Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) formed 7000 BC

Farming and Cities irrigation/canals to control water Surplus of food = fewer farmers = artisans

Cities City-State—artisans/farmers Ur, Uruk, and Kish depended on military strength “The Epic of Gilgamesh” (Uruk’s King) Epic of Gilgamesh Video

Government King ruled city Make laws/protect citizens Please the Gods

Sargon of Akkad

Religion Polytheism—many Gods priests Anu=heaven, Enki=wisdom, Inanna=war/love, Utu/Nanna=sun and moon

Gods INANNA ENKI ANU UTU & NANNA

Society Monarch Priest & Scribes Artisans—craftspeople, merchants, traders Farmers/laborers Slaves

Social Structure

Cuneiform-Sumerian Writing System

MEN vs WOMEN MEN WOMEN political power laws education scribes home and kids few educated priestesses

Babylonians Hammurabi becomes king in 1792 BC His Code (282 laws)  First justice system EVER! “Eye for an eye”

Babylonians Hammurabi with Shamash (the Sun-god) Babylon under Hammurabi

Hittites Ironworking = strong weapons Chariot—wheeled horse-drawn cart used in battle Captured Babylon 1595 BC

Hittites

Assyrians 1200 BC controlled Babylon 900 BC conquered Fertile Crescent, parts of Asian Minor and Egypt

Assyrians

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Phoenicians Expanded trade First alphabets—similar to ours

Phoenicians Finqiya means all caps in Phoencian terms