MesopotamiaUnit III, Section 1

Section OverviewThis section will allow students to develop a

basic understanding of one of the World’s earliest civilization, Mesopotamia.

We will look at physical features, historical events, and artistic attributes. Through this foundation we will develop further into the

region as we look at the Middle East & North Africa as a whole in Unit III, Section 2.

Section ObjectivesDefine the geographic make up of the Fertile

Crescent region.

Analyze the cultural significance of the peoples of the region.

Understand how the region is a cradle of agriculture, learning, and civilization.

Geographic FeaturesKnown as the Fertile CrescentBetween Tigris & Euphrates Rivers

Arable lands on flood plainsDangerous & unpredictable floods

Southern BorderPersian Gulf

Northern BorderZagros Mountains

Urban CentersBabylonUrukUr

Excavated by Sir C. Leonard Woolley

Discovered over 1800 graves and 16 royal tombs Vast wealth Gold, silver, electrum, lapis

lazuli, & carnelian Animal and human sacrifice

ArtRoyal tombs gave insight into Mesopotamian

artistic featuresHighlights

Bearded BullsBig eyesCurly hair Clasped handsFringed garmentsVotive figures

“Ram Caught in a Thicket”

Women’s Headdresses

Jewelry of Queen Puabi

Bull-headedHarp

Silver Lions Head

Gold Vessels

The Standard of Ur

Ceremonial Dagger

Sumerians3000 B.C.E.1st CivilizationCity-States

Central administrative citySmaller surrounding villagesFarm/pasture lands

Developed arch & architectureZiggurats

City Center Tombs, temples, & storehouses

Development of Writing Pictograms- PicturesIdeograms- IdeasPhonogram- Sound

CuneiformWedge shapedStylus used to make markings

Pressed into wet clay Baked to become permanent Library of Nineveh

Cylinder SealsForm of formal signature

…ContinuedUsed practically

and decoratively Scribes

Highly trainedRead and write for

a feeHenry C.

RawlinsonTranslated

cuneiform in 1835Rock of Behistun

EdubbasSchool for boys ages 5-15 Memorized law, poetry, & history

Other Classes: Divination, medicine, mathematics, & astronomy Math based on 60, used decimals, spheres/cubes

used

Year round schooling25 days a monthExtremely strict

ReligionPolytheistic

Pantheon of gods, demons, and monsters

Patron gods/goddesses of cities, trades, and natural aspects

Major deitiesEnlil- god of wind, ruler of heaven and

Earth’s peopleIshtar- goddess of fertility, love, and

warNabu- god of wisdom and learningEreshkigal- goddess of the underworld

Daily LifeMale dominated society

Women’s place was in the home Own property and obtain a divorce

Farming vital part of lifeOnions, barley, turnips, grapesBeer and wine widely available

Highly trained class of artisans, priests, and craftsmen

Caste of slavesHomes built of sun-dried mud brickSystem of credit and loans (banking)

Intermittent Periods2500 B.C.E. Sumer falls

to Akkad’s King Sargon2050 B.C.E. Immigration

Indo-Europeans (Southern Russia)

Amorites & Semites (Arabia)

Hittites (Turkey) Introduced horse drawn

two-wheel chariots Replaced donkey/oxen

driven four-wheeled wagons

HammurabiBabylonian kingRuled from 1792-1750 B.C.E.Code of Hammurabi

Written on a stele282 laws“Eye for an Eye” policy

AssyriaFounded around 2000 B.C.E.City-states under multiple imperial

rulers through early historyBegins expanding outward in 1392

B.C.E.Grew into great military power

throughout known worldRuthless warriors and leadersUnmerciful and severe rulersDeport/importation of people

groups throughout expansion periods

Post-Assyrian WorldDestroy in 612 B.C.E.Nebuchadnezzar of the

ChaldeansRe-established Babylon

(Neo-Babylonian Empire)Ishtar Gate/Hanging

GardensKing of the Book of Daniel

Neo-Babylonians fall under Belshazzar’s controlPersia takes power

Ishtar Gate

Hanging Gardens of

Babylon

PersiaRose in 539 B.C.E.Cyrus the Great

Expanded empireLargest world empire to date

Bureaucratic systemFour capitals

Ecbatana Susa Babylon Persepolis