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Explore the political, economic, geographical, and social aspects of Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, including key figures, advancements, and cultural practices.
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Before we begin…P-E-G-AS • Political: Who controls what? What type of government is there? Anything to do with laws or war. • Economic: What type of economy? How do people make a living? • Geography: Where is it? Is the land mountainous? Desert? Oceanic? • Advances/Social: Religious, intellectual, artistic
ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA • Oldest known civilization • Cradle of Human Civilization • Old Testament • Nebuchadnezzar • Ziggurat (right) • Hanging gardens
Geography • This civilization rose in the valleys between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. • Some say this Fertile Crescent was the real Garden of Eden. • It has few natural barriers.
Political: What was the earliest kingdom in Mesopotamia? The second?
Social • The Sumerians invented writing called cuneiform. • Babylonians wrote using this “wedge-shaped” writing on clay tablets. • Number system based on 60. • 12 month calendar • wheel, plow , sailboat
Ancient Mesopotamia Social Classes Kings, Priests, Gov’t officials Artisans, merchants, farmers, and fishers Enslaved people
Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar II. Herodotus (historian in 450 B.C.) was quoted as saying the following: "In addition to its size, Babylon surpasses in splendor any city in the known world." Outer walls were 56 miles in length, 80 feet thick and 320 feet high. Wide enough to allow a four-horse chariot to turn. Inside the walls were fortresses and temples containing immense statues of solid gold. Rising above the city was the famous Tower of Babel, a temple to the god Marduk, that seemed to reach to the heavens
Another painting of the hanging gardens with Tower of Babel in back
Economic: Trade and Farming • Traditional Economy • Sumerians (Mesopotamians) were known to trade with the Egyptians and the Indus Valley civilizations. • In later years, these trade routes became Silk Road.
Sumerians Invented The Wheel • The wheel was invented by 6000 BC • It helped military, farming and trade. • At right, this is made of wood.
Political: Mesopotamian Law • Code of Hammurabi • “eye for an eye tooth for a tooth”
Mesopotamia Quiz • Political: What law system did Sumerians use? Hint: It can be summed: eye for eye; tooth for tooth. • Economic: How did Mesopotamians earn a living? • Geography: Between what 2 rivers did the Fertile Crescent appear? • Social: What type of writing did they use? What type of religion did they have? What were their worship “areas” called?
ANCIENT EGYPT • Nile River • Mummies • Pharaohs • Rameses • King Tutankhamen • Hieroglyphics
Egyptian Civilization • Egyptian civilization arose after Mesopotamia. • Geography: It was centered around the Nile River.
Nile River Provided fish Supported plants and animals Two rivers, Blue Nile and White Nile, join to make the Nile River. World’s longest river Flows south to north Floods watered the land and provided fertile soils for crops to grow.
The Sahara Desert. Largest desert in the world. Egypt is naturally protected from enemies because it was surrounded by deserts, rivers, deltas, and cataracts (rapids).
Pyramids • Pyramids were tombs for the kings. • The most famous are the Giza pyramids (shown to left). • These were built in 3500 B.C.E. • How old are they?
Political: Egyptian Pharaohs • Egyptians were led by Pharaohs, who were priest-kings. • The most famous pharaoh is King Tut. • Using computers, this image was reconstructed using his remains. • Eventually, Egypt was divided into 2 kingdoms (Upper and Lower).
Egypt’s Religion They believed in many gods and goddesses and in life after death for the pharaohs. Hapi – main god Isis – main goddess Book of the Dead
Mummies • Egyptians who could afford to do so would have themselves mummified. • They believed in a better afterlife if their body was preserved.
Mummification Process Took out all of the internal organs, except the heart because it was believed to be the intelligence and emotion of the person. Organs were put in canopic jars, that were put in the tomb with the mummy. Brain was taken out through the nose because it had no significant value. he body was packed and covered with natron (a salty drying agent). Then the body was left for 40-50 days.
Egyptians wrote in hieroglyphics Made up of sound and picture symbols Only scribes (men) were taught to write
What did Egyptians write on? • Papyrus • Also used to make baskets, sandals and river rafts
The Great Sphinx is located on the Giza plateau, about six miles west of Cairo.
Nubia • People around the world have learned about the glorious past of the Egyptian empire, but most have failed to learn of the Nubia, which was sometimes even stronger than the Egyptian empire. Nubia rivaled Egypt in wealth and power, and they mutually influenced each other.
Egyptian Economy • Although Egypt looks really sophisticated, the economy is a traditional economy based on farming and trade. • Egyptians traded up and down the Nile, with Mesopotamians and sometimes with the Indus Valley (in Pakistan)
