MESOPOTAMIA

Mesopotamia

“Land between the rivers” Between the Tigris River and Euphrates

River Fertile Crescent

Little rain Silt from river

Mesopotamia

Flooding Snow melt

Irrigation and drainage ditches Allowed for systematic agriculture Abundance of food Allowed for large cities, civilization

Assyria Akkad Sumer

Mesopotamia

The rampant flood which no man can oppose,

Which shakes the heavens and causes earth to tremble,

In an appalling blanket folds mother and child,

And drowns the harvest in its time of ripeness.

Religion

Harsh climate and frequent famines Polytheism (poly = many, theos = god)

Belief in many gods Nearly 3000 gods and goddesses

Humans obey and serve gods Work hard to keep them happy

Sumerian Gods

Anu Sky god Father of gods, evil spirits, and demons

Enki God of water Created man Assign roles to each god Established civilizations

Enlil God of wind and agriculture

Sumer

3000 BCE Established many cities in southern

Mesopotamia Eridu Ur Uruk

City-states City and surrounding lands

Cities

Uruk (2700 BCE) Walls 6 miles long Towers every 30-35 feet Population: 50,000 Social stratification

Small houses for peasants Larger buildings for city officials, priests, etc. Social identity

Mud-brick houses

Ur (2100 BCE)

Religion

Ziggurat Massive stepped tower on which temple was

built Center of city

Physically Economically Politically

Surplus food stored in temple

Government

Theocracy Believed gods ruled cities Priests and priestesses very powerful

Divine authority Kings

Led armies Public works Organized workers

“You in your judgment, you are the son of Anu. Your commands, like the work of a god, cannot be reversed. Your words, like rain pouring down from heaven, are without number”

-- Anonymous Sumerian

Economy

Farming Industry

Textiles Pottery Metalworking

Weapons Jewelry

Trade Import

Copper Tin Timber

Export Fish Wool Barley Wheat Metal goods

Trade

Land Wheel

Invented around 3000 BCE Made transport much easier

Water Seas and rivers

Social Classes

Nobles Royalty Religious officials

Commoners Palace workers Farmers Merchants Fishers Craftsmen

Slaves

Writing

Cuneiform Clay tablets Stylus

Tool for writing Record-keeping

Trade records Day-to-day activities

Writing

Scribes Accounting and record-keeping Educated males

Training Sunrise to sunset Copy texts Probably boring Very harsh

Ancient Near Eastern Text

In the tablet-house, the monitor said to me:“Why are you late?” I was afraid, my heart beatFast. I entered before my teacher, took my place.My “school-father” read my tablet to me,Said, “The word is cut off,” caned me.He who was in charge of drawing said “Why whenI was not here did you stand up?” caned me.He who was in charge of the gate said “Whywhen I was not here did you go out?” caned me.My teacher said “Your hand is not good,” caned me.

Ancient Near Eastern Text

“What did you do in school?”“I read my tablet, wrote it, finished

it; then my prepared lines wereprepared for me and in the

afternoon, my hand copies were prepared for me

Literature

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Technology

Wheel Transport people and goods more easily

Potter’s wheel Make pottery more easily

Sundial Keep time

Arch Stronger construction

Technology

Metalwork Bronze = copper + tin

Mathematics 60-base number system Geometry

Astronomy Charted constellations Hour = 60 minutes