MesopotamiaG.R.A.P.E.S. TCAP Review

G.= Geography of Mesopotamia

• Southwest Asia

• Present Day- Southern Iraq

• Called the Cradle of Civilization and the Fertile Crescent

• Mesopotamia means the land between 2 rivers

• Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

• Unpredictable Flooding= silt, fertile soil for the FIRST farming community to become a civilization.

• Sumer is an area with many city-states (Ur, Uruk, Eridu)

R= Religion in Mesopotamia

• Polytheistic= many gods and goddesses

• Believed in rain/wind gods

• Each city-state claimed its own main god

• Believed gods lived in the very top of the ziggurats

A= Achievements in Mesopotamia

• 1st Irrigation-to help bring water to crops (dams, dikes, canals)

• Ziggurats- used for worship of gods

• large city walls for protection

• 1st written laws- Hammurabi's Code ("eye for an eye")

• 1st written language- Cuneiform (wedge shaped stylus on clay)-keep records of trade

Achievements con'd

• Epic of Gilgamesh- epic is a long story poem about a hero

• Invented the wheel, wheeled carts, chariots, sailboat, wooden plow, bronze, Number system based on 60 (60 sec. in a min.; 60 mins. in an hour, 360 degrees in a circle), followed a 7 day week, sundial

P= Politics in Mesopotamia

• Government= Monarchy (king/ queen)

• Empire= many lands under 1 ruler

• Sargon conquers and unites Akkad and Sumer into the 1st Empire

• Later- Hammurabi conquers Mesopotamia and names the capital Babylon and builds the Babylonian Empire; Hammurabi's Code- 1st written laws!

Politics con'd

• Assyrian Empire- conquers Mesopotamia area; strong army- chariots, horses, food soldiers; tribute (forced payments from conquered people); Iron Weapons (learned from Hittites); split empire into provinces; built roads; 1st Library at Nineveh; conquered by Chaldeans

• Chaldean Empire- Nebechadnezzar (ruler); capital is Babylon; huge Ziggurat with gold top-shined for miles; Hanging Gardens (7 Wonders of Ancient World)- kings palace; God-Marduk; built canals

• Fall of Mesopotamian Empires= weak rulers, poor harvests; Persians attacked and took over, allowed them to keep their culture!

E=Economics in Mesopotamia

• Trade Routes- Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

• Caravans-traveling groups for trade (camels)

• Barter (trade without money) was used

• Money was also mentioned in Hammurabi's code

• Agriculture- wheat, barley, dates, sheep, pigs, goats.

• Traded to get metal, timber, red and blue stones

S= Social Structure in Mesopotamia

• Men farmed or learned a skilled trade from a father

• Boys went to school and generally learned the job of the father

• Girls didn't go to school, learned to weave cloth, take care of house and children

• Women at home teaching girls women duties

• Social Hierarchy (social classes)- people are born into a class

• King (gods gave power to kings)

• Priests, warriors, gov't officials

• Merchants, farmers, fishers, artisans

• Slaves- captured in war, criminals, or couldn't pay debts