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Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia. “Land b/w Rivers” Tigris and Euphrates Today Iraq Ancient people had no name for whole land Associated w/ cities, kingdoms, regions Considered 1 st civilization Garden Eden Sumerians “Cradle Civilization”. Sumerians. Geography. Rivers = Life

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Mesopotamia

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  1. Mesopotamia

  2. Mesopotamia • “Land b/w Rivers” • Tigris and Euphrates • Today Iraq • Ancient people had no name for whole land • Associated w/ cities, kingdoms, regions • Considered 1st civilization • Garden Eden • Sumerians • “Cradle Civilization”

  3. Sumerians

  4. Geography • Rivers = Life • Fertile Crescent • Environmental Challenges • Drought & Flooding • Solve by irrigation, dams • No natural barriers for protection • Solve by city walls, war technologies • Little natural resources • Solve by trade

  5. How has Mesopotamia’s Geography shaped its people?

  6. Mesopotamian Kings • Not Divine • Did Gods will • Duties: • Religious, Judicial, State • Substitute Kings

  7. Hammurabi’s Code

  8. Hammurabi Code Project Topics • Healthcare • Criminal Justice System • Family Life • Jobs • Slaves

  9. Hammurabi Code Summary Questions • Was Hammurabi’s form of justice fair? • Were the laws appropriate for their time period? • Do you think these laws were actively followed and enforced? • Should laws promote punishment or reform?

  10. Mesopotamian Religion

  11. Basic Characteristics • Polytheistic • Many gods • An/Anu #1 • Anthropomorphic • Human traits, emotions • Envisioned darker powers • Demons, monsters • Gods ruled world! • Tablet Destiny • “Me”- rules of Gods

  12. Ziggurat • Tiered temple • Home of Gods • Each city state had patron God • Only priests could enter

  13. Priests & Priestesses • Early days, King chief priest • Later, professional priesthoods developed • Duties: • Sing • Purification • Animal sacrifices • Interpret omens

  14. Sacred Prostitution Goddess Ishtar

  15. Death and Burial

  16. Royal Tombs of Ur

  17. “Life” After Death • No notion afterlife where good rewarded • Life after Death was dismal and bleak What then was the incentive for living a pious life?

  18. Cuneiform

  19. What is Cuneiform • “Oldest” writing • Latin word “cuneus” meaning wedge • Written down by Scribes

  20. The Epic of Gilgamesh • One of the earliest literary writings • Written circa 2000 BCE • Written on 12 Cuneiform Tablets • Universal tale of human condition

  21. The Characters • Noble #1 • Noble #2 • Aruru • Enkidu • Gilgamesh • Shamat • Ishtar • Bull of Heaven • Siduri • Utnap • Utnap’s Wife

  22. What is the Legacy of Mesopotamia?

  23. Looting of Iraq

  24. Looting Questions • What does the fact that Iraqis have chosen to ransack their own capital and the legacy of their own past suggest about the Iraqis psyche as well as the general state/condition of Iraq? • It has been said that “A country’s value is in its history. If a country’s civilization is looted, then that country is ended” ~ Raid Abdul Ridha Mohammed. Does a country cease to exist if its history is looted? • What does the looting in Iraq suggest about the United States?

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