1. Mesopotamia and Egypt
Chapters 2-3

2. Bell Ringer
What can you learn about how the Egyptians viewed their rulers from this tablet?

3. Mesopotamia The Quest for Order
Mesopotamia “The Land between the Rivers”
Little Rain, irrigation is important
Tigiris and Euphrates were
unpredictable
Food Supply will increase
First Cities Emerge, 4000 BCE
City-States
Government sponsored building projects, irrigation systems, wall building (defense), and military
Hello Taxes!
Kingships will evolve

4. Mesopotamia Quest for Order (cont.) Empires Hammurabi (1792-1750 BCE)
Centralized the bureaucracy and regulated taxation
Capital is Babylon
Law Code: law of retribution and importance of social status
Empire crumbles as a result of Hittite assaults
Assyrians ( BCE)
Powerful Armies: powerful officers (merit), chariots, archers, iron weapons
Deport people from their families, cut rebels appendages, moved skilled workers around, raping, murder
Rebellions due to unpopular rule brings an end to the empire
New Babylonian ( BCE)
Nebuchadnezzar
Hanging Gardens of palace display wealth and luxury

5. Mesopotamia: Hanging Gardens

6. Mesopotamia Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Tradition
Economic Specialization and Trade
Bronze: weapons and agricultural tools
Iron: (cheaper than bronze) weapons and tools
Wheel: carts (trade)
Shipbuilding: maritime trade increases
Patriarchal Society
Social Classes
Kings (hereditary) and nobles (family/supporters)
Priest and Priestesses
Free Commoners (pay taxes, laborers)
Slaves (domestic servants)

7. Mesopotamia Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Tradition
Architecture
Ziggurats: religious buildings
The religion of Mesopotamia was unpredictable, much like the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Written Cultural Tradition
Cuneiform
Trade: Wheat and Goats. YAY!!
Education: vocational to be scribe or government official
Literature: astronomy, mathematics, abstract (religious and literary)
Epic of Gilgamesh

8. Egypt Early Agricultural Society in Africa
Egypt and Nubia: The Gift of the Nile
Egypt – Lower Third of the Nile
Predictable, Safe, and Rich
Cultivated gourds, watermelons, wheat, and barley
Domesticated donkeys and cattle

9. Egypt The Unification of Egypt Large and Prosperous state
Menes at Memphis unite Upper and Lower Egypt
Pharaoh, absolute ruler and owns all land
Archaic Period and Old Kingdom
THE GOLDEN PERIOD
Great Pyramids of Giza built
Peasants and Slaves
Ra: pharaohs became Gods after death
Pharaoh was seen as a God (calm, cool, benevolent)
Very Literate and Rich
Until 2250 BCE poverty, droughts, power struggles

10. Egypt Turmoil and Empire Period of upheaval after Old Kingdom
Middle Kingdom
Rulers were “outsiders” from Nubia
New Gods: Amun (hidden) more successful!!
Amun-Ra: many buildings dedicated to this God
Conquerors!
Nomadic Horsemen, Hyksos, invade Egypt (assimilated to the Egyptians than destroyed them and expelled them)
Using bronze weapons, compound bows, and chariots
Causes revolts in Upper Egypt

11. Egypt New Kingdom Military Expansion
Pharaoh gain power, huge army, large bureaucracy
Building projects: temples, palaces, statues
Hatshepsut : Expanded Egypt through trade
Then Egypt falls into a long period of decline

12. Egypt Complex Societies and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions
The Emergence of Cities and Stratified Societies
Social Classes
Egypt: peasants and slaves (agriculture), pharaoh, professional military and administrators
Nubia: complex and hierarchical society
Patriarchy in both but women have more influence than in Mesopotamia
Women act as regents, like female pharaoh Hatshepsut
Nubia: women serve as queens, priestesses, and scribes