MESOPOTAMIAMESOPOTAMIA

OUR EARLIEST CIVILIZATIONOUR EARLIEST CIVILIZATION

““Pay head to the word of Pay head to the word of your mother as though it your mother as though it were the word of a god.”were the word of a god.”

---------Sumerian proverb---------Sumerian proverb

The PeopleThe People

From C. AsiaFrom C. Asia Arrived about 3500 BC Arrived about 3500 BC Settled in lower part of Settled in lower part of

twin river valleytwin river valley Dark haired, light Dark haired, light

skinned peopleskinned people Language close to one Language close to one

by Caspian Seaby Caspian Sea

The Fertile CrescentThe Fertile Crescent--geography----geography--

GeographyGeography

Between Tigris & Euphrates RiversBetween Tigris & Euphrates Rivers Today’s Iraq & KuwaitToday’s Iraq & Kuwait ““mesopotamia”= “between two rivers” (Greek)mesopotamia”= “between two rivers” (Greek) Floods made soil richFloods made soil rich Rivers allowed for irrigationRivers allowed for irrigation

The Twin RiversThe Twin Rivers

Did not supply balanced Did not supply balanced amounts of wateramounts of water

too dry or too too dry or too wet (flooding)wet (flooding)

Villagers had to work Villagers had to work together to survivetogether to survive

Built dams & escape Built dams & escape channels, canals & ditcheschannels, canals & ditches

Considered world’s first Considered world’s first cities!cities!

Sumerian CivilizationSumerian Civilization(World’s 1(World’s 1stst Cities!) Cities!)

3500—2300BC3500—2300BC Very few natural Very few natural

resourcesresources Built bricks of mud and Built bricks of mud and

waterwater Region prospered from Region prospered from

trade with otherstrade with others Used rivers & 1Used rivers & 1stst

wheeled vehicleswheeled vehicles

GovernmentGovernment

Lived in City-statesLived in City-states City-states= independent city and its City-states= independent city and its

surrounding lands (20,000- 250,000 pop)surrounding lands (20,000- 250,000 pop) Each had own culture, language, religion, & Each had own culture, language, religion, &

governmentgovernment

CITIESCITIES

URUR ERECHERECH KISHKISH LAGASHLAGASH

KingsKings

As city-states had battles---courageous war As city-states had battles---courageous war leaders evolved into kingsleaders evolved into kings

Military leader and high priests ruled togetherMilitary leader and high priests ruled together Then evolved into a THEOCRACYThen evolved into a THEOCRACY Kings duties:Kings duties:1.1. supervise farmingsupervise farming2.2. Enforce lawsEnforce laws3.3. Set penaltiesSet penalties4.4. Led religious ceremoniesLed religious ceremonies

Social classesSocial classes

1.1. Ruling Family (theocracy with King!)Ruling Family (theocracy with King!)

(theocracry= religious government)(theocracry= religious government)

2. Officials & priests2. Officials & priests

3. Middle class (merchants & artisans)3. Middle class (merchants & artisans)

4. Peasant farmers4. Peasant farmers

5. Slaves5. Slaves

Job specializationJob specialization

Not everyone had to farm nowNot everyone had to farm now

EXAMPLESEXAMPLES

1.1. Mathematics– measuring, surveying, calculating Mathematics– measuring, surveying, calculating slopes and water flow patternsslopes and water flow patterns

2.2. Astronomy- observing movements of moon for Astronomy- observing movements of moon for lunar calendar (28day months)lunar calendar (28day months)

3.3. Temple workers– weavers, carpenters, singersTemple workers– weavers, carpenters, singers

4.4. Traveling merchants—donkey caravans, sailboats Traveling merchants—donkey caravans, sailboats on Persian Gulfon Persian Gulf

ReligionReligion

PolytheisticPolytheistic Nature godsNature gods City-states each had own City-states each had own

main godsmain gods Kings were religious leaders Kings were religious leaders

tootoo Gods behaved like ordinary Gods behaved like ordinary

peoplepeople

INANNA= life-giving goddessINANNA= life-giving goddess

NANNA= moon godNANNA= moon god

PriesthoodPriesthood

Religion endured 3,000yearsReligion endured 3,000years 3,000 deities=every realm of nature/human endeavor 3,000 deities=every realm of nature/human endeavor

(even plows, picks and molds)(even plows, picks and molds) Gods not equalGods not equal Top gods= heaven, air, earth and waterTop gods= heaven, air, earth and water Supreme god= An (ruler of heavens)Supreme god= An (ruler of heavens) Had human emotionsHad human emotions Communicated through omens (shape of liver of Communicated through omens (shape of liver of

sacrificed sheep etc.)sacrificed sheep etc.)

ReligionReligion

Not hopeful Not hopeful People molded of clay to serve gods as slavesPeople molded of clay to serve gods as slaves Failure to serve= catastropheFailure to serve= catastrophe People were fearful and anxiousPeople were fearful and anxious Benefit to the priests and templesBenefit to the priests and temples The many offerings made temples grandest The many offerings made temples grandest

placesplaces

ZigguratZiggurat

Pyramid-temples in each cityPyramid-temples in each city Only priests could enter– shrine on topOnly priests could enter– shrine on top

WritingWriting

Oldest in worldOldest in world CunneiformCunneiform Evolved from wedge shaped pictograms to scriptEvolved from wedge shaped pictograms to script Wrote on clay tablets, had schoolsWrote on clay tablets, had schools

Sumerian Inventions!Sumerian Inventions! Wheeled vehiclesWheeled vehicles ArchArch Potters wheelPotters wheel Sundial for timeSundial for time # system based on 60# system based on 60 Algebra/geometryAlgebra/geometry 12 month calendar (moon 12 month calendar (moon

cycles)cycles) Bronze from copper and tinBronze from copper and tin Metal plowMetal plow WritingWriting Beaurcracy in governmentBeaurcracy in government

““Tell a lie;Tell a lie;then if you tell the truth,then if you tell the truth,it will be deemed a lie.”it will be deemed a lie.”

--Sumerian proverb--Sumerian proverb

The End of SumerThe End of Sumer

Region is constantly invaded– revived – and Region is constantly invaded– revived – and

Re-invadedRe-invaded

Invaders and EmpiresInvaders and Empires

1.1. Akkadians (Semites) 2300BC—1Akkadians (Semites) 2300BC—1stst empire empire

2.2. BabyloniansBabylonians 1790BC (Hebrew people enslaved)1790BC (Hebrew people enslaved)

3.3. Assyrians 1100BCAssyrians 1100BC

4.4. Persians 539 BCPersians 539 BC