From Villages to Cities to Empires

Mesopotamia Unit

Settled community, w/ domesticated plants/animals

Could support large populations◦ As population

increase, so did complexity

One earliest village Catal Huyuk

Early Villages

Sumer 1st civilization◦ 5000 BCE develop city states S. Mesopotamia ◦ Invented wheel, buildings, irrigation systems,

plow, bronze weapons, writing (cuneiform)◦ Important:

Each city state independent City states fought o/ irrigable land & trading rights

◦ Future leaders would try unite lands/people into empire

Mesopotamia Civilization

Map Mesopotamia

“Land b/t Rivers”◦ Tigris & Euphrates

Flood April-June Modern day Iraq Arid climate

◦ Very hot & dry, little rainfall◦ Regional differences however

Resources◦ Had water & fertile soil = “gifts”◦ Lacked stone, timber, copper, tin, iron, gold

Encouraged foreign trade Geography/Climate caused people have pessimistic

attitude

Geography

Akkad◦ Sargon the Great

Babylonia◦ Hammurabi

Assyria◦ Assurnasirpal◦ Sennacherib◦ Esarhaddon◦ Assurbanipal

Babylonia II◦ Nabopolassar◦ Nebuchsdnezzar

Mesopotamian Leaders

Mesopotamian Society

Hammurabi Code Project

282 percepts/laws Dealt w/ social,

family issues

Hammurabi’s Code

Hammurabi Code Project Healthcare Criminal Justice System Family Life Jobs Slaves Military

Summarizing Hammurabi’s Code1. Was Hammurabi’s form of justice fair?2. Were the laws appropriate for their time

period?3. Do you think these laws were actively

followed and enforced?4. Should laws promote punishment or

reform?

Mesopotamian Religion

Gods, Goddesses, Demons & Monsters Polytheistic

◦ Belief many gods Anthropomorphic

◦ Human-like characteristics Had human emotions

◦ Compassionate, cruel Also envisioned darker powers

(demons/monsters)

Demons and MonstersPazuzu

Lamashtu

Huwawa

The Seven Great Gods and Marduk 1. An/Anu

◦ Father of Gods; God of Sky

2. Enlil◦ God of Air

3. Utu/Shamash◦ Sun God; God of Truth

and Justice4. Nanna/Sin

◦ Moon God

5. Inanna/Ishtar◦ Goddess of Love and

War6. Ninhursag

◦ Mother Earth7. Enki/Ea

◦ God of Fresh Waters; God of Magic, Wisdom, Arts

8. Marduk◦ National God of Babylon

Ziggurat

Tiered temple made of mud-bricks

Dwellings places of the gods◦ Each city-state had a

patron god Only priests

permitted inside ziggurat

Priests and Priestesses In earliest days, King chief priest Later professional priesthoods Various duties:

◦ Ritual slaughter animals◦ Interpret omens◦ Singing songs◦ Provide regular offerings of food and

refreshments to deity

Sacred Prostitution Practice of women offering sex for pay on

the sacred grounds of the Temple of Ishtar

Relationship with the Gods Participated public festivals Tried to predict “heaven’s will” Exorcism

Death and Burial

Royal Tombs of Ur

“Life” After Death No notion of an afterlife where the good

were rewarded Life after Death was dismal and bleak

◦ “Land of No Return”

What then was the incentive for living a pious life?

What is the Legacy of Mesopotamia?

Religious Vandalism

Buddhas of Bamiyan Pyramid Menkaure

Religious Vandalism: Islamic State

Mosel Museum Temple Bel

Pillaging for Profit

4 Horses St. Marks The Amber Room

Mesopotamian Sculpture Sells for Record 57 Million Dollars in 2007!!

Looting in Iraq

The Lost Treasure of Nimrud