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Mesopotamia. 5 Characteristics Of Civilization. Bell Ringer For 11/14/2011. What are the 5 characteristics of civilization?. Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia = Greek for “ Land between rivers ” Tigris & Euphrates Located in what is called Fertile Crescent Sumerians (Began about 4000 B.C.E.)
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Mesopotamia 5 Characteristics Of Civilization
Bell Ringer For 11/14/2011 • What are the 5 characteristics of civilization?
Mesopotamia • Mesopotamia = Greek for “Land between rivers” • Tigris & Euphrates • Located in what is called Fertile Crescent • Sumerians (Began about 4000 B.C.E.) • Assyrians • Babylonians • No Natural Boundaries • Difficult to defend • Lacked stone & wood, built walls out of mud bricks
Five Characteristics Of Civilization • Advanced Cities • Specialized Workers • Complex Institutions • Record Keeping & Writing • Advanced Technology • 2 Important Rulers • Sargon of Akkad – Unified Mesopotamia in 2360 BCE • Hammurabi – Babylonian emperor, code of laws
1. Advanced Cities • City-State – A city surrounded by farm land • Economic, Political, & Religious Center • Rulers of city-states had absolute power & treated like gods • Every city had a ziggurat(temple at the center). • Ex. Of City-States: • Ur & Uruk
2. Complex Institutions • Ways of organizing people • Religion: • Polytheistic – believe in many gods • Only gods were immortal • After death people enter a realm of shadows • Feel no pleasure or pain • Theocracy – Religious leaders run the government
2. Complex Institutions • Ziggurat = city hall & temple • Believed gods controlled nature • Ex. Angry gods = natural disaster • Worshipped gods for protection & good harvests • Laws: • Hammurabi’s Code of Laws – 285 laws for society
3. Specialized Workers • Traders/Merchants • Goods from distant regions; leads to new cities • Cultural diffusion – spread of ideas from culture to culture • Participated in bartering (trading goods & services for other goods & services)
3. Specialized Workers • Artisans • Jewelry, metal-work, pottery, clothing, weapons.
3. Specialized Workers • Scribes • Educated • Understood writing system and record transactions • Priests – carryout & maintain religious tradition
4. Record Keeping & Writing • Writing made its first appearance in Mesopotamia • Cuneiform – means “wedge-shaped” • Was written on clay tablets using a reed • The impressions were wedge-shaped
5. Advanced Technology • 3000 BCE • The Plow – Could raise more crops • The Sailboat & The Wheel • Able to move goods quickly • The 360 Degree circle & math system based on 60 • Bronze Working • Calender
Hammurabi’s Code • 1792 B.C.E. • 282 Laws • Copies engraved on stone • Uniform code of laws
Hammurabi’s Code • Brought unity to Mesopotamia • Punishments from fines to death • Protected: • Family, Property, Business
Hammurabi’s Code • Intro To The Code Of Laws: • “When Marduk [a god] sent me to rule the people and to bring help to the country, I established law and justice in the language of the land…”
Hammurabi’s Code • 4. “If a man bear false witness [lies] in a case….if that case be a case involving life, that man shall be put to death.” • 22. “If a man practices robbery and is captured, that man shall be put to death.” • 129. If a man's wife be surprised (cheating) with another man, both shall be tied and thrown into the water, but the husband may pardon his wife and the king his slaves.
Hammurabi’s Code • 195. “If a son strike his father, they shall cut off his hand.” • 196. “If a man destroy the eye of another man, they shall destroy his eye.”
Ten Commandments • Around 14-12 BCE • The biblical story of Moses • Given to Moses on Mount Sinai • Meant as a guide to people’s lives
Ten Commandments • Ten Commandments: • I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before me. • Thou shall have no false gods • Thou shall not use the lord’s name in vain • Remember the Sabbath & keep it holy • Honor your father & mother • Thou shalt not kill
Ten Commandments • Thou shalt not commit adultery • Thou shalt not steal • Do not wear bear false witness against your neighbor • Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife
Hammurabi vs. Ten Commandments • What are similarities? • What are differences?
Class Activity • You will be numbered off into groups. • You will come up with 5 rules for a successful classroom • You have 10 minutes to come up with your rules • You will then share your rules with the class