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Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia. The Land Between the Rivers. Where did civilization come from?. More Complex… Politically: government and Military Power Economically: Metal smelting and keeping track of wealth Socially: Many forms of Status Intellectually: Writing and passing on of knowledge

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Mesopotamia

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  1. Mesopotamia The Land Between the Rivers

  2. Where did civilization come from? • More Complex… • Politically: government and Military Power • Economically: Metal smelting and keeping track of wealth • Socially: Many forms of Status • Intellectually: Writing and passing on of knowledge • Religiously: Spiritual Order here and there • Artistically: Literature, sculpture, painting, music, architecture • Urban Revolution

  3. Where did civilization come from? • What allowed all of this increased complexity? • Why Mesopotamia? • Land between the rivers • Intense Labor for Irrigation • Labor or religion as a binding force?

  4. The Fertile Crescent

  5. I. Sumerian Political Structures • City States

  6. I. Sumerian Political Structures • City States • Kingship: Origins • Lugal • Divine Right and Representation • Sources of Power • Warfare • Usually Economic • Lugalzaggisi

  7. Sumerian Advancements(wheel and irrigation)

  8. Other Sumerian Details • Invented the 1st for of writing cuneiform

  9. Timeline of Mesopotamia • 4000 BCE Sumerian City States • 2350 BCE Akkadian Empire • 1800 BCE Babylonian Empire • 1595 BCE Hittite Empire • 1100 BCE Assyrian Empire • 612 BCE Chaldean Empire • 550 BCE Persian Empire

  10. III. The Akkadians • Sargon of Akkad (the Great) • Scope of Empire

  11. Akkadian Empire

  12. III. The Akkadians • Sargon of Akkad (the Great) • Scope of Empire • Semitic People

  13. AkkadianAchievements and Collapse • Conquered Mesopotamia to create the worlds first empire • They were able to control the empire by bounding it together with a network of roads which: • Allow trade • Allow the King to move the military quickly • Libraries for learning • Own written language (own translation of Gilgamesh) • Treaty with Hittites to maintain peace • Eventually climate change, invasions, and poor leadership contributed to their collapse

  14. Mesopotamian Timeline • 4000 BCE Sumerian City States • 2350 BCE Akkadian Empire • 1800 BCE Babylonian Empire • 1595 BCE Hittite Empire • 1100 BCE Assyrian Empire • 612 BCE Chaldean Empire • 550 BCE Persian Empire

  15. IV. Babylonia Empire • Post Akkadian Independence and Violence • Third Dynasty of Ur (c. 2112-2000 BCE) • Ur-Nammu • Law and Taxes • Problems

  16. Babylonian Empire (old)

  17. IV. Babylonia Empire • Post Akkadian Independence and Violence • Third Dynasty of Ur (c. 2112-2000 BCE) • Ur-Nammu • Law and Taxes • Problems • Hammurabi (1792-1750 BCE) • Law Code: Reciprocal Justice • Unification

  18. V. Mesopotamian Economics • Agriculturally Based • Trade • Production • Imports • Land and Sea • Taxes

  19. VI. Religion in Mesopotamia • City States a reflection of Spirituality • Owned by the Gods • Zigggurat • Rest of land for businessmen

  20. VI. Religion in Mesopotamia • Role of Environment • Unpredictable: Floods, storms, water, humidity “The rampant flood which no man can oppose, Which shakes the heavens and causes earth to tremble, In an appalling blanket folds mother and child, Beats down the canebrake’s full luxuriant greenery, And drowns the harvest in its time of ripeness.” --Akkadian Hymn

  21. VI. Religion in Mesopotamia • Main Gods • An—Sky, authority • Enlil—Wind, force, fertility, storms • Enki—Earth, waters, creativity, crafts • Ninhursaga—Soil, Motherhood, birthed the kings • Lesser Gods—Celestial Deities

  22. VI. Religion in Mesopotamia • Divination • Largest Category of Akkadian Literature • Animal Sacrifice and examination • Smoke Patterns, Oil, Dice • Horoscopes and Astrology • Epic of Gilgamesh • Semi-Fictional King • Relationship to Gods as he seeks eternal life

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