1. Mesopotamia: “Land Between the Rivers” Mesopotamia: “Land Between the Rivers”

2. Earliest Civilization: the Fertile Crescent earliest of all civilizations earliest of all civilizations permanent settlements permanent settlements Mesopotamia = Greek for “between the rivers” Mesopotamia = Greek for “between the rivers” Tigris River and Euphrates River Tigris River and Euphrates River present day Iraq present day Iraq Lasted for approximately 3000 years Lasted for approximately 3000 years Its peoples were the first to… Its peoples were the first to… irrigate fields irrigate fields devise a system of writing devise a system of writing develop mathematics develop mathematics invent the wheel invent the wheel work with metal work with metal devise a written law code devise a written law code

3. Geographic Conditions: Pros and Cons Con: Little rainfall and hot, dry climate Con: Little rainfall and hot, dry climate Had to irrigate crops to survive Had to irrigate crops to survive Con: Wind and rain storms Con: Wind and rain storms muddy river valleys in winter muddy river valleys in winter Con: catastrophic flooding in spring Con: catastrophic flooding in spring Could cause crop failures, risk starvation of thousands… Could cause crop failures, risk starvation of thousands… Con: Arid soil away from the river contains little minerals, hard for farming. Con: Arid soil away from the river contains little minerals, hard for farming. Con: No stone or timber resources for building Con: No stone or timber resources for building Pro: Constant source of water (river flows all year long) Pro: Constant source of water (river flows all year long) Pro: Transportation Pro: Transportation Allows for trade and interactions with other groups. Good and Bad idea… Allows for trade and interactions with other groups. Good and Bad idea… Pro: wild growing grains Pro: wild growing grains You know what will grow in this climate, so you get barley and wheat! You know what will grow in this climate, so you get barley and wheat!

4. So why live in Mesopotamia? NATURAL LEVEES: embankments produced by build-up of sediment over thousands of years of flooding. This is where you planted your crops. Only good soil around! This allowed farmers to irrigate and plant crops near transportation routes. What are some of the potential issues with this set up? Think of three in your table group…

5. Sumerian Civilization The first Sumerian cities emerged in southern Mesopotamia around 3200 B.C. Sumerians settled in the Southern part of Mesopotamia. They built dams and dikes to keep the rivers from flooding their fields. The farming villages emerged along the river and grew into 12 city-states Each city-state had its own government and rulers, some worked together, most did not…

6. Sumerians Southern Mesopotamia 3500-2000 BCE Sumerians Southern Mesopotamia 3500-2000 BCE Irrigated fields and produced 4 main Irrigated fields and produced 4 main crops crops Wheat,barley, dates and sesame seeds Wheat,barley, dates and sesame seeds built canals, dikes, dams and drainage systems built canals, dikes, dams and drainage systems First walled cities in the world First walled cities in the world Developed a trade system with bartering Developed a trade system with bartering mainly barley and wheat but also wool and cloth for stone, metals, timber, copper, pearls and ivory mainly barley and wheat but also wool and cloth for stone, metals, timber, copper, pearls and ivory The Sumerians were not successful in uniting lower Mesopotamia, too busy fighting over things The Sumerians were not successful in uniting lower Mesopotamia, too busy fighting over things City States fought all the time over resources, influence on trade, and military power. City States fought all the time over resources, influence on trade, and military power. Ruins of Babylon in present day Baghdad Sumerian city of Lagash

7. Akkadians Akkad- northern Mesopotamia 2340 – 2180 BCE Leader Sargon the Great Leader Sargon the Great unified lower Mesopotamia after conquering Sumerians in 2331 BCE unified lower Mesopotamia after conquering Sumerians in 2331 BCE Established capital at Akkad Established capital at Akkad Spread Mesopotamian culture through conquest and trade Spread Mesopotamian culture through conquest and trade Akkadians conquered by invading barbarians by 2200 BCE Akkadians conquered by invading barbarians by 2200 BCE Sargon loses his empire, doesn’t pass it on to his son. Sargon loses his empire, doesn’t pass it on to his son. Bronze head of Sargon

8. Babylonians 1830-1500 BCE KING HAMMURABI Conquered Sumer, Akkad, and Assyria Conquered Sumer, Akkad, and Assyria Built Built Tall walls to protect the every city Tall walls to protect the every city canals and dikes to improve crops canals and dikes to improve crops Economy based on agriculture and wool Economy based on agriculture and wool Individuals could own land Individuals could own land Grain used as the medium of exchange Grain used as the medium of exchange emergence of currency: emergence of currency: shekel = 180 grains of barley; shekel = 180 grains of barley; mina = 60 shekels mina = 60 shekels Mina was eventually represented by metals - one of first uses of metal money Mina was eventually represented by metals - one of first uses of metal money still based on grain still based on grain Hammurabi’s Legacy Hammurabi’s Legacy law code: A law code told everyone the consequences BEFORE they commit a crime law code: A law code told everyone the consequences BEFORE they commit a crime Babylonians reunited Mesopotamia in 1830 BCE under one ruler Babylonians reunited Mesopotamia in 1830 BCE under one ruler central location dominated trade and secured control central location dominated trade and secured control YET AGAIN, Mesopotamia was not unified for long… YET AGAIN, Mesopotamia was not unified for long…

9. After Hammurabi’s death, Babylon fell apart and kings of Assur controlled more of surrounding area and came to dominate After Hammurabi’s death, Babylon fell apart and kings of Assur controlled more of surrounding area and came to dominate Rule by fear Rule by fear first permanent army made up of professional soldiers, 200,000 men. first permanent army made up of professional soldiers, 200,000 men. HUGE ARMY! HUGE ARMY! Used Iron! changed lifestyles in Mesopotamia but bronze is still around. Made superior weapons! Used Chariots to fight, kicked everyone elses butt with them! Assyrians 1100 -612 BCE

10. Accomplishments of Mesopotamia

11. Political structure - early form of democracy (agreed in groups on actions) for early city-states. Political structure - early form of democracy (agreed in groups on actions) for early city-states. Frequent wars led to the emergence of warriors as leaders. Frequent wars led to the emergence of warriors as leaders. Not so happy to give up power, decided to rule and pass it to their son/family unless conquered. So eventually rise of full scale monarchy Not so happy to give up power, decided to rule and pass it to their son/family unless conquered. So eventually rise of full scale monarchy Priest classes owned all the land in the name of the gods, had to rent it from the priests. Priest classes owned all the land in the name of the gods, had to rent it from the priests. All elite classes could understand the will of the gods and tell people what to do. How handy! All elite classes could understand the will of the gods and tell people what to do. How handy! Political System

12. Government and Authority  The Assyrians ruled the people with harsh conditions and left no mercy for their enemies at all because they were used to being an army with military power and attitude.  Assyrian officials governed city states as provinces and made them dependent territories. NO THE SAME AS OTHER EMPIRES. Made to NEED the Syrians, not just tolerate them.  Military campaigns added new territories which brought forth taxes. If the conquered people refused to pay, Assyrians destroyed their cities.  They also used art in a society can spread more cultures to other places (getting more advancements or inventions).

13. Through five of Assyria’s best rulers, more than 45 cities were annexed to the great empire including, those of the Egyptian Empire such as Memphis and Thebes.

14. It did not take too long for the empire to crumble. After the death of the last king of Syria the city-states taken over by over by Assyria revolted against their the Assyrians and looted many cities of the Assyrian Empire. More and more of Assyria’s enemies attacked the capital city of Nineveh, officially declaring the decline of the once great Assyrian Empire. A sculpture of King Ashurbanipal.

15. Writing - 3500 BCE Writing - 3500 BCE Scribes were people who could read and write. Scribes were people who could read and write. served as priests served as priests record keepers record keepers accountants accountants Idea spread to Persia and Egypt Idea spread to Persia and Egypt vehicle for the growth and spread and exchange of ideas among cultures, especially due to trade and conquest vehicle for the growth and spread and exchange of ideas among cultures, especially due to trade and conquest

16. 1 st Schools were established: You only went to school to learn one thing: Cuneiform (reading and witting) You only went to school to learn one thing: Cuneiform (reading and witting) Only few people were trained to write cuneiform, but many could read it. Only few people were trained to write cuneiform, but many could read it. Only for sons of upper-class professionals (priest, temple and palace officials, army officers, sea captains and other scribes) Only for sons of upper-class professionals (priest, temple and palace officials, army officers, sea captains and other scribes) Ensured only upper-classes were in the upper-class professions.  Ensured only upper-classes were in the upper-class professions. 

17. Mesopotamian Schools: Scribes

18. Mathematics and Science Mesopotamia, specifically Babylon used a mathematical system based on sixty Mesopotamia, specifically Babylon used a mathematical system based on sixty Some parts of the ‘base-sixty’ system still remain today Some parts of the ‘base-sixty’ system still remain today 360 degrees in a circle 360 degrees in a circle 60 seconds in a minute 60 seconds in a minute 60 minutes in 1 hour 60 minutes in 1 hour Calendar based on cycles of the moon Calendar based on cycles of the moon number of days between the appearance of two new moons was set as a month number of days between the appearance of two new moons was set as a month 12 cycles made up a year 12 cycles made up a year

19. Babylonian Math They drew up multiplication and division tables and making calculations using geometry

20. Babylonian Numbers

21. Accomplishments of Mesopotamia Codified laws Codified laws Ziggurats – places of worship Ziggurats – places of worship Cuneiform writing Cuneiform writing Irrigation Irrigation Metal working, tools Metal working, tools 1 st Empires 1 st Empires Use of Bronze and Iron Use of Bronze and Iron Trade networks Trade networks Transportation – the wheel/sail Transportation – the wheel/sail Mathematics and calendar Mathematics and calendar large scale agriculture large scale agriculture Math/Calander Math/Calander Base-60 System Base-60 System