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Published byJeffrey Waters Modified over 9 years ago
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Mesopotamia “The Land between Two Rivers” Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
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River Civilization With your elbow partner discuss:
Why would people group up and settle near rivers? what challenges might they face? ________________ _____________
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Mesopotamia “land between two rivers” - the Tigris and Euphrates
the Fertile Crescent - area of rich soil in the Middle East where the agricultural revolution took place Tigris and Euphrates had unpredictable flooding
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With a partner list some positives and negatives to living in the Fertile Crescent.
What do you think the words cultural diffusion mean?
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cultural diffusion process of a new idea or a product spreading from one culture to another culture as trade began to develop from one city-state to another
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city-state vs. empire city and all its surrounding lands that function as an independent political unit City-states evolved into empires Empire- controlled by a single ruler aka a monarchy
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Contributions of Mesopotamian Cultures
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Major Groups in Mesopotamia
Sumerians Babylonians Chaldeans Assyrians Persians Hebrews Phoenicians
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Sumerians Technology arch, wheel, plow, & sail
astronomy & fortune telling number system - 6’s & 12’s concept of city-state Ziggurat – Temple “Mountain of God” Cuneiform – Form of writing using stylus and wet clay tablet
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Babylonians Hammurabi’s Law Code imperial government
1st written code of laws imperial government first to build Babylon
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Hittites Iron, chariots, hunters.
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Phoenicians alphabet & writing with phonetic symbols
commerce & shipbuilding, sailing, trade dyes and other products murex
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Hebrews (Israelites, Jews)
Monotheism – One God Old Testament concept of human dignity Judaism
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Assyrians warfare: weapons, armor, cavalry, tactics, catapult and other siege tools postal service some roads built city of Ninevah improved writing
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Assyrian Treasures
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The Bronze Age time when a people use bronze (mix tin and copper) rather than stone, bone, or copper begins in BCE in Mesopotamia
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polytheism monotheism
a belief in many gods a belief in one god (originated with the Hebrews – Judaism)
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EARLY LAW CODES
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Think - Pair - Share What governmental systems were established in early civilizations and why? What legal ideas can be traced to ancient civilizations? How were religious philosophies integrated into these ancient systems?
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HAMMURABI’S CODE OF LAWS
first set of written/codified laws (282) In cuneiform deal with what Mesopotamians value: family relations, crime, and property issues follow “eye for an eye” philosophy Emphasizes government responsibility for society
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Hammurabi’s Code of Laws
How would these strict laws better the community as a whole? This document made the laws more consistent and predictable.
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LAW OF MOSES Includes Ten Commandments
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LAW OF MOSES cont. Transcribed by Moses on Mt. Sinai
Sometimes resembles “eye for an eye” strict justice softened by expressions of God’s mercy Goal: moral life in accordance with God’s laws
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