others.
Men were dominant in society.
Women in Sumer could:
Work as priests and shopkeepers.
Be wives and mothers.
Be sold into slavery or prostitution.
Women in Sumer could not:
Receive an education.
Choose their marital partners.
Sumerian civilization lasted until battles between city-states emerged.
Invasion by the Akkadian Empire led to their takeover; subsequent civilizations also occupied the area.
An empire is a governmental structure that rules over territories beyond its original borders.
Important to understand what constitutes an empire.
First empire in Mesopotamia.
Brief duration; laid the groundwork for successive empires.
Achieved significant military advancements under Hammurabi.
Known for the Code of Hammurabi, a set of legal codes.
Thrived along the Mediterranean coast during Babylonian rule.
Established the first alphabet, condensed cuneiform into 22 letters.
Military strength featured iron weapons.
Established the first library in Nineveh (modern-day Iraq) containing 25,000 clay tablets.
Last major empire in Mesopotamia before Persian takeover.
Innovations include:
Development of the Zodiac Calendar.
Concept of stars influencing human destiny.
Creation of a four-week month based on lunar phases.