mesopotamia unit. settled community, w/ domesticated plants/animals could support large...
TRANSCRIPT
From Villages to Cities to Empires
Mesopotamia Unit
Settled community, w/ domesticated plants/animals
Could support large populations◦ As population
increase, so did complexity
One earliest village Catal Huyuk
Early Villages
Sumer 1st civilization◦ 5000 BCE develop city states S. Mesopotamia ◦ Invented wheel, buildings, irrigation systems,
plow, bronze weapons, writing (cuneiform)◦ Important:
Each city state independent City states fought o/ irrigable land & trading rights
◦ Future leaders would try unite lands/people into empire
Mesopotamia Civilization
Map Mesopotamia
“Land b/t Rivers”◦ Tigris & Euphrates
Flood April-June Modern day Iraq Arid climate
◦ Very hot & dry, little rainfall◦ Regional differences however
Resources◦ Had water & fertile soil = “gifts”◦ Lacked stone, timber, copper, tin, iron, gold
Encouraged foreign trade Geography/Climate caused people have pessimistic
attitude
Geography
Akkad◦ Sargon the Great
Babylonia◦ Hammurabi
Assyria◦ Assurnasirpal◦ Sennacherib◦ Esarhaddon◦ Assurbanipal
Babylonia II◦ Nabopolassar◦ Nebuchsdnezzar
Mesopotamian Leaders
Mesopotamian Society
Hammurabi Code Project
282 percepts/laws Dealt w/ social,
family issues
Hammurabi’s Code
Hammurabi Code Project Healthcare Criminal Justice System Family Life Jobs Slaves Military
Summarizing Hammurabi’s Code1. Was Hammurabi’s form of justice fair?2. Were the laws appropriate for their time
period?3. Do you think these laws were actively
followed and enforced?4. Should laws promote punishment or
reform?
Mesopotamian Religion
Gods, Goddesses, Demons & Monsters Polytheistic
◦ Belief many gods Anthropomorphic
◦ Human-like characteristics Had human emotions
◦ Compassionate, cruel Also envisioned darker powers
(demons/monsters)
Demons and MonstersPazuzu
Lamashtu
Huwawa
The Seven Great Gods and Marduk 1. An/Anu
◦ Father of Gods; God of Sky
2. Enlil◦ God of Air
3. Utu/Shamash◦ Sun God; God of Truth
and Justice4. Nanna/Sin
◦ Moon God
5. Inanna/Ishtar◦ Goddess of Love and
War6. Ninhursag
◦ Mother Earth7. Enki/Ea
◦ God of Fresh Waters; God of Magic, Wisdom, Arts
8. Marduk◦ National God of Babylon
Ziggurat
Tiered temple made of mud-bricks
Dwellings places of the gods◦ Each city-state had a
patron god Only priests
permitted inside ziggurat
Priests and Priestesses In earliest days, King chief priest Later professional priesthoods Various duties:
◦ Ritual slaughter animals◦ Interpret omens◦ Singing songs◦ Provide regular offerings of food and
refreshments to deity
Sacred Prostitution Practice of women offering sex for pay on
the sacred grounds of the Temple of Ishtar
Relationship with the Gods Participated public festivals Tried to predict “heaven’s will” Exorcism
Death and Burial
Royal Tombs of Ur
“Life” After Death No notion of an afterlife where the good
were rewarded Life after Death was dismal and bleak
◦ “Land of No Return”
What then was the incentive for living a pious life?
What is the Legacy of Mesopotamia?
Religious Vandalism: Islamic State
Mosel Museum Temple Bel
Pillaging for Profit
4 Horses St. Marks The Amber Room
Mesopotamian Sculpture Sells for Record 57 Million Dollars in 2007!!
Looting in Iraq