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Mesopotamia Tigris and Euphrates River Valley

Mesopotamia Tigris and Euphrates River Valley. Cradle of Western Civilization 3200 B.C – 1500 B.C. Geography p. 28. Fertile Crescent Started between 2 rivers – Tigris & Euphrates Unpredictable flooding Lack of natural barriers Easy to conquer Several civilizations occupied the area

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Mesopotamia Tigris and Euphrates River Valley

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  1. MesopotamiaTigris and Euphrates River Valley

    Cradle of Western Civilization 3200 B.C – 1500 B.C.
  2. Geography p. 28 Fertile Crescent Started between 2 rivers – Tigris & Euphrates Unpredictable flooding Lack of natural barriers Easy to conquer Several civilizations occupied the area Small area Few natural resources copper & tin
  3. Cultural Diffusion: That different cultures shared ideas and characteristics is particularly important to this region as ideas were shared (or taken as they were conquered), modified and improved upon. During this time period a number of achievements started.
  4. Sumerians (3500 – 1600 BC) Earliest known civilization, based in Ur City-State pop. 10,000-20,000 Political Organization Lugals (kings put in place by the gods, not gods themselves) Conquered by Akkadians (2300) King Sargon Babylonians (2000) Hanging Gardens of Babylon
  5. Sumerians (3200 – 1600 BC) Cuneiform writing wedged tool in clay Permanent Not very portable Earliest Literature Epic of Gilgamesh (2500 BC) Story of a young ruler’s adventures and his quest for immortality What man is most impressive now: Who is finest, fittest, and most fair? Isn’t Gilgamesh that man above men ? Individual Excellence and Achievement What does this society value?
  6. Sumerians (3500 – 1600 BC) Religion – polytheistic Sky gods, and Earth gods (immortal super-humans) Animism No ethical function Early attempt to understand the forces of nature
  7. Ziggurats: enormous, pyramid-like temples for religious purposes.
  8. Ziggurats: enormous, pyramid-like temples for religious purposes.
  9. Ziggurats: enormous, pyramid-like temples for religious purposes.
  10. Ziggurats: enormous, pyramid-like temples for religious purposes.
  11. Hammurabi’s Code (first written law) VERY BIG DEAL The Law Applies to everyone Protect the weak from the powerful Provides consistency, predictability Displayed publicly Law, Religion & fundamentals of science passed to the conquering societies
  12. Phoeniciansbrought Phonetic Alphabet Trading Empire
  13. Iron Age (1100 BC.) Iron is much harder than bronze when properly treated. Requires special carbonization process. Closely guarded secret by those who had the knowledge
  14. Assyrians1350-612 BC Communication Chariots Military Organization Empire Building and Organization
  15. •Persians 550- 331 Roads (empire wide communication) Equality of foreign citizens Standing Army
  16. Hebrews Monotheistic Religion Torah / Law of Moses and the Prophets
  17. •Abraham Nomadic Herdsmen From Ur (Sumer) Founder of the Hebrew faith Yahweh, “One God,” told him to take his family and move to Canaan (The Promised Land). ( 1800 BC) Jews. Christians and Muslims trace their roots to Abraham Ishmael (son) father of Islam Jacob a.k.a. Israel (grandson) Father of Jews Historically, Both worship the same god Yahweh = Allah
  18. Jewish History Jacob’s family enters Egypt Grow into a culture under Hyksos Pharaohs Become slaves under the Egyptian Pharaohs Moses leads Hebrews out of Egypt (circa 1250 BC) Set up the Kingdom of Israel. Build the Temple Babylonians conquer, destroy Temple, disperse them 1st Diasporas (dispersal) 586 BC Less than half return and rebuild within 50 years. Conquered by the Roman Empire (63 BC) 2nd Diasporas, Temple destroyed again. (70 AD) They become a persecuted minority around the world, peaking in Nazi Germany’s Holocaust in the 20th Century.
  19. Beliefs Monotheistic worship of Yahweh, the only omnipotent being and one true god. God is good and expects us to be good (God is Moral) Law Code: Ten Commandments and Mosaic Law Holy Books: The Torah, the Talmud The Hebrews believe they have a special place in Yahweh’s plan for the world. The Messiah: The Prophets of Judaism prophesy of the son of Yahweh who will be a deliverer or Savior to the Hebrew people; the dead will be resurrected by the Messiah.
  20. Christianity A religion founded on the belief that Jesus Christ of Nazareth was the Messiah that the Hebrew’s have been waiting Includes Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews) Persecuted initially Becomes the official religion of Rome in 380 AD Christianity becomes the most important religion of the Western World.
  21. Who does this Sound like? Religious values Monotheism Ethical God Law Written Applies to everyone Phonetic Alphabet Values personal achievement and excellence. Math 60 second/minute 360 degree circle Decimal places Us !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have inherited pieces of all these cultures, including our faith and values from Mesopotamia.
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