Mesopotamia and Egypt Chapters 2-3

Bell Ringer What can you learn about how the Egyptians viewed their rulers from this tablet?

Mesopotamia The Quest for Order Mesopotamia “The Land between the Rivers” Little Rain, irrigation is important Tigiris and Euphrates were unpredictable Food Supply will increase First Cities Emerge, 4000 BCE City-States Government sponsored building projects, irrigation systems, wall building (defense), and military Hello Taxes! Kingships will evolve

Mesopotamia Quest for Order (cont.) Empires Hammurabi (1792-1750 BCE) Centralized the bureaucracy and regulated taxation Capital is Babylon Law Code: law of retribution and importance of social status Empire crumbles as a result of Hittite assaults Assyrians (1300-612 BCE) Powerful Armies: powerful officers (merit), chariots, archers, iron weapons Deport people from their families, cut rebels appendages, moved skilled workers around, raping, murder Rebellions due to unpopular rule brings an end to the empire New Babylonian (600-550 BCE) Nebuchadnezzar Hanging Gardens of palace display wealth and luxury

Mesopotamia: Hanging Gardens

Mesopotamia Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Tradition Economic Specialization and Trade Bronze: weapons and agricultural tools Iron: (cheaper than bronze) weapons and tools Wheel: carts (trade) Shipbuilding: maritime trade increases Patriarchal Society Social Classes Kings (hereditary) and nobles (family/supporters) Priest and Priestesses Free Commoners (pay taxes, laborers) Slaves (domestic servants)

Mesopotamia Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Tradition Architecture Ziggurats: religious buildings The religion of Mesopotamia was unpredictable, much like the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Written Cultural Tradition Cuneiform Trade: Wheat and Goats. YAY!! Education: vocational to be scribe or government official Literature: astronomy, mathematics, abstract (religious and literary) Epic of Gilgamesh

Egypt Early Agricultural Society in Africa Egypt and Nubia: The Gift of the Nile Egypt – Lower Third of the Nile Predictable, Safe, and Rich Cultivated gourds, watermelons, wheat, and barley Domesticated donkeys and cattle

Egypt The Unification of Egypt Large and Prosperous state Menes at Memphis unite Upper and Lower Egypt Pharaoh, absolute ruler and owns all land Archaic Period and Old Kingdom THE GOLDEN PERIOD Great Pyramids of Giza built Peasants and Slaves Ra: pharaohs became Gods after death Pharaoh was seen as a God (calm, cool, benevolent) Very Literate and Rich Until 2250 BCE poverty, droughts, power struggles

Egypt Turmoil and Empire Period of upheaval after Old Kingdom Middle Kingdom Rulers were “outsiders” from Nubia New Gods: Amun (hidden) more successful!! Amun-Ra: many buildings dedicated to this God Conquerors! Nomadic Horsemen, Hyksos, invade Egypt (assimilated to the Egyptians than destroyed them and expelled them) Using bronze weapons, compound bows, and chariots Causes revolts in Upper Egypt

Egypt New Kingdom Military Expansion Pharaoh gain power, huge army, large bureaucracy Building projects: temples, palaces, statues Hatshepsut : Expanded Egypt through trade Then Egypt falls into a long period of decline

Egypt Complex Societies and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions The Emergence of Cities and Stratified Societies Social Classes Egypt: peasants and slaves (agriculture), pharaoh, professional military and administrators Nubia: complex and hierarchical society Patriarchy in both but women have more influence than in Mesopotamia Women act as regents, like female pharaoh Hatshepsut Nubia: women serve as queens, priestesses, and scribes