1. “Land between the rivers”
ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA
“Land between the rivers”

2. Importance of Irrigation
ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA
Importance of Irrigation
Climate is hot and dry (e.g. Arizona)
Almost no rainfall during growing season
Canals draw water away from rivers to grow crops

3. Importance of Irrigation
ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA
Importance of Irrigation
Canals bring water to fields
Ditches carry flood water away
Dikes built to protect from flooding; dams raise water into canals

4. Importance of Irrigation
ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA
Importance of Irrigation
Large scale operation – necessitates central leadership and organization
Leadership comes from the Temple and the King

5. ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA Religion
Polytheistic Belief System (more than 1 deity)
Based largely on Sumerian foundations
Gods embody forces of nature:
Anu – sky
Enki – water
Enlil – air
Utu - sun

6. ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA Religion
Mesopotamians were fearful of Gods; attributed changes in the environment to Gods’ pleasure or displeasure
Believed in notion that humans were created to serve Gods

7. ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA Religion
Priests became powerful individuals in society; more experienced priests were given more responsibilities
All rituals were an attempt to control environment around societies; environment is tough – therefore the Gods are as well…
Religion

8. ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA Writing Method of writing was called Cuneiform
Reed pressed into wet clay tablets
Wedge shaped characters

9. ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA Writing
Most writing was about administrative details
Detailed the King’s and the Temple’s business
- Details about religious
ceremonies – preserve
favorable knowledge;
things that “work”
- Code of Hammurabi

10. ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA Trade Networks
Because of climate and geography, raw materials are limited
Either conducted trading or conquest strategies to get raw materials…
System of standard weights and measures are established

11. ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA Trade Networks Into Mesopotamia:
Wood, metals and stone
Out of Mesopotamia:
Agricultural Surplus
Wool
Cloth
Barley
Oils