Mesopotamia

Creation of Civilization People were nomads at first—wanders, followed the food Farming allowed people to stay in one place This allowed more free time People become specialized, learn skills, develop culture

The Fertile Crescent 1 st civilization develops in the middle east Two rivers in present day Iraq— Tigris and Euphrates, area now called the Fertile Crescent The rivers would flood and leave silt on fields Villages joined together to use irrigation Villages grow into civilizations/kingdoms –Sumer-Summerians –Babylonians –Assyrians

Government Ruled by kings called lugals Most important job was war Lugal was also head priest City-States—like states of a country Hammurabi—most powerful of luguls, united the area He focused on law and order Code of Hammurabi-300 laws, strong protected the weak, eye for an eye approach

Religion Religion Polytheistic—belief in many gods An—God of Heaven Enil—air godEnki—water god Ninhursag— mother earth Utu—sun god, used chariot across sky Nanna—moon god, used boat to pull moon

Religion cont. Ziggurat —religious temple3 or more levels, 70+ feet high Believed that gods lived on top—stairs to come down to earth, sometimes used human sacrifice

Daily Life in Mesopotamia 3 classes of people –Aristocracy—rich and powerful, priests, high gov. officials, and generals –Working Class—paid in goods and food, no $, architects, scribes, merchants, farmers –Slaves—prisoners of war or families sold into slavery to pay off debts

Daily Life cont. 1-2 story mud and brick homes Father arranged marriages Men—shaved heads, kilts, long beards Women—braided hair, wore loose fitting long dresses Games like checkers, music and dance were big, small harp called a lyre

Mesopotamian Achievements Wheel for pottery, farming, chariots for war Arches for support in architecture Pulley, sundial Calendar into weeks, days

Achievements cont Achievements cont. Cuneiform-first written language—pressed wedges into damp clay 500 combinations- scribes Epic of Gilgamesh— first novel Code of Hammurabi written in it

Hanging Gardens of Babylon 1 of 7 Ancient Wonders of the World Levels of gardens with complex irrigation system