1. Mesopotamia
AP World History

2. If you were to develop a civilization what physical characteristics would be needed in order to settle there?

3. The Wealth of the Rivers
Nutrient-rich silt
Key: irrigation
Necessity of coordinated efforts (reservoirs, canals, dikes, dams)
Promoted development of local governments
City-states
Sumer begins small-scale irrigation 6000 BCE
By 5000 BCE, complex irrigation networks
Population reaches 100,000 by 3000 BCE
Attracts Semitic migrants, influences culture

4. City States Sumerians- 3200-2350 BCE Ur- Home of Abraham
Assyrians- Beginning BCE, BCE control Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, most of Egypt
New Babylonia –

5. Political System
Semitic peoples from northern Mesopotamia overshadow Sumer
Sargon of Akkad ( BCE)
Destroyed Sumerian city-states one by one, created empire based in Akkad
Empire unable to maintain chronic rebellions
Hammurabi of Babylon ( BCE)
Improved taxation, legislation
Used local governors to maintain control of city-states
Nabuchanezzar- Created a new Babaloynian Empire because of previous peoples discontent
Babylonian Empire later destroyed by Hittites from Anatolia, c BCE

6. Jobs in Mesopotamia Women Men Textile Temple Leaders and Kings
Breweries
Households
Bankers
Temple Leaders and Kings
Scribe
Farmers
Political Life

7. Social Classes Ruling classes based often on military prowess
Originally elected, later hereditary
Perceived as offspring of gods
Religious classes
Role: intervention with gods to ensure fertility, safety
Considerable landholdings, other economic activities
Free commoners
Peasant cultivators
Some urban professionals
Slaves
Prisoners of war, convicted criminals, debtors

8. Patriarchal Society Men as landowners, relationship to status
Patriarchy: “rule of the father”
Right to sell wives, children
Double standard of sexual morality
Women drowned for adultery
Relaxed sexual mores for men
Yet some possibilities of social mobility for women
Court advisers, temple priestesses, economic activity
Introduction of the veil at least c BCE

9. Monument Building
Ziggurat- home of the City Gods

10. Keeping Records First form of writing were pictographs
This form of writing was first
Later forms of writing was known as Cuneiform
Written on clay tablets

11. What are some of the Applications for writing?

12. Uses for Writing Trade Astronomy Mathematics Calculation of time
Agricultural applications
Calculation of time
12-month year
24-hour day, 60-minute hour

13. Long Distance Trade
Trade increased because of the development and use of boats
Goods Traded: wood, metals, stone, cloth, barley and vegetable oil
Traded With: Sumerians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans

14. Advances in Science and Art
Assyrians used Iron
4000BCE Bronze- Used for Military and Agriculture
1000 BCE Iron- less expensive than Bronze
3500 BCE Wheel and Boats
Amulets- Charms (Used for Luck and Jewelry)
Dikes, Dams, Canals

15. Legal System The Code of Hammurabi
Established high standards of behavior and stern punishment for violators
lex talionis – “law of retaliation”
Social status and punishment
women as property, but some rights