Mesopotamia

1. Mesopotamia Theocracy = ruled by a god or his representatives Mesopotamia = modern Iraq 1st place to change from a village into a city was in Sumer in Southern Mesopotamia in 3000 B.C. Mesopotamian gods were believed to own cities and live in the temple in their cities. Temple complex was not only the god�s home. It also included farmland, schools and the multitude of animals required for sacrifice Other civilizations who built plaza type structures = Inca, Maya

2. Mesopotamia importance of irrigation a change in lifestyle. nomadic->settled and hunter-gatherer ->farmer roles of women and men disparity between different classes

3. Mesopotamia Definition of city-state Differences between citizens of a city-state and people in hunter-gatherer societies Responsibilities of the city-state Careers

4. Mesopotamia Writing 1st appears around 8000 B.C. 2350 B.C Sargon builds the world�s 1st empire from Syria-Persian Gulf, unifies cities by means of religion Enheduanna, daughter of Sargon = high priestess and world�s 1st author circa 2350 B.C.

5. Mesopotamia Religion= Polytheistic culture = worship of many gods vs. monotheistic culture like Christianity = worship of 1 god Temples: local ones=plain, imp�t ones constructed on Ziggurats, the high mud-brick tower which served as the base for a temple

6. Mesopotamia Palaces=many modern conveniences Social classes = even slaves + women had some rights Daily life=food, school Moral values =authority is necessary to prevent chaos Afterlife = gloomy

7. Gilgamesh Epic Gilgamesh = historical figure in Iraq Gilgamesh Epic written on clay tablets between 2150-2000 B.C. Theme of close friendship between 2 young men.

8. Egypt Pharaoh was a human king who was god on Earth. Instead of being a god of a particular city as in Mesopotamia, he was the high priest of the entire land and responsible for maintaining justice and order.

9. Egypt vs. Mesopotamia fewer irrigation problems in Egypt Not difficult to defend Unified very early 3100 B.C, had system of trade and irrigation. No large cities like Mesopotamia. Pharaoh = central figure required to keep order. Order = main theme in religion, irrigation, cosmos. Some similarities to Mesopotamian rel.

10. Pharaohs Role of pharaohs Great pyramids built circa 2600-2200 B.C Religious practices: Pharaohs were worshipped as well as other gods Afterlife

11. The Egyptian Empire Akhenaten came to the throne in 1363 B.C. His wife was Nefertiti He attempts to impose monotheistic religion in Egypt. Akhenaten chooses Aton/Aten to be main god instead of Amen Tutankhamen comes to the throne 1347 B.C. reverses Akhenaten�s changes

12. Society and Family Egyptians viewed themselves as a nation Careers available Calm lives, few wars, easy irrigation, steady supply of food Interest in ancestors, no interest in politics or military life High degree of freedom for women

13. Israel The Israelites had 2 diff�t kinds of religious experience, intensely personal encounters with God such as the experiences of Abraham and Moses and sacrifices performed on behalf of the people by the priests The God of Abraham and Moses was called Yahweh Hebrews were a nomadic people. Took the name Israelites later when they settled down and became a nation

14. Flood myths 1 Gilgamesh Epic about 2 friends Gilgamesh and Enkidu Human life is precarious and the gods may allow it to lapse into chaos yet again. Gods sent a flood because humans were too noisy! Utnapishtim built a boat, escaped flood and was granted immortality. Gods are shown to be capricious and uncaring.

15. Flood myths 2 Similarities between flood in the Gilgamesh Epic of 2150 B.C. and the Noah story in Genesis boat some people and animals survive dove Differences between flood in the Gilgamesh Epic and the story in Genesis flood sent because men were too noisy Gil flood sent because men were wicked Genesis gods may flood Earth again Gil, God promises never to flood earth again Gen similarity to Greek mythology

16. Flood myths 3 Deucalion and wife Pyrrha survive flood in an ark. Later, an oracle told them to cast behind them the bones of their mother (i.e., the stones of the earth). From these stones sprang men and women who repopulated the world. Also similar to other Gk myths and to Gilgamesh Epic in that Utnapishtim and his wife were mortals who became immortal because of their deeds.