The First Civilization! Mesopotamia

Sumer The people are called the Sumerians, the land is called Sumer.

Religion Priests held high status and at first governed city-states. Polytheists- belief in multiple gods. Gods acted like humans Priests held high status and at first governed city-states. Please gods to get good crops. At heart of the temples a pyramid shaped structure called a Ziggurat.

Enter the War Chiefs! War Chiefs became important to fight battles and wage wars. War chiefs gained power and formed dynasties. Dynasties: a series of rulers from one family. They also performed ceremonies to please gods and become representatives to them.

Sumerian Culture Cuneiform: the first known writing system to keep business records, law, grammar, literature. Epic of Gilgamesh (story of a king). Math/Science: math system based on 60, geometry (building, irrigation).

Culture Invented the wheel to make pottery and vehicles. The plow Bronze to make stronger tools & weapons Basic surgery Architecture: arches, ramps, and columns. Sculptures Cylinder seals.

Trade Most materials for building obtained through trade. Lacked wood, metals, and would trade for them. Trade brought social classes. Hierarchy 1. Kings, priests, agents 2. Landowners, wealthy merchants 3. Artisans, farmers, laborers 4. Slaves (captured in battle)

The Akkadians Constant warfare weakened Sumer and eventual was conquered by others. Others adopted Sumerian culture as the conquered and it continued to influence Mesopotamia. The Akkadians lived north of Sumer. Located on the Euphrates river at the city of Akkad.

The Akkadians Sargon I created the first permanent Army. Conquered all of Sumer and Northern Mesopotamia. Formed the worlds first Empire. Different kingdoms and people now under one ruler.

The Akkadians Adopted Cuneiform from the Sumerians. Akkadians used Cuneiform to write their own language. The Akkadian languages was the official language of the government. Sumerian language remained the language for religious and literary texts. Kept the power of the priesthood which helped keep Sumerian culture. Lasted about 140 years. Empire fell to other tribes. 100 years of chaos following.

Babylonian Empire A tribe called the Amorites settled in Babylon on the Euphrates river. 1792 B.C.E. the Amorite King Hammurabi became king of Babylon. A warrior who united all Mesopotamia to create the Babylonian Empire. (named for its capital)

Hammurabi Not only a warrior but great administrator. Oversaw great building projects Improved tax collection system Increased trade Absorbed earlier cultures Continued Sumerian traditions and Cuneiform.

Hammurabi’s Code Most famous for his code of laws. 282 laws dealing with every aspect of life. Codified, and written down for all to see across the Empire. 3. If any one bring an accusation of a serious crime before the elders, and does not prove what he has charged, he shall, be put to death. 56. If any one open his ditches to let in the water to his crop, and the water overflow the plantation of his neighbor, he shall pay ten gur of corn for every ten gan of land. 136. If any one leave his house, run away, and then his wife go to another house, if then he wishes to take his wife back, the wife of this runaway shall not return to her husband.

Babylon Empire Babylon become Mesopotamia’s greatest city. After Hammurabi died the Empires power declined In less then 200 years the Empire had Fallen.

The Hittites Various tribes conquered Mesopotamia following the fall of Babylon. They were a tribe from Asia Minor (Turkey). War like tribe Success through horse drawn chariots. Heavy, slow, but three people to drive, defend, and attack. They sacked Babylon, which fell later.

Hittite Culture Blended their cultures with those around them. Used Sumerian Cuneiform and a similar code to Hammurabi. First in the region to master iron work techniques. Peak in 1300s but remained a strong force until 1200 B.C.E. The Fell to the Sea Peoples

The Assyrians From northern Mesopotamia from the city of Assur along the Tigris river. Grew barley and raised cattle. Adopted Sumerian culture as well. Good rainfall and sat among major trade routes. Many Tribes invaded due to this. Been conquered various times, gained power a short time but did not last. Eventually ruled all of Mesopotamia 900 B.C.E.

The Assyrians They relied on Military Strength they developed from frequent warfare. Chariots, foot soldiers, cavalry all with iron weapons. Masters of Siege warfare.

The Assyrians Relied on terror tactics to spread fear and control conquered areas. Killed or maimed captives, enslaved, and split up and resettled people to keep people from rebelling.

The Assyrians Efficient government ruling through local leaders that governed a small area. Linked the empire with roads with messengers for communication. Nineveh (NI-nuh-vuh)- a massive library in their capital including 20,000 Cuneiform tablets (Epic of Gilgamesh). A valuable source for scholars today. The Empire grew to big to control and fell to other tribes.

The Chaldeans Chaldeans (Kal-Dee-unzs) Lived in southern Mesopotamia Joined forces with the Medes to defeat the Assyrians. Chaldeans picked up the pieces and took over. Made Babylon their capital

The New Babylonian Empire Chaldeans are also known as the second Babylonian Empire. Nebuchadnezzar II: the most famous Chaldean King (neb-uh-kuhd-nez-uhr) A warrior and great Builder

The Chaldeans Build Rebuilt Babylon into a place of splendor. Palaces, temples, immense multi-storied ziggurats, filled the city, and the Euphrates river flowed through it. Temple featured the hanging gardens (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

The Chaldeans Surprise, Surprise they adopted Sumerian culture, studied its language, built temples to Sumerian gods. Developed a Calendar based on the phases of the moon and made advances in astronomy.

The Chaldeans Fall In spite of their many achievements the empire was short-lived. Less then 100 years in 539 B.C.E. they are conquered by the Persians.

The Phoenicians During the rise and fall of empires, smaller states emerged. Various city-states in western Asia emerged in Phoenicia as trading centers. Often under the rule of foreign empires

The Phoenicians Now in the nation of Lebanon. Farming was difficult and resources were limited due to rugged hills. They turned to trade and the sea for their livelihood. Expert sailors. Dominated trade on the Mediterranean Ports in Egypt, Greece, Italy, Sicily, and Spain. Sailed along African coast and to Britain. It is not known how far they have sailed.

The Phoenicians They founded many colonies along trade routes like Carthage. Traded wood from giant cedar trees, local shell fish produce purple dye, invented glassblowing (heating and shaping glass).

The Phoenicians Greatest achievement was their Alphabet. Letters and alphabets more flexible then other systems with symbols. Consisted of 22 letters, all consonants. Many adopted a similar one like the Greeks and our own.