1. Mesopotamia

4. Mesopotamia “Land between the rivers”
Between the Tigris River and Euphrates River
Fertile Crescent
Little rain
Silt from river

5. Mesopotamia Flooding Irrigation and drainage ditches Snow melt
Allowed for systematic agriculture
Abundance of food
Allowed for large cities, civilization
Assyria
Akkad
Sumer

6. Mesopotamia
The rampant flood which no man can oppose, Which shakes the heavens and causes earth to tremble, In an appalling blanket folds mother and child, And drowns the harvest in its time of ripeness.

7. Religion Harsh climate and frequent famines
Polytheism (poly = many, theos = god)
Belief in many gods
Nearly 3000 gods and goddesses
Humans obey and serve gods
Work hard to keep them happy

8. Sumerian Gods Anu Enki Enlil Sky god
Father of gods, evil spirits, and demons
Enki
God of water
Created man
Assign roles to each god
Established civilizations
Enlil
God of wind and agriculture

9. Sumer 3000 BCE Established many cities in southern Mesopotamia
Eridu Ur
Uruk
City-states
City and surrounding lands

10. Cities Uruk (2700 BCE) Walls 6 miles long Towers every 30-35 feet
Population: 50,000
Social stratification
Small houses for peasants
Larger buildings for city officials, priests, etc.
Social identity
Mud-brick houses

11. Ur (2100 BCE)

13. Religion Ziggurat Massive stepped tower on which temple was built
Center of city
Physically
Economically
Politically
Surplus food
stored in temple

14. Government Theocracy Believed gods ruled cities
Priests and priestesses very powerful
Divine authority
Kings
Led armies
Public works
Organized workers

15. “You in your judgment, you are the son of Anu
“You in your judgment, you are the son of Anu. Your commands, like the work of a god, cannot be reversed. Your words, like rain pouring down from heaven, are without number” -- Anonymous Sumerian

16. Economy Farming Trade Industry Import Textiles Pottery Metalworking
Copper
Textiles
Tin
Pottery
Timber
Metalworking
Export
Weapons
Fish
Jewelry
Wool
Barley
Wheat
Metal goods

17. Trade Land Water Wheel Seas and rivers Invented around 3000 BCE
Made transport much easier
Water
Seas and rivers

18. Social Classes Nobles Commoners Slaves Royalty Religious officials
Palace workers
Farmers
Merchants
Fishers
Craftsmen
Slaves

19. Writing Cuneiform Record-keeping Clay tablets Stylus Trade records
Tool for writing
Record-keeping
Trade records
Day-to-day activities

20. Writing Scribes Training Accounting and record-keeping Educated males
Sunrise to sunset
Copy texts
Probably boring
Very harsh

21. Ancient Near Eastern Text
In the tablet-house, the monitor said to me: “Why are you late?” I was afraid, my heart beat Fast. I entered before my teacher, took my place. My “school-father” read my tablet to me, Said, “The word is cut off,” caned me. He who was in charge of drawing said “Why when I was not here did you stand up?” caned me. He who was in charge of the gate said “Why when I was not here did you go out?” caned me. My teacher said “Your hand is not good,” caned me.

22. Ancient Near Eastern Text
“What did you do in school?” “I read my tablet, wrote it, finished it; then my prepared lines were prepared for me and in the afternoon, my hand copies were prepared for me

24. Literature
The Epic of Gilgamesh

25. Technology Wheel Potter’s wheel Sundial Arch
Transport people and goods more easily
Potter’s wheel
Make pottery more easily
Sundial
Keep time
Arch
Stronger construction

28. Technology Metalwork Mathematics Astronomy Bronze = copper + tin
60-base number system
Geometry
Astronomy
Charted constellations
Hour = 60 minutes