Mesopotamia

1. Mesopotamia What Artifacts Tell Us of this Complex Society Kit Bernal

2. WAIT I DON’T KNOW WHERE MESOPOTAMIA IS like, is that even a place it’s just there why hello Mesopotamia was located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (modern day Iraq). It was a culturally thriving society with many empires, but lasted approximately from 6000 bce to 700s ce consider yourself enlightened

3. The Five Themes Interaction between humans and the environment Development of Culture Development of Economic Systems State-building, Expansion, and Conflict Development of Social Structures Mesopotamia, being one of the first complex societies, has left behind a wealth of artifacts in various forms which, taken together, encompass all of the AP World History themes and sub-themes. • Demography and disease • Migration • Settlements • Religions • Ideologies • The Arts • Scientific Development • Agriculture • Trade • Labour Systems • Industrialisation • Governments • Empires • Nations • Wars • Gender roles • Familial roles • Ethnic, social, and economic constructions

4. Interaction Between Humans and the Environment in Ancient Mesopotamia The Hittites historum.com Mesopotamians by nature interacted with their environment, located as they were between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Mesopotamians also migrated throughout the region and built distinctive permanent settlements (Theme One subthemes). There were, however, no disease epidemics of any sort. The Hittites were a migrating ethnic group from Indo-Europe that built an empire in Southwest Asia. Depicted here in Egyptian art (the Hittites were prisoners of Ramses the III). Their empire began about 1300 bce, but was overthrown by civil war. Theme One: Migration; Demography Uruk A Babylonian city-state, Uruk was part of the setting for the Mesopotamian literary epic (of Gilgamesh). It is thought to have influenced most of eastern architecture, as shown by the fragmented wall here. This is a definitive settlement and one of the earliest archaeologically accessible cities. Theme One: Patterns of Settlement

5. Development and Interaction of Culture in Ancient Mesopotamia The Alphabet Mesopotamia invented two alphabets. Cuneiform: in use from the 30th century bce, most commonly used for trade transactions, and was primarily linear figures and triangles. Replaced by the Phoenician alphabet (pictured); this featured a symbol for phonetic sounds and letters. Theme Two: Science and Technology The Mesopotamian culture was most prominent through 1. The Epic of Gilgamesh, which also gave light to several Mesopotamian Ideologies and featured a surprising amount of carnage 2. The ziggurat, a religious, pyramid-esque temple 3. Inventing writing and the alphabet if you can read this, thank the mesopotamians Ziggurats Elaborately built pyramids with many steps and columns, ziggurats were giant temples to Mesopotamian gods. Among the gods worshipped were goddesses of fertility, gods of military prowess, and various gods of things in nature. The Mesopotamians were (reasonably) very concerned with agriculture and their gods reflect that, many standing for fertility, the sun, moon, or earth, or weather patterns. Theme Two: Religion; Architecture The Epic of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh focused on the character Gilgamesh and his quest for immortality. It placed high value on being moral, fair, loyal, and family-oriented. It also revealed that the Mesopotamians believed immortality foolish and unattainable and the afterlife an unfavourable place. Theme Two: Ideologies; Arts

6. Development of Economic Systems in Ancient Mesopotamia Though Mesopotamia was first primarily agricultural, specialization occurred and left openings for other jobs. Mesopotamians frequently traded with neighbours as far north as the Mediterranean and were adept at bronze metallurgy. Mesopotamian Trade Mesopotamia was rather lacking in raw materials so they required trade. From Mesopotamia, traders would take textiles and grains in exchange for precious metals, timber, and foods. They traded primarily with the Indus River Valley, although trade networks stretched as far as China. Theme Three: Trade Networks Job Specialisation Many jobs were available to Mesopotamians, including metallurgist. Shown are three bronze weapons made by a craftsmen. Other non-labour oriented jobs included artisan, law officer, tradesmen and sailor. Theme Three: Labour systems Agriculture Mesopotamians were advanced in agriculture because of their location in the fertile crescent. This illustration demonstrates the use of irrigation; farmers also used plows and oxen. Theme Three: Agriculture

7. The Assyrians The Assyrians controlled all of Mesopotamia and most of Syria, Palestine, and Egypt at the height of their empire. This was largely in part of their formidable army, which was based on standardised units and had officers that were promote based on ability. As most other Mesopotamian armies promoted officers based on lineage or social status, the Assyrians conquered them easily. Despite building the cities of Assur and Nineveh, the Assyrians were unpopular rulers due to their brutality and taxation, and were overthrown by a mix of invaders and civil unrest. Theme Four: Wars; Empires State-building and Conquest in Ancient Mesopotamia Mesopotamia was constantly getting conquered by one group or another, and as such had many empires. These empires varied in rule and practice but almost always ended by a) hostile takeover b) civil war c) all of the above Hammurabi Hammurabi was an emperor of Babylon almost 1000 years after Sargon. His reign was fairly peaceful and he is most famous for his civil works and code of laws, which followed the principles of retaliation. The Babylonian empire was invaded after his death. Theme Four: Government; Empires Sargon of Akkad One of the first Mesopotamian conquerors, Sargon came to power in Kish, then captured Uruk and Sumer. After numerous battles, he controlled the entire fertile crescent. Sargon’s empires revolted after his death. Theme Four: Empires raaargh

8. Social Structures in Ancient Mesopotamia Mesopotamia had a fairly straightforward social hierarchy in place. It was also an oppressive patriarchy. Social Hierarchy of Mesopotamia Kings were often considered ambassadors of deities or demigods Kings Priests: essential for communicating with the gods Soldiers: law officers and defenders Farmers, teachers, labourers, craftsmen: essential to society but not possessing great power Various Mesopotamian carvings show social structures in action. Here, a king governs his subjects, three men spinning thread, and a group of Sauron’s slave labourers. Working Class Treated unfairly and having little to no say in society Slaves, Peasants, and Women