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Mesopotamia II

Mesopotamia II. The Peoples of Mesopotamia. Rough Timeline. Early years: Sumer : (South)3500-1900 BCE Akkad : (North) 2340-2180 BCE Unified Empires: Babylonia : 1900-1300 BCE Assyria : 1300-609 BCE Chaldea: 609-530 BCE. Sumerians. Social, economic and intellectual basis

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Mesopotamia II

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  1. Mesopotamia II The Peoples of Mesopotamia

  2. Rough Timeline • Early years: • Sumer: (South)3500-1900 BCE • Akkad: (North) 2340-2180 BCE • Unified Empires: • Babylonia: 1900-1300 BCE • Assyria: 1300-609 BCE • Chaldea: 609-530 BCE

  3. Sumerians • Social, economic and intellectual basis • Irrigated fields and produced 3 main crops • Barley • Dates • Sesame seeds • Built canals, dikes, dams and drainage systems • Develop cuneiform writing • Invented the wheel

  4. Sumerians • Abundance of food led to steady increase of population (farm, towns, cities) • Developed a trade/bartering system: • mainly barley but also wool and cloth for stone, metals, timber, copper, pearls and ivory • No individual land ownership • Priests control land on behalf of the gods • People rent land from priests, profits go to temple

  5. Then and now…

  6. Akkadians • Led by Sargon the Great • Sargon conquered Sumerians in 2331 BCE, unified lower Mesopotamia • Captured Sumerian city of Ur, also invaded Egypt and Ethiopia, Palestine • Spread Mesopotamian culture • Established capital at Akkad • Short-lived dynasty: Akkadians were conquered by the invading barbarians by 2200 BCE

  7. Sumer vs Akkad

  8. Babylonians • Babylonians reunited Mesopotamia in 1830 BCE • Central location dominated trade and secured control • But, Mesopotamia was not unified for long • Invasions: • from the north by the Hittites (1595 BCE) • from the south by the Kassites (1555 BCE)

  9. King Hammurabi • Amorite king who conquered Akkad and Assyria • north and south, unifying Mesopotamia • Ruled from 1792 -1750 BCE • Built new walls to protect the city and new canals and dikes to improve crops • Individuals could own land around cities • Artisans and merchants could keep most profits and even formed guilds/associations

  10. King Hammurabi • Economy based on agriculture and wool/cloth • Grain used as the medium of exchange • emergence of measurement of currency • shekel = 180 grains of barley • mina = 60 shekels • Mina was eventually represented by metals • Still based on grain, but one of the first uses of money

  11. The Code of Hammurabi • To enforce his rule, Hammurabi collected all the laws of Babylon into a code that would apply everywhere in the land • Most extensive law code from the ancient world (1800 BCE) • Code of 282 laws inscribed on a stone pillar placed in the public hall for all to see • Punishments were designed to fit the crimes: • Origin to the concept of “eye for an eye” • Ex: If a son struck his father, the son’s hand would be cut off • Consequences for crimes depended on rank in society • only fines for nobility

  12. Assyria • 10th century BCE, Assyria emerged as dominant force in the north • City of Assur became important trading and political centre • After Hammurabi’s death, Babylon fell apart and kings of Assur controlled more of surrounding area, eventually reuniting Mesopotamia • Made conquered lands pay taxes (food, animals, metals or timber)

  13. Assyria • Warlike people who ruled by fear • Assyrian kings were the first to have a permanent army made up of professional soldiers (estimated 200,000 men) • Made superior weapons of bronze and iron • Iron also changed daily life in Mesopotamia • replaced wooden wheels, used in horse drawn chariots

  14. After Assyria • States began to revolt and Assyrian Empire collapsed by late 7th century BCE • Chaldeans rule from 609-530 BCE, mostly under king Nebuchadnezzar • In 530 BCE Persia (under Cyrus the Great) invades and Mesopotamia becomes part of the vast Persian Empire • Persian Empire dominated for 800 years until Alexander the Great

  15. Sumer Closely tied to environment Irrigation techniques for farming Wheel Trade - bartering Writing - cuneiform Religion tied to government as priests and kings made decision for gods Ziggurats Babylon Production of food through farming Private ownership of land vs ownership by the gods Developed mathematics and calendar system and system of units for currency Hammurabi’s law code Quick Comparison • Assyria • Kings conquered lands to create empire of Assyria • Cooler climate could produce crops with little irrigation • Deposits of ore allowed for development and use of iron • Assyrian army became most effective military force

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