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Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia. World History Core. Geography/Interaction with Environment. LOCATION Southwest Asia Iraq and Syria Dry, desert climate. Geography/Interaction with Environment. Fertile Crescent Curve shaped area of rich soil. Geography/Interaction with Environment. Mesopotamia

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Mesopotamia

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  1. Mesopotamia World History Core

  2. Geography/Interaction with Environment • LOCATION • Southwest Asia • Iraq and Syria • Dry, desert climate

  3. Geography/Interaction with Environment • Fertile Crescent • Curve shaped area of rich soil

  4. Geography/Interaction with Environment • Mesopotamia • Greek translated to “Land between the rivers”

  5. Geography/Interaction with Environment • Tigris and Euphrates River • Flow southeast to Persian Gulf • Flood annually, leaving rich soil

  6. Geography/Interaction with Environment

  7. Power and Authority • Sumerian City-States • 1st settled in 3300 BC • City-state is a city and its surrounding lands

  8. Power and Authority • Ziggurat • Temple at the center of each city-state

  9. Power and Authority • Priest were Rulers • Priests acted as go betweens for the people and the Gods • Priests demanded crops as a form of taxation for their services • People believed that the Gods were responsible for all things in their lives (crops, rich soil, rain, etc.)

  10. Power and Authority • Warriors become King • In time of crisis Priests were not the rulers • A strong leader was needed in time of crisis (ex. War) • Wars were for extended periods of time • Warriors would continue to rule • Dynasty • Series of rulers from a single family (pass on to sons)

  11. Social Classes: Power and Authority

  12. Power and Authority • Women’s Rights • Most of the same as men • Priest • Farmers • Artisans • Merchants

  13. Religious and Ethical Systems • Polytheistic • Belief in more than one God • Sumerians feared the power of their Gods • Blamed natural disasters, poor crops, and illness on a persons social actions • Enlil • God of storms and air

  14. Religious and Ethical Systems • Afterlife • Souls of dead went to “Land of No Return” • A dark, gloomy place

  15. Religious and Ethical Systems • Epic of Gilgamesh • Long heroic poem • Gives us an idea about Sumerian life • See handout….

  16. Cultural Interaction/Economics/Empire Building • Trading Surplus • Allowed Sumerians to increase long distance trade and develop new city-states • Cultural Diffusion • When a new idea or product spreads from one cultural to another • Trading surplus allowed for cultural diffusion

  17. Cultural Interaction/Economics/Empire Building • Empire • Bringing together of several nations under one ruler

  18. Cultural Interaction/Economics/Empire Building • Sargon • Created the 1st empire (Akkad) • Akkadian Empire • 2350BC • Helped spread Sumerian idea • Lasted 200 years • Internal conflicts will lead to its future breakdown

  19. Cultural Interaction/Economics/Empire Building • Babylonian Empire • Amorites: nomadic warriors • Established empire along the Euphrates River • 2000 BC • Hammurabi • Ruled during the peak of the B.E. from 1792 BC – 1750 BC

  20. Cultural Interaction/Economics/Empire Building • Codified Law (Hammurabi’s Code) • Single, uniform code of laws • Unified a diverse empire • Engraved on stone and place in various cities around the empire • 282 laws • Community, family relations, business, and crime • Principle of RETALIATION • Set different punishments for rich, poor, and women

  21. Cultural Interaction/Economics/Empire Building • Hammurabi’s Code • See handout

  22. Science and Technology • Arithmetic and Geometry • Needed to build walls, plan irrigation, and survey fields • Number system based on 60 • Modern examples: • 60 sec. = 1 min. • 360*circle

  23. Science and Technology • Architecture • Arches, columns, ramps, and pyramids • Example: Ziggurat

  24. Science and Technology • Cuneiform • Sumerian writing system on clay tablets

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