Mesopotamia Academy

7/27/2019 Mesopotamia Academy

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MESOPOTAMIACradle of Civilization

Monday, October 21, 13


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UNIT CONCEPTS

Cradle in the Crescent- Called the beginning (cradle) ofcivilization and began c. 8000 B.C. in the ancient neareast.



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UNIT CONCEPTS

Think of games and lessons you learn as a little kid:

Rise and Fall- It was composed of many cultureswhich rose and fell, each with a distinct art formentirely their own.

Share- Each cultures art form was great influenced bythose of the preceding empires.



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BEGAN WHERE AND WHY?

SumerAkkad

Neo-SumeriaBabylonHittite

AssyriaNeo-BabyloniaPersia

SANBHAN P(roperties)Monday, October 21, 13


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SumerAkkad





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SumerAkkad





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SumerAkkad





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SumerAkkad





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THE AGE OF EMPIRES

Sumeria (Sumer)c. 3500-1800 B.C.

Akkadc. 2360-2150 B.C.

Neo-Sumeria c.

2150-1900

Babylonc. 1900-1550 B.C.

Hittite c. 2000-1450 B.C.

Assyria c. 1100-612 B.C.

Neo-Babylonia (Chaldea)c. 612-539 B.C.

Persiac. 539 B.C.-331 B.C.



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CIVILIZATION

What does the word mean to you?Write down any words that come tomind. You have one minute. GO.



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Language

peoplerules

law

religion

tools

order

culture (art)

government

competition (trade)

morality (moral code)education

territory

society

agriculture

philosophy

social scale



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DID YOU COME UP WITHANY OF THESE?

Writing

LiteratureArt

Architecture

AgriculturalDevelopment

Specialization ofIndustry

Religion

Law and Politics

Business and Trade

War and Weapons



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CAUSE AND EFFECT

Rich rivers, Tigris and Euphrates, bring agriculturalprosperity.

Prosperity brings expansion and refinement of technique.

So much food is being grown that people can start tospecialize in other trades.

Cities grow and prosper. Trade flourishes. Urbanization.

Pottery, metalwork, craftsmanship, and building greatarchitectural palaces contribute to the arts.



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POLYTHEISTIC RELIGION

The Mesopotamians had many aspects of their religionsimilar to Greece, Egypt, and Rome: multiple gods andgoddesses that directly intervene with humanity.

Politics and religion were closely connected. Elaboratereligious temples were built. Priests and priestesses werehigh in society. Women participated a great deal in religion.

Still large focus on fertility. Multiple goddess, fertilitystatuettes.

Read BOXES on pages 33 and 41.



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WARLIKE SOCIETIES

The same reasons thatled to the growth oftrade brought about war.

Great wealth. No naturaldefensive landmarks.

Empire succeeds empire.



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SUMER (SUMERIA)

Culture of many firsts. First to invent wagon wheeland the plow. Invented casting objects of copper andbronze. And, most importantly, invented writing.

Main cities were Ur and Uruk. Located on theEuphrates river.

Tigris RiverEuphrates



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ZIGGURATS

White Temple of Uruk. 3200-3000 B.C.E.

*Words in orange are Vocabulary words that you need to

know. Write them down on your vocabulary card.Monday, October 21, 13


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WHAT IS THIS SYMBOLIC OF?



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WHAT IS THIS SYMBOLIC OF?

Can you think of other

examples where amountain is used tosymbolize a residence of

the Gods?



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STANDARD OF UR

Registers

Registers

Royal Cemetery, Ur

(Iraq) 2600 B.C.E.

Leonard Woolleydiscovers Royal

Cemetery between1922-1924.



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War side from Standard of UrMonday, October 21, 13


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Peace side from the Standard of UrMonday, October 21, 13


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SMARTHISTORY



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STEPS TO WRITING

Started by carving picturesinto cylinders and rolling it

across a clay tablet.

Then decided to just makemarks directly onto the clay.

Used a wedge-shaped toolcalled a stylus to make themarks.



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CUNEIFORM

Writing was first developedto keep track of land for

taxes. Sumerians developedit to record great epics like

the Epic of Gilgamesh.



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AKKAD

The Akkadians lived north of the Sumerians. Under thepowerful leader, Sargon I (2232-2279 B.C. rule), theyconquered Sumer and expanded their territory for a

short time.

Sargon ruled from the city, Akkad. He had great powerand elevated himself to the status of a God.

His daughter became the chief priestess for the twomost important temples and elevated herself to thestatus of goddess. She united the religion with politicsand set a precedent for the princess to be high priestess.



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VICTORY STELEOF NARAM-SIN

Shows a narrative withoutregisters.

Composite view of soldiers


So you cant read


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So you can t readcuneiform. Still,whats the story?

Tell your neighbor.



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NEO-SUMERIA

Around 2150 BCE, a mountain people, the

Gutians brought Akkadian power to an end. Thecities of Sumer, however, soon united in responseto the alien presence, drove the Gutians out ofMesopotamia and established a Neo-Sumerican

state ruled by the kings of Ur.

- Gardners page 41



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ZIGGURAT OF UR

Stepped pyramid designed to look like amountain with a temple of shrine on top.

Ziggurats started by building temples onelevated platforms to protect fromflooding. Evolved into massive pyramids.

Meeting place for humans and immortals.

Manned by priests and priestesses.

Not only was size impressive, but theexterior was painted or inlaid with tilemosaics.

2100 B.C.E.Monday, October 21, 13


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BASE= 50 feet

BASE= 40 feet


GUDEA 2100 B C


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GUDEA. 2100 B.C.



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BABYLON

After Sargon, the Akkadian empire lacked leadership.Mesopotamia fell into political turmoil for about 300

years.

Finally, a leader named Hammurabi emerged from thewestern deserts and united the land. His empire and

kingdom were centered in Babylon. (1792-1750 B.C.)

His empire lasted longer than his reign, but was neveras powerful as when he ruled.



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STELE OF HAMMURABI

Basalt stele approximately 7high.

Upon it is carvedHammurabis law. One of thefirst ever records of politicallaws and punishments.

Depicts him receiving the lawfrom the sun god, Shamash.Size shows importance.

1780 B.C.E. at LouvreMonday, October 21, 13


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MESOPOTAMIAN ART 2Assyria, Neo-Babylonia, and Persia



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ACTIVITY

Draw a picture. You need to include a teacher at thefront of the room and a student.



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POWER AND AUTHORITYHOW DID THESE ANCIENT CULTURES DEPICT POWER?



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REVIEW



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REVIEW



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REVIEW



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REVIEW



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REVIEW



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WHAT DO THESE PICTURES


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WHAT DO THESE PICTURESHAVE IN COMMON?



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ASSYRIAN EMPIRE

Had become very powerful around 1400 B.C. They beganconquering around 1000 B.C. Height of empire was800-700 B.C. Succumbed to internal weakness and enemiesby 600 B.C.

Northern kingdom. Capital city was in Nineveh.

Extremely warlike and brutal. They would burn down the

cities, tear down the walls, and wholesale cart off men,women, and children as slaves around their empire.

The whole time, they had to fight to keep their empirebecause all of their subjugated peoples hated them so much.



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ASSYRIAN KINGS

Under Assurnasirpal III, Assyria became a formidablemilitary force. His records are filled with boastful claimsdetailing his cruelty. He says that he dyed the mountains

red like wool cloth, with the blood of his slaughteredenemies. From the heads of his decapitated enemies heerected a pillar, and he covered the city walls with theirskins. -History of Western Art. Laurie Schneider Adams.

Some notable kings were Assurnasirpal, Tiglath-Pileser,Shalmaneser, and Assurbanipal. (Good luck. You wonthave to know this for the test, but they sound cool.)



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CITADEL OF SARGON II



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CITADEL OF SARGON II

New capital at DurSharrukin.

Contained 200 roomsand 30 courtyards.

Palace complex raised52 feet and can only be

accessed by a ramp.

Service buildings onright. Temple on left.

Walls of alabaster werecarved with bas reliefscelebrating the feats of

the kings.



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LAMASSU: SARGONS CITADEL

A Lamassu is an ancientguardian that would be atthe doors entering into

the palace for protection.

Bull body and legs.Human head. Features

highly stylized.

Wears the three-hornedcrown of divinity.



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Scale



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NEO-BABYLONIA (CHALDEA)

This empire had been gathering power in the South.

In 612 B.C., the Babylonians united with the Medes to

conquer Assyria. They completely wiped it out.

Pretty much only noteworthy king wasNebuchadnezzar II. He not only conquered otherlands, but he also made Babylon a great city of beautyand culture. Beautiful palace, city walls, Ishtar gate, andone of the wonders of the world, the Hanging Gardensof Babylon.



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NEBUCHADNEZZAR

Yes, youve probably heard the name before.

He was the one that sacked Jerusalem in 586 B.C. fulfillingIsaiahs prophecies. He leveled the walls and razed thetemple.

He took the Hebrews back to Babylon. (Babyloniancaptivity). He had many Hebrew princes in his court,

including Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Statue with different metals? Thats him. Throwing peoplein fiery furnaces? Right again.



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WALLS OF BABYLON

Walls of Babylon were massive and world-famous.

He specifically built them so that he could turnaround a whole chariot on the wall.

According to Herodotus, the walls were 56 miles in

circumference, 335 feet high, and 85 feet wide.

City had beautiful parks and gardens.



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ISHTAR GATE


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ISHTAR GATE

Anyone entering thecity had to go throughthe Ishtar Gate.

Ishtar was the goddessof love and beauty.

Had to walk past

soldiers on towers withbows pointed at youuntil you arrived at thegate itself.



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ISHTAR GATE

The Ishtar gate wastiled with a beautiful

blue.

Crenellated notches onthe top. Also known as

dentives. Easilydefendable.

Massive and impressive.

This is a replica found in Berlin.Monday, October 21, 13


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MYTHICAL ANIMALS

Two animals found on thegate.

Dragons symbolized Marduk,chief god.

Bulls with blue horns and tailswere associated with otherdeities.

Lions perhaps represent theking or Babylon itself.



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HANGING GARDENS


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HANGING GARDENSOF BABYLON

Considered one of the seven wonders of theancient world.

Supposedly built to comfort the queen whowas from the mountainous area of Medea.

It had plants hanging down from the terracedwalls, almost looking like they were floating attimes.



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PERSIA

Cyrus the Great overthrew Babylon and establishedPersia as the new most dominant empire. He allowedthe Israelites to return back to Jerusalem and rebuild

the temple. It was finally overthrown in 334 B.C. byAlexander the Great.

A couple of years after Cyrus, Darius rose to power.Darius sought to further expand his empire byattacking Greece. When he failed, his son, Xerxes,attempted to again take Greece. According to theBible, Xerxes wife was Esther.


CYRUS THE GREAT4:30


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CYRUS THE GREAT

Engineering an EmpireMonday, October 21, 13


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CAPITAL CITIES

Darius liked to build monumental architecture tohimself.

Darius built a new capital city called Susa. There hebuilt a 32-acre administrative compound.

Later he began construction on a new city called Parsa

(renamed Persepolis by the Greeks). He importedmaterials, workers, and artists from all over the worldto build the projects. He thus combined art stylesfrom all over the world into one place.



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PERSEPOLISNOT MUCH LEFT OF THE ONCE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.MORE BAS RELIEF SCULPTURES AND MASSIVE ARRAYS OF

COLUMNS COMBINED WITH BUILDINGS.



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5:25 PersepolisMonday, October 21, 13


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PLAN OF PERSEPOLIS


COLUMNS OF


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COLUMNS OFPERSEPOLIS

Multicultural.

Bell-shaped base.

Fluted shafts.

Log capitalsrepresenting palm

fronds, papyrus, otherplant forms, scrolls andcreatures such as thebull.



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