Mesopotamia was a succession of societies• Sumeria (Sumer)• Akkad• First Babylon• Assyria• Second Babylon

Geography• Unpredictable rivers (Tigris and Euphrates)• Delta region extremely fertile• Flat land open to invasion – no natural barriers• By 4,000 BCE at least four major groups had

migrated into Sumeria: Hamites from North Africa, Semites from Arabia, Indo-Europeans from Russia, and Caucasians from Georgia

• Semi-arid climate required extensive irrigation projects

Growth of the state• Irrigation projects required cooperation on

a grand scale and leadership• Farmers banded together in settlements to

manage the environment and for protection• These settlements became compact cities

surrounded by high mud-brick walls• These cities were independent from one

another hence they were city-states

The city-states were often built around existing religious structures – enhancing the close relationship between government and religion

The ziggurat became the focal point of these city-states

Ziggurats - stepped towers topped by temples

Ziggurats were the focal point of the city-state

The Tower of Babel is believed to have been a ziggurat

Sumeria lasted about 1,300 years (3360 – 2400 BCE) There was constant warfare between city-states and

invaders and between city-states themselves Each city-state controlled an area about 100 square

miles There were about 12 major city-states including Ur,

Eridu, Lagash, and Uruk Each city-state was ruled by a priest/leader called a

Patesi who was the highest political, religious, and military authority

Religion• People felt utterly dependent on will of gods due to

harsh life• Originally, each city-state had its own patron god

but later all gods were collected into a hierarchy reflecting Sumerian values

• As male gods became dominant = strengthening of patriarchy

• Afterlife – sad and gloomy place (later used as model for Hell)

Religion and Politics• All land belonged to the gods and kings were their

representatives• Kings and priests afforded special place in society• Theocracy – rule by gods or priests• By the end of Sumeria’s influence, kings were

becoming separate from the priest class

Class System• Kings / priests• Commoners: farmers, artisans, merchants• Slaves

Sumerian Life• Marriage was based on a contract• Males were dominant but females had more freedom than

they do today • Females exerted influence through sexuality • Due to property inheritances, women would be put to death

for adultery

Cuneiform• Oldest writing

system• Original purpose was

economic• Used to record

memoranda, lists of goods, receipts, contracts, etc

• One of first uses was to record beer recipe

Cuneiform- first system of writing

Cuneiform tablet with envelope

Writing was reserved for the wealthy classes

Writing systems beget literature

Oldest literature was epic poem The Epic of Gilgamesh

Poem relates story of Gilgamesh, ruler of Uruk, who seeks out survivor of great flood in quest of eternal youth

Trade links with Egypt and Harappa Adopted use of silver as means of exchange “Invented” the wheel and pioneered use of carts and

chariots Sumerian mathematics based on 12, 60, and 360

(clock and circle) Sumerian astronomical charts basis for modern

astronomy Invented quadratic expressions

Conquered Sumeria = Akkad first empire

Some centralization of power

Sargon I = first emperor

Absorbed / took on Sumerian culture

Political• Akkad was overthrown

by Amorites• Sumerian language

disappeared – replaced by Amorite Semitic language

• Made capital at Babylon• Old Babylon overthrown

by invading Kassites and Hittites

• Period of chaos followed for about three centuries

Hammurabi• Founder of the Old

Babylonian Empire• Most known for his

code of lawso based on two 282

lawso principles: lex talonis

and class

Political• Conquered Kassites and

brought all of Mesopotamia under their control

• Noted for brutality and ruthlessness

• Largest Mesopotamian empire in landmass

• Conquered Egypt for short period

• Assyria brought down by invading Medes and Chaldeans

Political• Established by

Chaldeans who made capital at Babylon

• King Nebuchadnezzar

• Hanging gardens• Continued

Sumerian culture• Conquered by

the Persians

Other Middle Eastern Societies

Hittites• Iron

Israelites• Two kingdoms• Judaism

Phoenicians• Alphabet• Trade colonies

(Carthage)

1. What was the world’s first writing system?

2. What was it developed for?

3. Who were literate in Mesopotamia? Why?

4. What was the first piece of literature? What was it about?

5. What was the basic political unit of Mesopotamia?

6. What was the focal point of the Mesopotamian city-state?

7. How did geography affect the development of Mesopotamian religion?

8. How did geography affect the development of Mesopotamian civilization?

9. What was the first empire? Who created it?

10. What was the Code of Hammurabi? What was it based on?

11. Who laid the foundations for our modern alphabet?

The characteristic political organization of the Tigris – Euphrates civilization was

a. Democracy

b. Large, durable empires

c. Village-level government

d. Regional city-states

e. Hunting bands

Geography• Isolated• Huang He (“China’s Sorrow”)• Vulnerable northern borders• Western desert• Himalayas• Vietnam• Pacific Ocean• Arable land – culture of conservation

Yangshao• Slash-and-burn agriculture• Domestication of animals• Silk production

Longshan People• Permanent settlements with walls• Occupational specialization

Xia Dynasty – mythical?

Writing• Oracle Bones• Ideographic symbols • Primary purpose was

religious

Bronze• Sophisticated

metallurgy skills• Controlled by

elites• Used for

religious rituals and weapons

1. What was an early form of Chinese writing?

7. What area of China was most conflicted?

8. What form of art was used in Chinese religious rituals?

9. What is considered the first major Chinese civilization?

10. On what major river was Chinese civilization first established?

Which river valley civilization was most completely destroyed by invasion?

a. Huang He

b. Indus

c. Nile

d. Tigris-Euphrates

e. Mekong