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Day 10. What is an epic? What does the Epic of Gilgamesh tell us about life in ancient Sumer?. Sumer. S. region of Mesopotamia By 3000 BCE # of cities Same culture But different rulers. Sumerian Religion. Polytheist Each city had a Patron god or small group of gods
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Day 10 • What is an epic? • What does the Epic of Gilgamesh tell us about life in ancient Sumer?
Sumer • S. region of Mesopotamia • By 3000 BCE # of cities • Same culture • But different rulers
Sumerian Religion • Polytheist • Each city had a • Patron god or small group of gods • Common war tactic = steal cult statues • Why? • Deprive the enemy city of its • Divine residents & protectors
Afterlife - GEOGRAPHY!! • Elaborate burial rituals • “Land of no return” • Bleak • Why?
Sumerian Society • Highest level ______, _______, _____ • Middle merchants • Bottom farmers & artisans • Majority of population • Lowest Slaves • Foreigners captured in war • Debt
Women in Sumerian Society • Could • Be merchants, farmers or artisans • Hold property • Join priesthood • Receive an education • (upper-class only) • More rights than later civilizations
Downfall • 3000 to 2000 Sumer constantly @ war • Conquered by outsiders • Never recovered but their civilization lived on • Why? • Cultural diffusion • 1. technology – wheel, sail, plow • 2. arithmetic and geometry • 3. architecture (ziggurat) • 4. WRITING!
Sargon I of Akkad • Created the world’s 1st empire • Control & bring together different peoples • Legacy: • Helped spread Sumerian culture • Dynasty lasted 200 yrs
Sargon I of Akkad • The legend of Sargon • “The True King” • Reign: lasted 56 yrs (24th century BCE) • Conquered • Sumer (c. 2350 BCE) • All of Mesopotamia • Coast along Mediterranean Sea • Iran • Great military leader & subject for epics
Babylonian Empire • Amorites • Nomadic warriors • Conquered Sumer (2000 BCE) • Capital = Babylon • Peak Hammurabi (1792-1750 BCE) • Codified • One of the earliest sets of laws
Code of Hammurabi • Single, uniform code of law • Goal unify diverse groups within his empire
Code of Hammurabi • 282 specific laws • Dealt w/ everything that affected the community • Mostly property • Women & children • protected from unfair treatment • Laws were simply stated • Punishments clear • Range from fines to death