Mesopotamia

The Ancient Fertile Crescent The Middle East: “The Cradle of Civilization”

Why Mesopotamia? Frequent flooding from two rivers Instability of daily life leads to a need for a strong government protection from floods

Positives Its Location Easy to get to--“Cultural Crossroads” Trade and cultural diffusion

Negatives of Location Easy to get to  easy to invade numerous small empires over time Sumerians Akkadian Babylonians And Many More!!

Sumer—the first “Civilization” in Mesopotamia

Sumerian Religion - Polytheistic Enki Innana

Advanced Technology and Architecture Ziggurats What do you think it was used for? How do historians know it was a religious site?

Stairway up to the top of the Ziggurats

What does the large size and complex design tell us about Sumerians?

Afterlife How do we know they were very religious? Seen as evil place Size of the Ziggurat (shows importance they placed on religion) Seen as evil place Epic of Gilgamesh How does this compare to the Egyptian view?

Sumerian Scribes were smart! Designed buildings! Invented Modern Day Math All was based on number 6 1 hour = 60 minutes 1 circle = 360 degrees Calendar developed – for crops

Sumerian Social Class King Same basic class system for all river valley civilizations King Nobles &Priests Skilled Works (artists, scribes, merchants) Farm Laborers and Slaves

Babylonian Empire – 1790 BCE Used Sumerian ideas and created an empire

King Hammurabi

First written code of law Goal? Benefits to written laws? Hammurabi’s Code First written code of law Goal? Benefits to written laws?

Cuneiform: “Wedge-Shaped” Writing

Analyzing Hammurabi’s Code… Does the punishment fit the crime? Translate the law—what are they saying? Analyze the law—does the punishment fit the crime? Modify the law—if its not fair, change it!!