1. Ancient Near East

2. Lesson #5
Objective (s): Describe the most important characteristics of Mesopotamian culture, explain how they developed, and how they influenced later historical eras. Understand how ancient Mesopotamia influenced the development of Western Civilization.
Agenda: Prehistory Quiz, Ancient Mesopotamia, Hammurabi’s Code, Map
Bellwork:
While watching an abbreviated version of the Epic of Gilgamesh, I want you think about what the take away/moral of the story could be.
Epic of Gilgamesh

3. The Sumerians
Sumerians civilization began in Mesopotamia, or “the land between the rivers”.
Fertile Crescent-parts of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan
Built flood control structures and developed irrigation systems.
Surplus specialization artisans trade

4. The Sumerians Built first cities in region (Ur, Uruk)
Isolation and independence
Formation of city-states 5,000-20,000
Fortified with mud-brick
War and peace

5. The Sumerians Polytheism Ziggurat Fixed social structure
Kings, priests, warriors, govt officials
Merchants, farmers, fishers, and artisans
Slaves, POW, criminals
Patriarchal
Agrarian
Trade routes to Egypt and India

6. The Sumerians Influential on Western Civilization Writing/cuneiform
Scribes
Wheels/carts/chariots
Sailboats
Potter’s wheel
Bronze
Mathematics
Geometry, division, multiplication
60 minute hour/60 second minute
360 degree circle
12 month calendar based on lunar cycles

7. What is the potential impact of Sumerian innovations on Western Civilization?

8. Other Empires By 2400 BCE Sumer weakened by conflict
Akkad led by Sargon to the north of Sumer and spread the Akkadian Empire south, united all the city-states, creating the first empire which lasted over 200 years.
Amorites led by Hammurabi conquered the region in the 1800s. Their greatest city was Babylon. The conquered land became the Babylonian Empire.
Hammurabi’s Code-”eye for an eye” laws; influenced laws of both ancient Greece and Rome.

9. Other Empires
Assyrian Empire rose about 1000 years later. It was a large empire extending from the Nile River and to the Persian Gulf from east to west and from Turkey to Iraq from north to south. Its capital city was Nineveh.
Well trained military of over 50,000. Cavalry and infantry. Weapons made from iron (Hittites) included slingshots, bows and arrows, swords, and spears. Brutality was their reputation.
Empire divided into provinces, connected by roads, guarded by soldiers.
Developed their culture from other Mesopotamian cultures.
Built one of the first libraries which held 25,000 tablets of stories and songs to the gods.
Farming and trade dominated the economy

10. Other Empires
Assyrians ruled for 300 years but fell to the Chaldeans, once ruled by the Assyrians, during turmoil over succession in 612 BCE when Nineveh was captured and burned to the ground.
New Babylonian Empire
Rebuilt the city
Hanging gardens
One of the richest and most beautiful cities in the world
Flourished through trade
Astronomers
Seven day week
After a series of weak rulers, conquered by Persians

11. Why was this land (fertile crescent) coveted by so many cultures?