MesopotamiaMesopotamia

The Land Between Two RiversThe Land Between Two Rivers

Development of Cities

TimelineTimeline

SumerianSumerian 3,500 BC – 2,300 BC3,500 BC – 2,300 BC

AkkadianAkkadian 2,300 BC – 1,900 BC2,300 BC – 1,900 BC

BabylonianBabylonian 1,900 BC – 1,300 BC1,900 BC – 1,300 BC

AssyrianAssyrian 1,300 BC – 612 BC1,300 BC – 612 BC

http://www.timelines.info/history/empires_and_civilizations/ancient_civilisations/

Mesopotamia was ruled by four different Mesopotamia was ruled by four different empiresempires

GeographyGeography

Mesopotamia is a Greek Mesopotamia is a Greek word meaning between the word meaning between the riversrivers

Ancient Mesopotamia was Ancient Mesopotamia was located between the Tigris located between the Tigris and Euphrates Riversand Euphrates Rivers

Most of Mesopotamia was Most of Mesopotamia was located in present day Iraqlocated in present day Iraq

The hot dry climate was The hot dry climate was mixed with seasonal mixed with seasonal flooding from the riversflooding from the rivers

http://www.wsu.edu/~wldciv/brians_syllabus/maps/http://www.wsu.edu/~wldciv/brians_syllabus/maps/maplabels1.htmlmaplabels1.html

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MesopotamiaMesopotamia(Land of Firsts)(Land of Firsts)

First to invent the wheelFirst to invent the wheel First to use sails on boatsFirst to use sails on boats One of first to make up a story One of first to make up a story

(Gilgamesh)(Gilgamesh) First to use cuneiform (writing)First to use cuneiform (writing) First to use the calendarFirst to use the calendar First to use the seeder plowFirst to use the seeder plow First to give a number place value First to give a number place value

and recognize the concept of zeroand recognize the concept of zero  

Mesopotamia is known as, “The Cradle of Civilization,” because it was first in many things:

AgricultureAgriculture(The Fertile Crescent)(The Fertile Crescent)

Farmers turned the land into Farmers turned the land into a rich food growing area by a rich food growing area by using irrigation and the plowusing irrigation and the plow

Farmers grew wheat, barley, Farmers grew wheat, barley, dates, and other vegetables dates, and other vegetables and fruitand fruit

They raised goat, pig, sheep They raised goat, pig, sheep and cattleand cattle

Irrigation created a surplus Irrigation created a surplus of food which led to the of food which led to the growth of citiesgrowth of cities

Surplus led to a flourishing Surplus led to a flourishing system of tradesystem of trade

EconomyEconomy

The Mesopotamian plain was lacking in resources The Mesopotamian plain was lacking in resources such as metals, timber, stone, and grapevines, so such as metals, timber, stone, and grapevines, so the Sumerians had to trade abroad to get them the Sumerians had to trade abroad to get them

At first, the Sumerians traded surplus barley for At first, the Sumerians traded surplus barley for these goodsthese goods

Later, the Sumerians began to manufacture trading Later, the Sumerians began to manufacture trading goods that they could transport more easily, such goods that they could transport more easily, such as cloth and bronze ornaments as cloth and bronze ornaments

The Mesopotamians made written contracts, loans The Mesopotamians made written contracts, loans and created a credit systemand created a credit system

They used a barter systemThey used a barter system

Trade RoutesTrade Routes

LanguageLanguage Mesopotamians were Mesopotamians were

the first to use writing the first to use writing (around 3,000 BC)(around 3,000 BC)

The system of writing The system of writing was called cuneiform was called cuneiform

Cuneiform was wedge Cuneiform was wedge shaped symbols shaped symbols pressed into clay pressed into clay tabletstablets

The Mesopotamians The Mesopotamians wrote many myths wrote many myths

The most famous was The most famous was the epic poem called the epic poem called GilgameshGilgamesh

Writing allowed people Writing allowed people to keep records of to keep records of their transactions their transactions

People could send People could send messages with messages with couriers to far away couriers to far away lands without lands without travelingtraveling

Writing allowed people Writing allowed people to pass on their to pass on their accumulated accumulated knowledge to future knowledge to future generationsgenerations

Cuneiform TabletsCuneiform Tablets

ReligionReligion The people of Mesopotamia believed in many godsThe people of Mesopotamia believed in many gods Each town was protected by its own, unique deity or Each town was protected by its own, unique deity or

god god The temple, the center of worship, was also the center The temple, the center of worship, was also the center

of every city of every city Around the year 2000 B.C., temple towers called Around the year 2000 B.C., temple towers called

ziggurats were built to link heaven and earthziggurats were built to link heaven and earth

GovernmeGovernmentnt

The Mesopotamians had The Mesopotamians had written laws that everyone written laws that everyone in the empire had to follow in the empire had to follow

There were 282 laws There were 282 laws created by King created by King HammurabiHammurabi

Known as Hammurabi's Known as Hammurabi's Code, the laws were Code, the laws were written in stone and placed written in stone and placed in a public locationin a public location

The Mesopotamians The Mesopotamians believed the gods called believed the gods called the king to establish justice the king to establish justice and order; whoever and order; whoever disobeyed the king disobeyed the king disobeyed the godsdisobeyed the gods

Social Organization & Daily Social Organization & Daily LifeLife

The King The King held military held military powers.powers.

The Governors The Governors governed the territories governed the territories of the kingdom. They of the kingdom. They were generals and were generals and judges at the same judges at the same time.time.

The aristocracy The aristocracy were were priests and traders.priests and traders.

The peasantsThe peasants worked worked the land.the land.

Sports, games and Sports, games and entertainment were part of entertainment were part of their everyday lifetheir everyday life

Boxing and wrestling were Boxing and wrestling were popular sportspopular sports

Board games were also Board games were also popularpopular

The kings were famous The kings were famous hunters of lions, elephants, hunters of lions, elephants, ostriches, wild bullsostriches, wild bulls

Harps and lyres were Harps and lyres were playedplayed

Mesopotamian Banquet

ArtArt

ArtArt