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The Ancient Middle East. 1. Mesopotamia: "Land Between the Two Rivers". Indo-European Migrations: 4m-2m BCE. The Middle East: “The Crossroads of Three Continents”. The Ancient Fertile Crescent Area. The Middle East: “The Cradle of Civilization”. Sumerians.
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The Ancient Middle East
1. Mesopotamia: "Land Between the Two Rivers"
Indo-European Migrations: 4m-2m BCE The Middle East: “The Crossroads of Three Continents”
The Ancient Fertile Crescent Area The Middle East: “The Cradle of Civilization”
Sumerian Religion - Polytheistic Enki – water or life Innana - heaven Anthropomorphic (having human characteristics) Gods
Mesopotamian Trade “The Cuneiform World”
Sumerian Scribes “Tablet House”
Cuneiform deciphered by Sir Henry Creswicke Rawlinson in 1838 using carving on Behistun Rock by Darius I
Ziggurat at Ur • Temple • “Mountain of the Gods”
Dates: 3000 to 2000 BCE • Sumerian achievements also include: • The wheel • The arch • A number system based on 60 • A calendar – not accurate • Govt. was a city-state with each city controlling the surrounding land – each city-state had its own king • By 2500 BCE began to decline
Babylonians • Dates: 1800 – 1600 BCE • Important Ruler: Hammurabi • By 1763 BCE Hammurabi’s kingdom stretched from northern Mesopotamia to the Persian Gulf.
Important accomplishment: Hammurabi’s Code (Laws) • Code was very much “an eye for an eye” • Poor people were punished more severely than the rich • Defined the position of women in Babylonian society and established marriage, divorce and adoption laws.
Beginning in 1600 BCE and continuing for several centuries, the region of Mesopotamia was conquered by a succession of invading armies. • HITTITES attacked 1530 BCE and reached peak of power @1300 BCE. • First to use Iron weapons and introduced the use of horses in warfare.