1 / 39

Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia. The First Civilization. Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia. Geography of Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia means “land between the 2 rivers”—Tigris & Euphrates

amanda
Download Presentation

Mesopotamia

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Mesopotamia The First Civilization

  2. Mesopotamia

  3. Mesopotamia

  4. Mesopotamia

  5. Mesopotamia

  6. Mesopotamia

  7. Geography of Mesopotamia • Mesopotamia means “land between the 2 rivers”—Tigris & Euphrates • “Fertile Crescent” refers to the area of rich soil created by the flooding of the Tigris & Euphrates • BUT…river flooding was very irregular, region became very dry because of surrounding deserts, few natural resources, not easy area to defend against invasion

  8. The First Civilization • Sumer was 1st civilization; composed of many city-states • Sumerians overcame harshness of dry season by building irrigation ditches to allow for farming • Built many city-states with large walls for protection and began to trade to increase resources

  9. Sumerian Writing • Sumerians were the 1st to develop writing, called cuneiform. Wedge-shaped letters were written into wet clay and dried

  10. Sumerian Way of Life • Sumerians were polytheistic (worshiped many gods) & believed the gods were powerful, immortal, and that there was no joy in the afterlife • Built ziggurats (temples) to worship the gods

  11. Sumerian Social Classes • Priests were early government leaders, but successful military commanders eventually became kings, sharing power with priests • Social status: • 1st king & priest • 2nd merchants • 3rd workers • 4th slaves

  12. Sumerian Women • Sumer was a patriarchal society (men were superior to women) • Women had many rights, could hold jobs as priests and shopkeepers, but could not attend school • "Pay heed to the word of your mother as though it were the word of a god."

  13. End of the Sumerians • Sumer survived for 2,000 years, but the last 1,000 consisted of many battles between their own city-states • Eventually, Sumer was overtaken by invaders

  14. Examining Mesopotamian Civilizations & Constructing Timeline of Empires

  15. Sumerians • First civilization • Developed irrigation, city-states with high walls, trade, cuneiform • Polytheistic, built ziggurats

  16. Babylonians • Created first empire in Mesopotamia • Developed Hammurabi’s Code—first written set of laws

  17. Hammurabi’s Code Hammurabi’s prologue explains the purpose of the code: “to cause justice to prevail in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil, and to prevent the strong from oppressing the weak . . . To enlighten the land and to further the welfare of the people.”

  18. 282 specific laws. • The code uses the principal of “eye for an eye” to punish crimes. • Different punishments for rich and poor, men and women.

  19. Hebrews (Jews) • Monotheistic, led to oppression in Egypt • Led by Moses to (Canaan) Israel; given 10 Commandments • Ethical Monotheism - be kind (their emphasis on proper conduct – God punishes the wicked and greedy)

  20. Phoenicians • Traders, excellent sailors • Created trading colonies throughout Mediterranean Sea • First alphabet—simplified cuneiform to 22 letters

  21. Phoenicians • Phoenician colonies: • Carthage • Sicily • Corsica • Sardinia • What is the Phoenicians’ most lasting contribution?

  22. Assyrians • Mighty fighters; greatest army • Organized, used iron weapons (no mercy!!!) • First library (in the city of Nineveh – 25,000 clay tablets).

  23. Chaldeans • Created Hanging Gardens • Zodiac calendar—stars could predict human destiny • Developed 4-week month based on phases of moon • Last Mesopotamian empire

  24. Persians • 1st Foreign empire, conquered Mesopotamia and Egypt; • Tolerant—allowed conquered areas to keep local customs & religion • Developed first roads, standard coins, standard weights & measures • Zoroaster—prophet who wrote about heaven & hell; you could choose your path based on how you lived your life; different from Sumerian’s view of dull afterlife

  25. Current Countries with the Borders of the Persian Empire

More Related