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Mesopotamia (4000-1000 BCE)

Mesopotamia (4000-1000 BCE). Government City-states Monarchy- priest-kings Record keeping Law-Code of Hammurabi. Religion. Polytheistic Gods not always helpful reflected struggle with unpredictable environment War-like gods who possessed total control over human lives

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Mesopotamia (4000-1000 BCE)

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  1. Mesopotamia(4000-1000 BCE) • Government • City-states • Monarchy- priest-kings • Record keeping • Law-Code of Hammurabi

  2. Religion • Polytheistic • Gods not always helpful • reflected struggle with unpredictable environment • War-like gods who possessed total control over human lives • Sacrifices, rituals, temples (ziggurats) • Power of priests and priestesses

  3. Sumerian City-States(4000-2300 BCE) • Located on Mesopotamian plain-close to Tigris & Euphrates Rivers • Not unified under one leader-multiple city-states • Constant conflict over resources • Common language, culture, religion • Agriculture & trade (as far away as India)

  4. Epic of Gilgamesh • Epic poem-2000 BCE • Reveals beliefs about afterlife • tells of great flood • similar to Noah in Jewish & Christian Old Testament • Corresponds to rise of oceans as Ice Age retreated

  5. Sumerian Contributions • Cuneiform-earliest written language • Wheel • Plow • Sailboat • Mathematical system • Astronomy

  6. Akkadian Empire (2330-2100 BCE) • Semitic people who migrated from the Arabian Peninsula • Conquered Sumerians • Central city of Akkad-later became Babylon • World’s first empire • Sargon the Great- conquered Sumerian cities & territory westward to ensure metal supplies

  7. Babylonia Empire(1800-1500 BCE) • Babylon located on Euphrates River • Hammurabi was sixth king • Important trade center • Code of Hammurabi

  8. Code of Hammurabi • 282 Laws-formed Babylonian legal system • One of earliest written laws • King’s responsibility to maintain order & justice • Basis of international commercial law: regulated contracts, interest, mortgages, etc. • Harsh penalties- reflects social hierarchy • Carved into a stela, (stone pillar)- kept in a special temple

  9. Assyrian Empire(1100-612 BCE) • Assur, city on Tigris River originally under Babylonian rule • Over two centuries, fought to expand their control • Lower Mesopotamia, Persia, Syria, Sinai Peninsula & along SE coast of Med. Sea into Egypt • controlled trade between Anatolia & Mesopotamia • highly centralized government headed by royal appointed governors • ruled with terror • Advanced weapons (seige engine) • Built a fine library (literature, math, science) • Encouraged private enterprise rather than state monopoly • Overthrown by Chaldeans

  10. Chaldean EmpireNeo-Babylonian(612-539 BCE) • Another name for Babylonia • Took control of Babylon through bloody battles • Known for cruelty • King Nebuchadnezzar conquered Canaan & enslaved the Israelites • “Babylonian Captivity” Hanging Gardens • terraces rising to palace roof irrigated by pumps • Astronomy-created manuals for later civilizations • Timekeeping-divided the day into 12 double hours • 7 day week division of the hour into sixty minutes

  11. Persian Empire(550-333 BCE) • Originated on plateau east of Zagros Mtns • Indo Aryran origins • Cyrus the Great • Tolerant rule-respected different religions, languages customs • Divided into provinces-satrapies- constructed roads

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