Mesopotamia Civilization (soc. sci.)

Mesopotamia Civilization

Geography

• Mesopotamia (present day IRAQ) means “The Land Between the Two Rivers”

• Tigris & Euphrates Rivers - two main rivers of ancient Mesopotamia, served as the cradle of a latter urban civilization

• It was part of the “Fertile Cresent””, an ancient region in Asia known for its rich & fertile soil

Religion

• Polytheistic Belief - people believed in multiple gods (3600 gods & demigods)

Achievements

• The famous ZIggurat was “Tower of Babel”

• A form of temple common to the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians

• Where they worship their gods and goddesses

• Cuneiform - a system of writing first developed by ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia, a reed stylus was the main writing tool used

• Scribe (experts in cuneiform writing)

• Irrigated fields and produced 3 main crops (barley, dates, and sesame seeds)

• Drainage systems, wheel & barrow

• The Code of Hammurabi - a well-preserved Babylonian code of law of ancient Mesopotamia, it is the oldest deciphered writings of significant length in the world

Politics

• Ruled by kings

• Their kings only ruled a single city

• Sumer - Southern part

• Akkad - Northern part

• Babylonia - Babylonian Empire

• Assyria - Assyrian Empire

The Great Leaders of Mesopotamian Civilizations

1. Gilgamesh

   -Fifth ruler of the first dynasty of Uruk

   -Greath builder of temples & citie; restored Uruk after the flood

   -Great judge

   -⅔ god, ⅓ human

   -His mother was a goddess, his father was a mortal king of Uruk

2. Sargon the Great Emperor (reigned 2334-2279 BC)

   -Sargon of Akkad

   -Founded the world’s first empire, the Akkadian Empire

   -Conquered many of the Sumerian city-states and united them under one rule

3. King Hammurabi of Babylonia

   -6th king of the Babylon and founded the first Babylonian Empire

   -Most famous for establishing a written code of laws called the Hammurabi Code

4. Nabopolassar

   -Allied with the Medes to overthrow the Assyrian Empire and conquer the city of Nineveh

   -Established the 2nd Babylonian Empire and ruled for 20 years

5. Nebuchadnezzar II

   -Expanded the Babylonian Empire conquering Judah & Jerusalem

   -Built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

6. Shamshi Adad I (1813 - 1791 BC)

   -Conquered many surrounding city-states in northern Mesopotamia

   -Excellent leader & organizer, established the first Assyrian Empire

Economy

• Developed trade system with barter

• Agriculture

Social Structure

• Upper Class (King, Priests)

• Middle Class (Scribes, Merchants & Artisans, Commoners)

• Lower Class (Slaves)