C7 - Mesopotamian Civilization
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Transcript of C7 - Mesopotamian Civilization
MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILIZATION
3500 B.C – 539 B.C.
• Origin• Government• Society• Religion• Language and Writing• Technology• Mathematics• Astronomy• Hammurabi Code
Origin
• ‘Mesopotamia’ from Greek words, mesos (between) and potamol (rivers).
• The area between the Euphrates and Tigris - known as the “Cradle of Civilization”.
• Now occupied by modern Iraq, eastern Syria and southern Turkey.
• Not a political entity and no definite boundaries.
Origin
• The home of some world’s ancient civilizations; the Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian and Assyrian.
• The first literate societies were Sumerians.• Transformed the land into agricultural land and
then city states.• Sumerians founded the earliest cities in Sumer –
in 3500 B.C.
Origin
• Sumerians – their origin unknown.• ‘Sumerian culture’ – the foundation of
Mesopotamian civilization – adopted by Akkadians, Babylonians, etc.
Government• 12 independent city states.• E.g. Ur, Uruk, Babylon, Akad. • Shared a common language, customs and beliefs
yet, were in constant warfare for water rights, land and power.
• Divine kingship - most kings were thought to be chosen by god, be a son of a god, or be a god himself.
• Famous kings; Gilgamesh, Sargon, Hammurabi and Nebuchadnezzar.
Sargon
Gilgamesh and Enkidu
Government• Mesopotamian history – divided into 7 periods:
Sumeria 3500 – 2340 B.C.Akkad 2371 – 2006 B.C.Ur 2113 – 2006 B.C.Babylon 2000 – 1530 B.C.Kassites 1530 – 1100 B.C.Assyria 1100 – 626 B.C.Chaldea 626 – 539 B.C.
Society
• Sumerian society – 4 categories:
1. Nobles - (king & family, chief priests and high court officials)
2. Clients - (free men dependent on nobility)3. Commoners - (free citizens)4.Slaves - (prisoners of war, foreigners & criminals)
Society• Women had rights – could own property and, if
they had good reason, get a divorce.• Slavery was a common feature in Mesopotamian
society.• Slaves possessed some privileges; able to hold
property, participate in business, marry free men or women and purchase their freedom.
Religion
• Very important in the people’s life – sought to please gods due to vulnerability to natural disasters – river flooding.
• Polytheism (worship of many gods). E.g: An (Anu), Ki, Enlil, Marduk, Nabu, etc.
• ‘Ziggurat’- huge temples built to worship the gods – run by traditional priesthood.
Ziggurat
Hanging Garden of Babylon
Hanging Garden of Babylon
Language and Writing• The world’s earliest written language –
Sumerian.• Developed through a few stages; from
pictographic (based on pictures) ideogram cuneiform (syllabary writing system).
• Cuneiform written on clay tablets.
Language and Writing• Invented ‘cylinder seals’ – made of stone or ivory
carved with pictures.• Later, Akkadian became the dominant language -
Sumerian was retained for administrative, religious, literary and scientific purposes.
• Then, Aramaic.
Writing and Language
Writing and Language
Writing and Language
Writing and Language
Technology
• Metalworking – among the first Bronze age people in the world.
• Early on used copper, bronze and gold, and later iron.
• Glassmaking and textile weaving.• Water control, storage and irrigation – construction
of dams and aqueducts.• Among the first people to make beer and wine.• Invented wheels – wheeled chariots.
Mathematics
• Devised a sexagesimal numeral system – a number system based on 60.
• The basis of the current 60-minute hour and 24-hour day, also the 360 degree circle.
• Used the process of multiplication and division. • Geometry – utilized e.g. for building projects
and mapmaking.
Astronomy
• Studied the stars and sky, predicted eclipses and solstices - related to religion and omens.
• Sumerian calendar – 7 days a week.• Calender was based on twelve lunar months.• Nisannu, Ajaru, Simanu, Tamuzu, Abu, Ululu,
Tashritu, Arahsamnu, Kissilimu, Tebetu, Shabatu, Addaru.
Astronomy
• Today’s constellations (Leo, Taurus, Scorpius, Gemini, Capricornus and Sagittarius) – picked out by Sumerian and Babylonian astronomers.
• Useful in determining the planting and harvesting of crops.
Hammurabi Code• Enacted by King Hammurabi “the law maker”.• 282 laws; criminal offence, marriage and family,
slavery, land use and irrigation, commercial activity, etc.
• The code reflects a society with a system of strict justice.
• Penalties for criminal offenses – severe and varied; according to the social class of the offenders and victims.
• Written on pillars of stone – erected throughout cities.
Hammurabi Code
• Stern punishment for burglary. • If a robber is caught stealing, he will be killed.• If a person stole goods belonging to the temples
or the state, he was put to death and so was the person receiving the stolen goods.
• If couldn’t afford to compensate the loss of the victim, he was put to death.
Hammurabi Code
• If one accuses another, but cannot prove it, the accuser will be killed.
• If a builder builds a house and the house falls in, killing the owner, the builder will be killed.
• If the son of the owner dies, the son of the builder shall be killed.
• Surgeons – dangerous occupations – severe penalties for failure.