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Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia. The Fertile Crescent. Land and its impact. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers surround Mesopotamia These rivers flood randomly which led people in Sumer to believe that their gods were vengeful gods.

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Mesopotamia

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  1. Mesopotamia The Fertile Crescent

  2. Land and its impact • The Tigris and Euphrates rivers surround Mesopotamia • These rivers flood randomly which led people in Sumer to believe that their gods were vengeful gods. • Since there were not natural boundaries to protect people in Sumer they were frequently attacked and new civilizations would rise up

  3. Sumerians • The Sumerians developed a symbol based written system known as Cuneiform • Developed the Arch which allowed for rounded roofs (stronger) • Built great temples (pyramid like) called Ziggurats • Cut the circle into 360 degrees and divided by 60 minutes like we use

  4. Sumerian Govt. • Religious rulers were important since most people believed each city-state belonged to a god • Military rulers became more important because of such frequent attacks • Sumerians never really controlled all of Mesopotamia • Some major cities included Ur, Kish

  5. Sumerian Life • Much of what we know from the Sumerians comes from one of the oldest stories: The Epic of Gilgamesh • Sumerians believed education was important so wealthy men could go to school. (no girls) • They believed in many gods (polytheistic) but thought the afterlife was not a happy or bad place just another step

  6. Akkadians • Around 2330 BC an Akkadian known as Sargon conquered all of Sumer • Sargon tried to combine the cultures of all his subjects but was not successful • About 150 years after the time of Sargon his empire fell apart

  7. Babylonians • South East of Sumer and Akkad the Babylonians rose to power around 1800 BC • Their first ruler was Hammurabi who produced a great law code known as the Code of Hammurabi • The law code is the foundation for law today. Claimed an “eye for an eye tooth for a tooth” • Punishment depended on status in society • Even the king was subject to law

  8. Babylonians • In Babylon women had limited rights but still a male dominated society • Adopted many of the Sumerian gods • Overall this society was well run with the use of their law code

  9. Assyrians • The first “terrorists” the Assyrians were known for brutal treatment in war. • First to use cavalry in war and chariots • Would use fear tactics to get people to quit before the fight began • Destroyed the Babylonians

  10. Assyrians • Used a king who was subject only to the chief God Ashur • Capital in Nineveh - had a library that contained many written works like the Epic of Gilgamesh - Kept a history of their people

  11. Chaldeans • Under the leadership of Nebuchadnezzar they conquered the Assyrians • Rebuilt the city of Babylon and developed the Hanging Gardens for one of his many wives • Very skilled astronomers who could predict an eclipse, and various planetary alignments • Helps develop a calendar

  12. Persians • Around 540 BC the Persians overran the Chaldeans • Their first mighty ruler was Cyrus who conquered the Chaldeans and Medes to gain control of the Fertile Crescent • Cyrus and his followers (Darius and Xerxes) were seen as god figures to their people (adopted from the Egyptians)

  13. Persian life • With such a large empire they allowed city-states to control their own government so long as they were loyal to Cyrus • Their religion was based around the teachings of the prophet Zoroaster • Claimed that in the previous life forces of Good and Evil fought • This life is a time to choose between who we will follow • Claimed that in the future these forces would fight again and good would pronounce a final judgment on the “righteous” • Possibly influenced Judaism-Christianity-Islam

  14. Phoenicians • Modern Israel and Lebanon • Unlike many Mesopotamians they were not warlike • Great traders: Lumber, Dyes, Glass, olive oil etc. • Great with boats to travel all around • Intellectuals: Developed the first alphabet • Main cities included Tyre and Sidon

  15. Lydians • From modern day Turkey • Became tired of the Barter system so developed coined money • Although not a very powerful group their money economy spread to Greece and Persia to facilitate trade in those empires

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