III. SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION AND IV. OTHER CIVILIZATIONS OF MESOPOTAMIA

SECTION 3: OBJECTIVES Explore how geography affected the development of the Sumerian civilization Identify the achievements of the Sumerian people Describe what life was like in Sumerian society

Sumer  1 st city of the Fertile Crescent Modern day Iraq Constant invasions Protection –Flooding  unpredictable –Surrounded by dry land and mountains Sumerian Civilization

Physical Area  “Crossroads of the World” land routes to Africa, Asia and Europe  Few natural barriers Deserts – Arabian / Syrian Lots of invasions  Diverse people

Mesopotamia  “Land between two rivers”  Greek  Floods unpredictable  Lower Mesopotamia  droughts  Dikes and canals  Advanced Trade

Government: City–State By 3000 B. C. – independent city-states City–State: a large town or city and the surrounding countryside cooperate for mutual defense. Basic unit of Sumerian civilization

City-State – Built strong defense walls farmers took refuge there during attacks Uruk – about 1000 acres encircled by a wall six miles long – Stored food in case of invasion

City-State Each city worshipped its own gods and goddesses dependent on special god for food and protection 2/3 of harvest went to Temple  Ziggurat random floods – people scared  kept worshipping priests ruled

Sumerian Religion –Ziggurat – the home or temple dedicated to the chief god or goddess of the city-state Gods were cruel Pyramid shaped Gods owned the cities Physical, economic and political center of the city  Theocracy (eventually kings)

Sumerian Religion Sumerian religion provided value structure Strong belief in life after death Shadowy underworld Each person had a "Ghost" Guardian angel

Sumerian Writing Generally regarded as the first written language. "Cuneiform“-wedge-like shape system of writing. Pictograms clay tablets wedged shaped stylus Sir Henry Rawlinson deciphered writing Inscriptions - cliff at Behistun – (Iran) Old Persian, Babylonian, and Elamite

Sumerian Writing –Record keeping –Teaching purposes –Scribe schools –Scribal education  professionally trained scribes Temples and palaces, the military, and government services For Male and wealthy families

Achievements of Sumerians  Wheel BC.  Math system - number 60  60 second minute, 60 minute hour, 360 degree circle  Architecture  Arches and columns  Clay for bricks  Algebra and geometry  Astronomy – charted constellations

Akkadians  2330 BC – Mesopotamia – Akkad  Sargon – Ruler – most powerful Akkadian King  Created an empire that Reached Mediterranean  Lasted about 150 yrs  Couldn’t preserve empire  Back to independent city- states  2330 BC – Mesopotamia – Akkad  Sargon – Ruler – most powerful Akkadian King  Created an empire that Reached Mediterranean  Lasted about 150 yrs  Couldn’t preserve empire  Back to independent city- states

Babylonians –1600 BC  Iraq  “Babylonian Empire”  centuries of foreign domination  Babylon  capital  The first Babylonian Empire  Hammurabi  1 st Ruler 1830 BC - first dynasty of Babylon High point under Hammurabi Empire - Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea

 Hammurabi - king and chief priest  first written legal code  282 laws - trade, family, labor, real estate and personal property  “Eye for Eye”, “Tooth for Tooth” approach  Established state as authority to enforce laws  connection with religion

Hittites  1531 BC BC  Hittite army stormed Babylon  destroyed the city  Used Iron weapons  Great warriors / lawmakers  less brutal code of law  1531 BC BC  Hittite army stormed Babylon  destroyed the city  Used Iron weapons  Great warriors / lawmakers  less brutal code of law

Assyrians  1200 BC. – about 900 BC  One of the most brutal powers  Most skilled warriors  Disciplined army – used iron weapons, cavalry, iron-tipped battering rams.  Kill enemies on the spot  Cavalry  Height of power – Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, Nile River Valley  1200 BC. – about 900 BC  One of the most brutal powers  Most skilled warriors  Disciplined army – used iron weapons, cavalry, iron-tipped battering rams.  Kill enemies on the spot  Cavalry  Height of power – Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, Nile River Valley

ASSYRIANS  Capital – Nineveh (NIN*uh*vuh)  1 st great library 22,000 tablets  Epic of Gilgamesh  written in cuneiform  12 clay tablets about 2000 BC.  British archaeologists  excavated King Assurbanipal’s library  museum researcher George Smith translated ASSYRIANS  Capital – Nineveh (NIN*uh*vuh)  1 st great library 22,000 tablets  Epic of Gilgamesh  written in cuneiform  12 clay tablets about 2000 BC.  British archaeologists  excavated King Assurbanipal’s library  museum researcher George Smith translated

 Smith could not finish the translation  tablet was missing.  The London Daily Telegraph  Smith searched ancient library until he found the missing tablet  Smith could not finish the translation  tablet was missing.  The London Daily Telegraph  Smith searched ancient library until he found the missing tablet

Chaldeans  Defeated Assyrians  Nebuchadnezzar II – Conquered most of the Fertile Crescent Babylon – rebuilt – BC Became large and wealthy Kings palace included beautiful terraced gardens Hanging Gardens of Babylon Seven Wonders of the World

Persians  558 BC - Cyrus the Great  Defeated the Medes  In 546 BC – led army  defeated the Lydians  Cyrus the Great – founded the Persian Empire  Unified 2 Iranian tribes – the Medes and Persians  Later captured Babylon  Issued a declaration upon capturing  Inscribed clay barrel  Cyrus Cylinder  Contains accounts of his victories, merciful acts, royal lineage  558 BC - Cyrus the Great  Defeated the Medes  In 546 BC – led army  defeated the Lydians  Cyrus the Great – founded the Persian Empire  Unified 2 Iranian tribes – the Medes and Persians  Later captured Babylon  Issued a declaration upon capturing  Inscribed clay barrel  Cyrus Cylinder  Contains accounts of his victories, merciful acts, royal lineage

 Darius I – son of Cyrus  extended the borders.  conquered Egypt in 518 BC  Athens and Sparta too powerful  The Persians governed through regional satraps, or governors.  Persepolis – Capital  sent out “listeners” (known sometimes as “the king's eyes and ears”) to check on regional conditions.  Cities connected by “royal roads”  horsemen sped with messages from the capital.  Darius I – son of Cyrus  extended the borders.  conquered Egypt in 518 BC  Athens and Sparta too powerful  The Persians governed through regional satraps, or governors.  Persepolis – Capital  sent out “listeners” (known sometimes as “the king's eyes and ears”) to check on regional conditions.  Cities connected by “royal roads”  horsemen sped with messages from the capital.

Persian Religion  Zoroaster ( ), or Zarathushtra, a religious prophet  Zoroastrianism  Taught that on Earth people received training for a future life  in the world the forces of good and evil battle one another  people must choose  Choose good  rewarded with eternal blessings  Choose evil  would face punishment Persian Religion  Zoroaster ( ), or Zarathushtra, a religious prophet  Zoroastrianism  Taught that on Earth people received training for a future life  in the world the forces of good and evil battle one another  people must choose  Choose good  rewarded with eternal blessings  Choose evil  would face punishment

 The Persians at first practiced religious tolerance - religious leaders revolted within the empire.  Egypt broke away from the empire and was regained with difficulty.  Palestine revolted, as did Babylon and some of the Greek dependencies.  These problems had weakened Persia by the time man named Alexander became king of Macedon in Greece.  He conquered the Persian Empire.  The Persians at first practiced religious tolerance - religious leaders revolted within the empire.  Egypt broke away from the empire and was regained with difficulty.  Palestine revolted, as did Babylon and some of the Greek dependencies.  These problems had weakened Persia by the time man named Alexander became king of Macedon in Greece.  He conquered the Persian Empire.