Ancient Mesopotamia 2016-2017 School Year

Aspects of a Civilization

1. Stable Food Supply Farming is required More food supports larger populations Invention: The Plow Modern Examples: Farms Stores

2. Social Structure Different jobs and social levels Your status affects your quality of life Slavery appears in the lowest classes Modern Examples: Upper Class Family Roles

3. Government Makes life orderly Protects and guides the people Creates and enforces laws Modern Examples: Democracy King/Queen

4. Religion/Philosophy A set of beliefs A common way of life Values Modern Examples: Buddhism Human Rights

5. Developed Culture Art forms such as music, art, architecture, & literature Proof of advanced thinking strategies Modern Examples: Picasso Beatles

6. Technology Practical tools and inventions Creations to make life easier Wheel created in 3500 B.C.E. Modern Examples: Internet Car

7. Writing Created from a more basic form: Pictographs Detailed written language Used to record information about society Modern Examples: Phonetic Alphabet Character Writing

Code of Hammurabi Hammurabi defeated many cities and wanted order Ended corruption One set of laws for everyone The Empire was well maintained

Mesopotamia Modern day Iraq Meso (Greek) = middle Potamos (Greek) = river “The land between the rivers”

Fertile Crescent Green Strip of Land From Persian Gulf to Mediterranean Sea Rich soil good for farming First cities appear here

Cuneiform Writing Wedge shaped writing Taught in school, the focus was on neatness Used to record information about Kings and Laws Tells us information about the past

Akkadian Empire Years: 2300 B.C.E. – 2100 B.C.E. Main Ruler: Sargon First ever empire (multiple people groups ruled by one person) Strong army Broke down city walls Replaced leaders with loyal followers Required payment (tribute)

Babylonian Empire Years: 1800 B.C.E. – 1500 B.C.E. Main Ruler: Hammurabi The Code of Hammurabi - one set of laws for everyone United under the god Marduk The Empire was well maintained

Assyrian Empire Years: 911 B.C.E. – 612 B.C.E. Main Leader: Ashurbanipal The King obeyed the gods Treated conquered people harshly Aqueducts brought water to the city Large Empire from Egypt to the Persian Gulf The army was stretched out too thinly and was defeated

Neo-Babylonian Empire Years: 605 B.C.E. – 562 B.C.E. Main Leader: Nebuchadnezzar II Capital: Babylon Built 2 walls (an outer and inner wall) Created the sundial Built the hanging gardens of Babylon