Chapter 2Out of the

Mesopotamian Mud

The Land Between Two RiversWestern Civilization (What is it?) came from

the cultures of the Ancient Near East

The Land Between Two RiversIran, Iraq, Israel, Syria and Jordan (Google

Map)

The Land Between Two Rivers

The Land Between Two RiversMesopotamia means – “the land between two

rivers”Tigris and Euphrates Rivers3500 BC would begin to give rise to the 1st

cities and nation statesEndless plain of mud with little vegetationReeds and small date palm treesFew rocks

The Land Between Two RiversWinds and storms would bring sudden death

and destroy crops and homesWorst floods usually came before harvest

timeLand was harsh and poor in every natural

resourceDestruction came quickly and without

warningZagros mountains were at the end of the

mudflats to the north

The Birth of the GodsPeople believed the gods lived in the mountains1st gods were linked to sky, rain, storms and

agricultureMesopotamians saw the world as controlled by

the gods and not randomThey could not predict disasters so they felt gods

acted arbitrarilyFelt that gods were punishing them for their sins

with disastersFelt world was hostile to humans with distant and

uncaring gods

The Birth of the GodsPeople were very pessimistic“Pleasure is beer” was found on stone tablets

The World’s First CivilizationNo natural borders to divide areas into statesLarge empires could form because of no

natural barriersMany paths into Mesopotamia for invasionsSumerians began to pool labor, set up

irrigation systems and develop a surplus of food

Surplus of food allows cities to formSurplus requires administration which leads

to government

Mud and Reeds

Mud and Reeds

Mud and ReedsSumerians had no wood or stone which are

basic building materialsMud and reeds were used for a number of

thingsReeds: baskets, mats & firewoodMud: houses, palaces, tools, pots, & storage

containersMud was made into bricks with reeds or

vegetables and dried in the sun

Mud and ReedsPictures of mud and reed items

Mud and ReedsFloods would dissolve the mudSumerians erected temples to the gods that were

made on top of artificial mountainsZiggurats were the names of the temples3000 years temples were built the same wayRepresent the 1st monumental structures and the

beginning of architectureSaddam Hussein parked planes by ziggurats to

avoid being bombedTechnology in the 2nd Iraq War let the U.S.

destroy them

Mud and Reeds

The Cuneiform Writing SystemSumerians developed the 1st form of writing

on mud tabletsTablets were baked if you wanted something

permanentCuneiform = wedge writing = based on

shapes on tablets

The Cuneiform Writing System

The Cuneiform Writing SystemProfoundly important to develop a storehouse of

information that could be passed down over timeThoughts, dreams and fears could be carried

forwardOldest documents were 1st used for tax recordsOldest recipe is for beerEarliest form was simple pictures and then symbolsEventually symbols represent sounds that develop

an alphabetOur language goes back to this time in some forms

to 3500BC

The Cuneiform Writing SystemCylinder seal is most common artifact found

todayRound stone inscribed with an image that

represents your signature to approve agreements

Cylinder seal was a status symbol worn around your neck

The Cuneiform Writing SystemSumerians also developed a number systemOne in base 10 and one in base 6Base 10 is most common because of fingers

and toesBase 6 was used for timekeeping that is still

used today

The Cradle of EmpiresEarliest cities had kings who ruled city and

surrounding territoryKing Sargon becomes the 1st king of Sumeria

and founds Akkadian Empire

The Cradle of EmpiresKing at the top and slaves belowThis structure lasted 1000s of years and

influenced later civilizations for or against the system

Akkadians developed a 7 day week, Romans 8, and Chinese 10

Future civilizations were based on Akkadian weekConstant struggle with nature as cities dissolved

into nothingBabylonians, Hittites, Chaldeans & Assyrians

followed Akkadian Empire

The Cradle of Empires