Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia “Land between the rivers” Between the Tigris River and Euphrates River Fertile Crescent Little rain Silt from river

Mesopotamia Flooding Irrigation and drainage ditches Snow melt Allowed for systematic agriculture Abundance of food Allowed for large cities, civilization Assyria Akkad Sumer

Mesopotamia The rampant flood which no man can oppose, Which shakes the heavens and causes earth to tremble, In an appalling blanket folds mother and child, And drowns the harvest in its time of ripeness.

Religion Harsh climate and frequent famines Polytheism (poly = many, theos = god) Belief in many gods Nearly 3000 gods and goddesses Humans obey and serve gods Work hard to keep them happy

Sumerian Gods Anu Enki Enlil Sky god Father of gods, evil spirits, and demons Enki God of water Created man Assign roles to each god Established civilizations Enlil God of wind and agriculture

Sumer 3000 BCE Established many cities in southern Mesopotamia Eridu Ur Uruk City-states City and surrounding lands

Cities Uruk (2700 BCE) Walls 6 miles long Towers every 30-35 feet Population: 50,000 Social stratification Small houses for peasants Larger buildings for city officials, priests, etc. Social identity Mud-brick houses

Ur (2100 BCE)

Religion Ziggurat Massive stepped tower on which temple was built Center of city Physically Economically Politically Surplus food stored in temple

Government Theocracy Believed gods ruled cities Priests and priestesses very powerful Divine authority Kings Led armies Public works Organized workers

“You in your judgment, you are the son of Anu “You in your judgment, you are the son of Anu. Your commands, like the work of a god, cannot be reversed. Your words, like rain pouring down from heaven, are without number” -- Anonymous Sumerian

Economy Farming Trade Industry Import Textiles Pottery Metalworking Copper Textiles Tin Pottery Timber Metalworking Export Weapons Fish Jewelry Wool Barley Wheat Metal goods

Trade Land Water Wheel Seas and rivers Invented around 3000 BCE Made transport much easier Water Seas and rivers

Social Classes Nobles Commoners Slaves Royalty Religious officials Palace workers Farmers Merchants Fishers Craftsmen Slaves

Writing Cuneiform Record-keeping Clay tablets Stylus Trade records Tool for writing Record-keeping Trade records Day-to-day activities

Writing Scribes Training Accounting and record-keeping Educated males Sunrise to sunset Copy texts Probably boring Very harsh

Ancient Near Eastern Text In the tablet-house, the monitor said to me: “Why are you late?” I was afraid, my heart beat Fast. I entered before my teacher, took my place. My “school-father” read my tablet to me, Said, “The word is cut off,” caned me. He who was in charge of drawing said “Why when I was not here did you stand up?” caned me. He who was in charge of the gate said “Why when I was not here did you go out?” caned me. My teacher said “Your hand is not good,” caned me.

Ancient Near Eastern Text “What did you do in school?” “I read my tablet, wrote it, finished it; then my prepared lines were prepared for me and in the afternoon, my hand copies were prepared for me

Literature The Epic of Gilgamesh

Technology Wheel Potter’s wheel Sundial Arch Transport people and goods more easily Potter’s wheel Make pottery more easily Sundial Keep time Arch Stronger construction

Technology Metalwork Mathematics Astronomy Bronze = copper + tin 60-base number system Geometry Astronomy Charted constellations Hour = 60 minutes