11/30/10 11/30/10 (seating chart, binder check, gradebook)(seating chart, binder check, gradebook)

BR- What do you think it BR- What do you think it means if a religion is means if a religion is polytheistic polytheistic ? What if the ? What if the religion is religion is monotheistic monotheistic ? ?

TodayToday: Understanding A Few Details : Understanding A Few Details About Mesopotamian ReligionAbout Mesopotamian Religion

Binder check on Thursday, Binder check on Thursday, December 2. among other things, I’ll December 2. among other things, I’ll be checking all of the information be checking all of the information you have gathered about you have gathered about Mesopotamia (for your book!)Mesopotamia (for your book!)

Religion and the Ziggurat (C.I.)Religion and the Ziggurat (C.I.)

1.1. The characteristic Mesopotamian temple was a The characteristic Mesopotamian temple was a zigguratziggurat, a stepped platform made out of mud-, a stepped platform made out of mud-bricks, with a temple at the summit.bricks, with a temple at the summit.

2.2. The ziggurat was not only a religious center but also The ziggurat was not only a religious center but also an economic redistribution center--the temple base an economic redistribution center--the temple base was a huge was a huge warehousewarehouse where grain and other where grain and other valuable substances were stored. All things that people valuable substances were stored. All things that people produced went first to the produced went first to the templetemple, the priests would , the priests would then redistribute all of the things people needed to live then redistribute all of the things people needed to live (now you can see why it was important to develop a way of keeping track of who (now you can see why it was important to develop a way of keeping track of who had paid what and who had received what was due!)had paid what and who had received what was due!)

3.3. Mesopotamian Mesopotamian religionreligion was essentially fatalistic--the was essentially fatalistic--the gods were removed from people, who were basically gods were removed from people, who were basically the slaves of the gods: the most humans could hope for the slaves of the gods: the most humans could hope for was that the gods would ignore them! was that the gods would ignore them! To what degree was this To what degree was this fatalism a result of the harsh environment of Mesopotamia?fatalism a result of the harsh environment of Mesopotamia?

Religion and the ZigguratReligion and the Ziggurat

1. The characteristic Mesopotamian temple was a ziggurat, 1. The characteristic Mesopotamian temple was a ziggurat, a stepped platform made out of mud-bricks, with a temple a stepped platform made out of mud-bricks, with a temple at the summit.at the summit.2. The ziggurat was not only a religious center but also an 2. The ziggurat was not only a religious center but also an economic redistribution center--the temple base was a economic redistribution center--the temple base was a huge warehouse where grain and other valuable huge warehouse where grain and other valuable substances were stored.substances were stored.4. Mesopotamian religion was essentially fatalistic--the gods 4. Mesopotamian religion was essentially fatalistic--the gods were removed from people, who were basically the slaves were removed from people, who were basically the slaves of the gods: the most humans could hope for was that the of the gods: the most humans could hope for was that the gods would ignore them! To what degree was this fatalism gods would ignore them! To what degree was this fatalism a result of the harsh environment of Mesopotamia?a result of the harsh environment of Mesopotamia?

Complex InstitutionsComplex Institutions

Mesopotamian Religion was Mesopotamian Religion was PolytheisticPolytheistic

Religion- people faced unpredictable floods Religion- people faced unpredictable floods and constant war- rituals were designed to and constant war- rituals were designed to persuade the gods to leave them alone.persuade the gods to leave them alone.

Only gods were immortal, when people died Only gods were immortal, when people died they entered a place under the Earth- no they entered a place under the Earth- no pleasure or pain- a realm of shadowspleasure or pain- a realm of shadows

Society- Kings/priests, nobles, commoners, Society- Kings/priests, nobles, commoners, criminals and slaves, criminals and slaves, patriarchal patriarchal society- society- male dominatedmale dominated

Questions As We ReadQuestions As We Read: : To To Hand In!Hand In!

1.1. What did Mesopotamians believe was the cause of good What did Mesopotamians believe was the cause of good and bad things happening on earth?and bad things happening on earth?

2.2. What areas did each god or goddess control:What areas did each god or goddess control:1.1. ShamashShamash

2.2. AdadAdad

3.3. IshtarIshtar

4.4. EnlilEnlil

5.5. EaEa

3.3. Why do you think the Mesopotamians thought the world Why do you think the Mesopotamians thought the world was so small?was so small?

4.4. According to the Mesopotamians, how were humans According to the Mesopotamians, how were humans created?created?