Chapter 2Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent

Section 1The Geography of Ancient Mesopotamia

MesopotamiaRegion where Tigris & Euphrates Rivers flow

Name means: “land between two rivers”Rivers: provide water and means of travel

Fertile SoilRain & melting snow caused river flooding

Soil picked up from mts.Rivers overflowed their banks causing flooding

and spreading of silt onto land (good for growing crops)

An Arid ClimateLess than 10” of rain w/ hot summers

Arid ClimateAncient people could still grow crops due to

rivers and fertile soil3500 B.C.

Widespread farming villages across Mesopotamia

Flood & DroughtsFloods were unpredictable

Extent of floods dependent on amount of rain & snow melt

Too little rain & snow melt meant no flood Would cause drought & people would starve

Irrigation6000 B.C.

People took steps to control water supply Built earth walls to hold back water during floods Built canals to carry water to the fields

Constant challenge to keep canals free from muddy silt

A Land of Few ResourcesNo forests for wood in MesopotamiaLittle stone and mineralsReed & Brick Houses

Used to build homesCrumbled easily in bad weather & had to be repaired

oftenBrick Walls

Area was invaded easily because it was not surrounded by mts. or other natural barriers

Mesopotamia often conquered or stolen from Built brick walls around their towns & villages

Sometimes 25 feet thick w/ guard towers and surrounded by open ditches or moats

Trading for ResourcesObtained stone, wood, copper, and tin

through tradeTraded for luxuries such as gold, ivory, ebony,

and precious stonesOffered grain, dates, and other farm products

Could do this due to a surplus of cropsJobs such as trading, digging canals, building

walls, and farming were done over and overCommunity leaders organized groups of

people to do the work at the right time

Section 2The First Civilizations

The Rise of CivilizationVillages grew larger & larger

Eventually became citiesWorkers Organized to solve problems

Building & cleaning irrigation canalsSociety & culture grew more complex

Changes led to civilization 1st 3300 B.C. in Sumer

Sumerian City-StatesCities were:

Centers of trade, learning, & religionMost people lived in countryside

Over time cities ruled surrounding lands & villages Called a city-state

Sumer had 12 city-statesBabylon, Kish, Nippur, and UrFertile land; farmers grew lots of food;

supported larger populations

A Sumerian CityNarrow, winding streets; walls surrounded

cities, w/ gates to let people inHomes built of reeds and mud or brick

Series of rooms arranged around a courtyard

The Ziggurat: Center of the CityLargest & most important structure in cityCenter of temple complex

Like a city hall (priests ran irrigation system & other important aspects of city life) People paid for services with grain and other items Priests controlled grain surplus & city-state’s

wealth

Priests Become LeadersPriests

Played political role & religious role People went to them to ask the gods for help

Sumerians believed in polytheismBelieved in many gods and goddesses4 main gods: gods of the sky, winds, hills, and fresh

water Each city-state worshipped their own main god Believed gods could prevent bad things from happening Each god had many priests who worked to satisfy the

gods & claimed to have influence with them Because of this people accepted priests as leaders

New Leaders in Sumer3000 B.C.

City-states were attacked because of their wealth Some from far off lands During these times a powerful man was asked to rule them and

protect the city At 1st just in time of war; eventually full time

New leadersTook over some of priests jobs

Maintained canals, managed grain surplus, & acted as judges Eventually became a king of people

2375 B.C.Sumer became a kingdom under one kingPriests were still important for pleasing the gods and

keeping evil away

Sumerian SocietySocial Classes created

King & priests were part of upper class Believed to have links to gods Landowners, gov’t officials, & rich merchants were

also part of upper classMiddle class

All other free people (farmers, artisans, etc.)Lowest class

Slaves: had some rights; could conduct business, borrow money, & buy freedom

Role of WomenWomen were included in all social classesSome were priestesses, owned land, worked

as merchants and artisans, and raised children

Sumerian Scientific DevelopmentsGood at solving problemsInvented and developed knowledge to better

their livesEarly Inventions:

The plow: helped farmersThe wheel: transport goods & used to make

pottery fasterMathematics:

Developed arithmetic to keep records of crops and trade goods Number system based on 60

Written language Invented writing to meet business needs

Merchants needed records of exchange Also wanted to label goods

Marked outside of containers with pictographs

Pictographs: 1st showed actual objects Later stood for ideas & sounds

Eventually stopped using pictures & used wedge-shaped symbols Wedge-shaped writing called cuneiform

Writing System was complex 600 different symbols; took years to learn; few people were able to

read and write Scribes: people to specialized in writing

Professional record keepers

Writing later used to write about wars, floods, & reigns of kings

Section 3

Empires of the Fertile Crescent

The First Empire Builders3000 to 2000 B.C.

Kings fought over Sumer land More land = more wealth and power to king No single king was able to control all of

Mesopotamia

The Akkadian EmpireSargon

2371 B.C. took control of region1st creator of 1st empire (Akkadian Empire)Eventually ruled lands from Persian Gulf through

Mesopotamia to the Mediterranean Sea Area known as Fertile Crescent: rich soil and water

made area good for farming

EmpiresImportant because they change the way people

live May bring peace, encourage trade, include people from

several cultures (ideas, technology, & customs)

The Babylonian Empire & HammurabiAkkadian Empire fell apart due to attacks

from outside peopleAmorites invaded Sumer & set capital in

BabylonHammurabi ruled Empire

Created a code of law to control the lands & that people had to follow He reviewed all existing laws and drew up a single

law & displayed it on a huge pillar in Babylon

Hammurabi CodeGoal: justice to everyone in empire

Id wrongdoings & their punishment Society should be run by the rule of law & apply to

everyone People have right to know laws and the punishment

for not following them

Assyrians & ChaldeansAssyria took control of F.C.Built powerful army and set out to control

neighboring landsA Powerful Empire

Used latest inventions for war Iron swords, iron-tipped spears, battering rams,

ladders,& dug tunnels

AshurbanipalRuled during height of Assyrian Empire

Assyrians governed land by appoint governor to rule each landSent tribute to Assyrian emperor

Pay for protection give by Assyrian army Fail to pay & army destroyed cities in governors

land & people where exiled

Assyria CrumblesMedes & Chaldeans joined forces to defeat

AssyriansBurned capital of Nineveh to the ground

A New Babylonian EmpireChaldeans ruled former Assyrian empire

Capital was BabylonNebuchadnezzar II was emperor

Rebuilt city of Babylon Added artificial mts. covered with trees and plants;

appeared to be floating gardens

Chaldeans were cruel rulersDestroyed Hebrews’ sacred temple in

JerusalemHeld thousands of Hebrews captive

Persia Controls Southwest AsiaMedes

Controlled east of F.C.Area bounded by mts. ranges

PeriansNomads from Central Asia

Created tiny kingdoms & thrived through trade Grew in power and threatened for control

Cyrus Founds the Persian EmpireCyrus took control of Medes EmpireVision of conquering lands around Persia & uniting to

form one empireConquered Anatolia, lands once controlled by

Assyrians & ChaldeansNeeded way to control lands filled w/ different peopleSet up a policy of toleration

Allowed people to keep their customs & beliefs Worship their own gods, speak their language, & practice

their own way of life Had to pay tribute though

Fewer revolts & people lived in peace

Darius Expands the EmpireCambyses

Successor of Cyrus Ruled through hard means After his death rebellions broke out

Darius Strong leader who came to power & dealt with

rebellions Looked to expand boundaries

Expanded as far east as India (2,800 miles)

New policies for huge empire Empire divided into 20 provinces

Each had local gov’t Satraps (governors) carried out orders in provinces and

collected taxes Military commander for each satrap Had spies (king’s eyes and ears) to be sure satraps followed

orders

Darius also built a Royal Road to help unite the empire1,775 miles longRoyal messages sent along the roadMail and military troops also used road

Darius set up a code of law based on Hammurabi’s model & minted coins (promoted business and made it easy to pay taxes)

Planned a march against Egyptian rebelsBut died before that happenedSon Xerxes dealt with Egypt