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Ancient Civilizations:

Ancient Civilizations:. Ancient Civilizations: Mesopotamia. Geography & Environment. “the land between the rivers…”. The Geography. On which continent was Mesopotamia located?

jeremy-baker
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Ancient Civilizations:

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  1. Ancient Civilizations:

  2. Ancient Civilizations:Mesopotamia

  3. Geography & Environment “the land between the rivers…”

  4. The Geography • On which continent was Mesopotamia located? • Asia; in what is modern day Iraq, Syria & Turkey

  5. The Geography • On which river did the ancient Mesopotamians settle? • Between the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers; in an area known as the Fertile Crescent

  6. Early Mesopotamian Kingdoms

  7. Mesopotamian Cultures • Mesopotamia did NOT represent a unified kingdom, instead it was made up of a series of kingdoms that occupied a specific geographical space

  8. Mesopotamian Cultures • Sumer • Akkad • Babylonia • Assyria • Neo-Babylonia • Persia

  9. 3500 – 2300 BCE Sumer The first civilization

  10. Sumerian Geography • Geography: • Located at the southern end of Mesopotamia • Near the mouths of the Tigris & Euphrates

  11. Sumerian Geography • City-state: • A city + its surrounding lands • Independent political units that competed for trade & boundaries • i.e. Uruk, Kish, Ur, Lagash

  12. Sumerian Geography • Characteristics: • Shared culture • Unique government • Outer walls • A central temple/ziggurat

  13. Sumerian Religion & Government • Polytheism: • The worship of more than one god • Believed gods were immortal & all powerful; humans were to serve the gods

  14. Sumerian Religion & Government • Ziggurat: • Temples where sacrifices and offerings were made to the gods • Animals, food, wine, etc.

  15. Sumerian Religion & Government • City-states were ruled by priest- kings who were viewed as powerful agents of the gods

  16. Sumerian Culture & Knowledge • Despite their religious practices, Sumerians had little, if any, belief in an afterlife • Believed that the souls of the dead went to the “land of no return”

  17. Sumerian Culture & Knowledge • Developed a form of writing language known as cuneiform

  18. Sumerian Culture & Knowledge • Invention of the wheel (3000 BC) • Economy based on farming & trade • CULTURAL DIFFUSION

  19. Sumerian Culture & Knowledge • Other notable contributions: • Invention of the sail & plow • The usage of bronze • Development of a number system

  20. Babylonia 1790 – 1590 BCE The first system of justice

  21. The Babylonian Empire • In 1792 BC a new empire took control of Mesopotamia • Babylonia • Reached its height during the reign of Hammurabi

  22. The Babylonian Empire • Hammurabi’s Code: • Written code of laws • Stressed responsible behavior • Capital punishment

  23. The Babylonian Empire • “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” • Punishments based on SOCIAL CLASS • Laws focused on ALL aspects of society

  24. Hammurabi’s Code If the "finger is pointed" at a man's wife about another man, but she is not caught sleeping with the other man, she shall jump into the river for the sake of her husband. If he breaks another man's bone, his bone shall be broken. If a son strikes his father his hands shall be hewn off.

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