1. Mesopotamia (4000-1000 BCE) Government –City-states –Monarchy- priest-kings –Record keeping –Law-Code of Hammurabi

2. Religion Polytheistic Gods not always helpful reflected struggle with unpredictable environment –War-like gods who possessed total control over human lives Sacrifices, rituals, temples (ziggurats) Power of priests and priestesses

3. Sumerian City-States (4000-2300 BCE) –Located on Mesopotamian plain-close to Tigris & Euphrates Rivers –Not unified under one leader- multiple city-states –Constant conflict over resources –Common language, culture, religion –Agriculture & trade (as far away as India)

4. Epic of Gilgamesh Epic poem-2000 BCE Reveals beliefs about afterlife tells of great flood similar to Noah in Jewish & Christian Old Testament Corresponds to rise of oceans as Ice Age retreated

5. Sumerian Contributions Cuneiform-earliest written language Wheel Plow Sailboat Mathematical system Astronomy

6. Akkadian Empire (2330-2100 BCE) –Semitic people who migrated from the Arabian Peninsula –Conquered Sumerians –Central city of Akkad-later became Babylon –World’s first empire –Sargon the Great- conquered Sumerian cities & territory westward to ensure metal supplies

7. Babylonia Empire (1800-1500 BCE) Babylon located on Euphrates River Hammurabi was sixth king Important trade center Code of Hammurabi

8. –282 Laws-formed Babylonian legal system –One of earliest written laws –King’s responsibility to maintain order & justice –Basis of international commercial law: regulated contracts, interest, mortgages, etc. –Harsh penalties- reflects social hierarchy –Carved into a stela, (stone pillar)- kept in a special temple

9. Assyrian Empire (1100-612 BCE) –Assur, city on Tigris River originally under Babylonian rule –Over two centuries, fought to expand their control –Lower Mesopotamia, Persia, Syria, Sinai Peninsula & along SE coast of Med. Sea into Egypt –controlled trade between Anatolia & Mesopotamia –highly centralized government headed by royal appointed governors – ruled with terror –Advanced weapons (seige engine) –Built a fine library (literature, math, science) –Encouraged private enterprise rather than state monopoly –Overthrown by Chaldeans

10. Chaldean Empire Neo-Babylonian (612-539 BCE) Another name for Babylonia Took control of Babylon through bloody battles Known for cruelty King Nebuchadnezzar conquered Canaan & enslaved the Israelites “Babylonian Captivity” Hanging Gardens terraces rising to palace roof irrigated by pumps Astronomy-created manuals for later civilizations Timekeeping-divided the day into 12 double hours 7 day week division of the hour into sixty minutes

11. Persian Empire (550-333 BCE) Originated on plateau east of Zagros Mtns Indo Aryran origins Cyrus the Great Tolerant rule-respected different religions, languages customs Divided into provinces- satrapies- constructed roads