Mesopotamian Civilizations

Mesopotamian Civilizations Sumerians Amorites (Old Babylonians) Assyrians Chaldeans (New Babylonians)

Sumerians Earliest Mesopotamian civilization Lived in Southern Mesopotamia (modern day Kuwait) Formed Large City-States Constantly at war with themselves and others (Akkadians)

The writing beneath the figures is cuneiform

Artist’s vision of Ur

Sumerians/Akkadians Akkadians migrate from Arabian Peninsula Akkadians were Semetic Abandoned much of their Culture and absorbed into Sumerian civilization Sumerians had the first monarchy – divine selection (Theocracy)

Amorites Amorites take control of area circa 1900 B.C. Centralized their gov’t at the city of Babylon Called the old Babylonians Ruled by a monarchy – divine selection (theocracy) Controlled an empire not city-states, so they needed unified laws Code of Hammurabi

Assyrians Semetic group, lived in northern Mesopotamia Extremely warlike and introduced psychological warfare Built empire from conquering other people First to enslave and relocate the Jews Founded capital at Nineveh after destroying Babylon Later rebuilt Babylon because they feared the Babylonian god Marduk Eventually weakened and were replaced by Babylonians

Assyrians spearing Judeans

Chaldeans New Babylonians Rose up and burned Nineveh Enslaved the Jews Rebuilt the city of Babylon to previous status Nebuchadnezzer was famous ruler built the hanging gardens for his wife Amytas, from the Area Medes

The Ishtar Gate at the Berlin Museum of Art