1. Mesopotamia
G.R.A.P.E.S. TCAP Review

2. G.= Geography of Mesopotamia
Southwest Asia
Present Day- Southern Iraq
Called the Cradle of Civilization and the Fertile Crescent
Mesopotamia means the land between 2 rivers
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Unpredictable Flooding= silt, fertile soil for the FIRST farming community to become a civilization.
Sumer is an area with many city-states (Ur, Uruk, Eridu)

3. R= Religion in Mesopotamia
Polytheistic= many gods and goddesses
Believed in rain/wind gods
Each city-state claimed its own main god
Believed gods lived in the very top of the ziggurats

4. A= Achievements in Mesopotamia
1st Irrigation!-to help bring water to crops (dams, dikes, canals)
Ziggurats- used for worship of gods
large city walls for protection
1st written laws- Hammurabi's Code ("eye for an eye")
1st written language- Cuneiform (wedge shaped stylus on clay)-keep records of trade

5. Achievements con'd
Epic of Gilgamesh- epic is a long story poem about a hero
Invented the wheel, wheeled carts, chariots, sailboat, wooden plow, bronze, Number system based on 60 (60 sec. in a min.; 60 mins. in an hour, 360 degrees in a circle), followed a 7 day week, sundial

6. P= Politics in Mesopotamia
Government= Monarchy (king/ queen)
Empire= many lands under 1 ruler
Sargon conquers and unites Akkad and Sumer into the 1st Empire
Later- Hammurabi conquers Mesopotamia and names the capital Babylon and builds the Babylonian Empire; Hammurabi's Code- 1st written laws!

7. Politics con'd
Assyrian Empire- conquers Mesopotamia area; strong army- chariots, horses, food soldiers; tribute (forced payments from conquered people); Iron Weapons (learned from Hittites); split empire into provinces; built roads; 1st Library at Nineveh; conquered by Chaldeans
Chaldean Empire- Nebechadnezzar (ruler); capital is Babylon; huge Ziggurat with gold top- shined for miles; Hanging Gardens (7 Wonders of Ancient World)- kings palace; God-Marduk; built canals
Fall of Mesopotamian Empires= weak rulers, poor harvests; Persians attacked and took over, allowed them to keep their culture!

8. E=Economics in Mesopotamia
Trade Routes- Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Caravans-traveling groups for trade (camels)
Barter (trade without money) was used
Money was also mentioned in Hammurabi's code
Agriculture- wheat, barley, dates, sheep, pigs, goats.
Traded to get metal, timber, red and blue stones

9. S= Social Structure in Mesopotamia
Men farmed or learned a skilled trade from a father
Boys went to school and generally learned the job of the father
Girls didn't go to school, learned to weave cloth, take care of house and children
Women at home teaching girls women duties
Social Hierarchy (social classes)- people are born into a class
King (gods gave power to kings)
Priests, warriors, gov't officials
Merchants, farmers, fishers, artisans
Slaves- captured in war, criminals, or couldn't pay debts