Religion of MesopotamiaAngelica Partyka

PolytheismPolytheism Believed in many God

3,000 Gods

God were immortal

Each God controlled various forces of nature

Gods were all powerful

Humans were just their servants

Each city had its own God

Enlil•Most powerful God

•God of storm and air

•Humans feared him as “the raging flood that has no rival”

Ugallu•Good Demon

•Protected humans from bad Demons who brought disease, misfortune and misery

“Epic of

Gilgamesh”

•Oldest story in the world

•A myth about a God from Mesopotamia

Sumerian – Sumer, one of the oldest civilizations, consisted of different city-states. They were run by different Sumerian rulers, both secular and religious.

Assyrian – The Assyrian king had total power. The Assyrians were the first people to have an efficient way of running an Empire.

Persian - The Persian kings were very wise rulers. They thought highly of justice; made sure laws are followed.

Most of the civilizations in Mesopotamia used the Hammurabi’s Code. The set of laws were written by King Hammurabi. It consisted of 282 specific laws.

Most of the laws dealt with:

Community

Family relations

Business conduct

Crime

Culture of Mesopotamia

FoodsSoups beer and brewery products flours and bread syrups and honey oils and fats spices Seeds dairy products pulses emmer wheat barley straws fruits: figs, raisins, pomegranates dates salt and condiments melons and cucumbers

Social ClassesKings, Landlords, some priests

Wealthy merchants

Farmer (most of the society)

Slaves(captured from war, children used to pay depts)

Arts of Mesopotamia

•Art was made to glorify powerful dynasties

•Made to reflect their beliefs in Gods

•Believed in afterlife, and decorated the tombs with art, furniture and items

Materials used

•Marble

•Red sandstone

•Shells

•Stone

Location…Location…

Mesopotamia is located east of the

Mediterranean Sea.

North of the Syrian Desert & Arabian

Desert.

It is called the ‘Fertile Crescent’

Mesopotamian Mesopotamian Contributions…Contributions…

The ancient Sumerians created the world's first civilization where people settled together in one area known as the city-state.

Sumerians creation of Writing.

The water clock,

TradeMesopotamia did not have many natural resources.

Therefore they needed to trade with neighboring countries.

Grain, Oils & Textiles were taken to Babylonia….To be exchanged for timber, wine and stones.

There were several methods used to transport goods;Grain by boat.

Stones by foot or donkey.

EconomyEconomyBased on Agriculture

Cultivation of Barley

to make Beer

Other products are;

Oil (sesame seeds, linseed)

Flax

Wheat

The South of Mesopotamia has always had a different economy

based on dates and fishing

LanguageLanguageMesopotamia had one of the first recorded

languages

Invented to keep track of farming and trade.

The form of writing was called Cuneiform.

Earliest form of writing in the World.

Sumer – Only upper-class boys attended schools. They mainly learned how to write and spell by copying religious books and songs. Also learned history and mathematics.

Assyria – Education started at the age of 14. They had a Base 60 system, and we use it for time. In present time Mathematics we mainly use a Base 10 system.

They learned: laws and how the government worked, how to worship

gods. To speak the truth ad follow laws Use courage against fear