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Ancient Civilizations: Mesopotamia

Ancient Civilizations: Mesopotamia. Geography. North east of Egypt Good farmland Between the Tigris, Euphrates Rivers. Fertile Crescent. “the cradle of civilization”. Lack of natural barriers Frequent migration and invasion Very diverse group of people. Mesopotamia.

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Ancient Civilizations: Mesopotamia

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  1. Ancient Civilizations:Mesopotamia

  2. Geography • North east of Egypt • Good farmland • Between the Tigris, Euphrates Rivers • Fertile Crescent

  3. “the cradle of civilization” • Lack of natural barriers • Frequent migration and invasion • Very diverse group of people

  4. Mesopotamia • “the land between two rivers” • Eastern end of fertile crescent • A crossroads where people shared ideas and customs

  5. Sumerian Civilization • First civilization in Mesopotamia was Sumer. • City –states: political units made up of a city and surrounding land.

  6. City-States • Fought each other for land and water • War leaders evolved into hereditary rulers

  7. Religion • Polytheistic (many gods/ goddesses) • Ziggurat:largest building in city-state, temple to city-state’s chief god or goddess

  8. Ziggurat Holy day celebrations ceremonies and processions Happy gods/goddesses prosperous city-state Offered sacrifices of animals, grains, wine

  9. Government • Ruler/ Chief servant of the gods responsible for: • Maintaining city walls • Irrigation systems • Leading army • Enforcing laws • Employing Scribes • Collect taxes • Keep records

  10. Society • Social hierarchy- system of ranks

  11. Women in society • Role changed over time. • Early days mother- goddess honored. • Large city-states: warrior leaders and male gods replaced mother-goddess. • Could own property and trade.

  12. Contributions to society • Cuneiform- wedge-shaped writing

  13. Other contributions • First wheeled vehicles • Irrigation systems/ dikes/ canals • Algebra/geometry • Astronomy

  14. Other civilizations of Mesopotamia • Assyrians • Persians • Babylonians • Hittites • Lydians

  15. Assyrians • Upper Tigris region • Conquered entire Fertile Crescent • Enemies united to destroy, empire collapsed

  16. Persians • Ruler- Darius • Divided the empire into provinces • Built roads- aid travel and communication

  17. Babylonians • Powerful ruler- Hammurabi • Code of Hammurabi- first major collection of laws in history

  18. Hittites • Mined iron ore to produce iron • Brought the world into the iron age

  19. Lydians • Developed a system of coined money

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