Introduction to World Religions
Mesopotamia
Primary Sources Secondary Sources
Documents: Diaries, speeches,
manuscripts, letters, interviews, news film
footage, official records, photographs,
maps, sound recordings, published
firsthand accounts or stories.
Creative Works: Poetry, drama, novels,
music, art
Relics or artifacts: Pottery, furniture,
clothing, buildings
Publications: Textbooks, magazine
articles, histories, criticisms, commentaries,
encyclopedias.
EXAMPLES:
Journal or magazine articles which
interprets past events
History textbooks
Book on the effects of WWI
When examining sources of history ask yourself 5 key questions:
What: What is the primary source? Is it a
photo? If so, is it in black and white or
color? Is it a letter? If so, is it typed, or
handwritten?
Who: Who wrote the letter, took the
photo or painted the painting? Can you
be sure it was really that person who
made it?
When: When was the primary source
created? How can you tell its age?
Where: Can you tell where the primary
source was created?
Why: Why was the primary source
created? Does it tell a story? Is it a love
letter? Is it an order from an officer to a
soldier? Is it a picture of the Rocky
Mountains? Does the primary source tell
you why it was created? Can you guess
why it was created?
Why is this important?
A faked source can also tell you a lot. Why would someone go to all of that trouble to fool
us? What were they hiding and what did they want us to think? Being a historian is a lot
like being a detective, with primary sources as the evidence. It's your job to find out what
really happened! Remember that history is never final. Accounts of the past are as
different as the people who create them. That means there is lots of room for you to
research and write your own story.
Please watch JFK
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHTtpYYbhm0
Remember Hammurabi?
The Code of Hammurabi is significant because its creation allowed men, women, slaves, and all others to read and understand the laws that governed their lives in Babylon. It is unique in that laws of other civilizations were not written down, and thus could be manipulated to suite the rulers that dictated them. The Code is particularly just for its time. Although it follows the practice of "an eye for an eye", it does not allow for vigilante justice, but rather demands a trial by judges. It also glorifies acts of peace and justice done during Hammurabi’s rule. It symbolizes not only the emergence of justice in the minds of men, but also man’s rise above ignorance and barbarism toward the peaceful and just societies still pursued today. In the words of Hammurabi as carved on the stone, "Let any oppressed man who has a cause come into the presence of my statue as king of justice, and have the inscription on my stele read out, and hear my precious words, that my stele may make the case clear to him; may he understand his cause, and may his heart be set at ease!"
Primary sourceOf the several law codes surviving
from the ancient Middle East, the
most famous after the Hebrew
Torah is the Code of Hammurabi,
sixth king of the Amorite Dynasty
of Old Babylon. It is best known
from a beautifully engraved
diorite Stella now in the Louvre
Museum which also depicts the
king receiving the law from
Shamash, the god of justice. This
copy was made long after
Hammurabi's time, and it is clear
that his was a long-lasting
contribution to Mesopotamian
civilization. It encodes many laws
which had probably evolved over
a long period of time, but is
interesting to the general reader
because of what it tells us about
the attitudes and daily lives of the
ancient Babylonians.
Yes, and?
We have proof of the laws and beliefs of the Mesopotamian people, because they have
been recorded on the statue. Hammurabi is shown receiving the code from Babylonian
gods. The statue is a primary source.
Please Watch
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/video/ancient-mesopotamia-101/
Mesopotamian Civilizations
Who is your champion?
Review the notes on the different Mesopotamian civilizations. Which do you think has
been the most influential civilization? Why?
Create a poster using google draw or a similar app to demonstrate why you believe the
civilization has been the most influential. Use pictures and labels.
Add at least two more facts not included in the notes
Submit on the portal or to [email protected]
Sumerians
Sumerians
By 3000 B.C., civilizations had been started by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia and the
Egyptians in North Africa. More than a thousand years later, other groups of people
developed advanced ways of living in the Middle East.
Babylonians
Babylonians
People and their History
Invaders from the Arabian Desert entered
Mesopotamia and seized the city-state of
Babylon
Hammurabi became the king of Babylon
Hammurabi took control of the Sumerian
city-states in lower Mesopotamia and
established the Babylonian Empire
The Babylonians adopted many Sumerian
ways.
Contributions to Civilization
Hammurabi’s Code, consisting of 282
laws, affected all aspects of life, including
such things as farming, trade, wages,
working conditions, and punishment. The
Code became the basis for other legal
systems established elsewhere.
The Babylonians believed in “astrology”—
the idea that a person’s life is affected by
the movement and position of starts,
planets, and other heavenly bodies.
Hittites
Hittites
People and their History
War-like tribesmen from Asia Minor called
Hittites swept into Mesopotamia and
captured Babylon
Being far from their homeland, the Hittites
eventually withdrew from Babylonia, but
continued to occupy the western part of
the Fertile Crescent.
Contributions to Civilization
They were the first people to make
widespread use of iron for tools and
weapons
They used horse-drawn chariots in battle
A system of laws was set up with
punishments that were less severe than by
the code of Hammurabi
Hebrews
Hebrews People and their History
The ideas and beliefs of the Hebrews, or Jews, is known as “Judaism”
The founder of Judaism was Abraham. He led his people out of Mesopotamia because his belief in one god ran against the accepted practice of worshipping many Gods.
The Hebrews lived in Egypt for several hundred years, but were forced into slavery. According to the Bible, Moses began leading the Hebrews, or Israelites, toward a new homeland in “Canaan” (at various times called “Palestine” or “Israel”). On the way to Canaan, Moses went up Mount Sinai and brought back the “Ten Commandments”; laws of moral conduct revealed to him by the Hebrew God Yahweh, or Jehovah
The Hebrews recorded their history and religious beliefs in the Old Testament. The “Old Testament”, which is the first part of the Christian Bible, tells how (1) Saul united the 12 Hebrew tribes, defeated the rival Philistines, and became the first Hebrew king, (2) David slew the giant Philistine warrior goliath, became the second king of Israel, and made Jerusalem his capital, (3) Solomon succeeded his father David, was widely admired for his wisdom and leadership, and built the magnificent Temple of Jehovah
Contributions to Civilization
The Hebrews practiced “monotheism”, the worship of one
god
Judaism, the Hebrew religion, stressed
high moral conduct. The Ten
Commandments included these rules: “Remember the Sabbath day, to
keep it holy”, “honor they father and
they mother”, Thou shalt not steal”, “Thou shalt not bear false witness
against thy neighbor”.
Judaism influenced Christianity and
Islam through its emphasis on
monotheism and moral principles
Phoenicians
Phoenicians
People and their History
Lived north of Palestine along the Mediterranean coast
They became skilled shipbuilders and sailors, and traded throughout the Mediterranean world. They were the greatest seafaring traders of ancient times, selling such items as wool cloth, glassware, and beautiful handcrafted objects made of gold, silver, copper, and bronze.
The Phoenicians established many colonies, including the great city of Carthage in North Africa
Contributions to Civilization
Phoenician traders carried the products and cultures of the Middle East to less advanced peoples
The most notable contribution of these people was the alphabet. The Greeks and Romans later made some changes that resulted in the alphabet we use today
Assyrians
Assyrians
People and their History
Were ruthless conquerors who overran Phoenicia, Palestine, Babylonia and other parts of the Middle East
Their empire was the largest one the world had seen at that time
In battle, the Assyrians used bows with iron tipped arrows, iron spears and swords, and battering rams to break through brick walls that guarded enemy cities. Their armies were the first to use men on horseback. The cavalrymen and charioteers wore helmets and breastplates
Assyrians terrorized people with acts of violence and torture
The Assyrian Empire lasted 150 years before being destroyed by the Chaldeans and Persians
Contributions to Civilization
They were the first people to set up an effective system for governing an empire
A great library was built in the capital city of Nineveh. It contained thousands of clay tablets which enabled historians to learn about life in the ancient Middle East.
Chaldeans
Chaldeans
People and their History
They helped overthrow the Assyrians
They took control of the Fertile Crescent
and established the Second Babylonian
empire. The Chaldeans were led by their
king Nebuchadnezzar. He rebuilt Babylon,
which became the larges and most
impressive city in the ancient world
Contributions to Civilization
They built the beautiful “Hanging
Gardens” on the rooftops of Babylon. The
Greeks called them one of the “seven
wonders of the world”
The field of Astronomy was further
advanced by accurate observations of
the son, moon, planets and stars
Persians
Persians
Contributions to Civilization
A well-organized government was set up in which (1) the empire was divided into provinces, each directed by a “satrap” (governor), (2) roads were built to speed trade and the movement of armies, (3) conquered peoples were allowed to keep their religion, laws, and local customs
Cultural diffusion “—the exchange of ways of living—took place between the various groups within the empire
The Persians accepted the teachings of the prophet Zoroaster, who said that the world was a struggle between good and evil. After death, people who lived good lives would go to heaven, while those who were evil would be sent to hell. This idea of a final judgments is believed to have influenced Judaism and Christianity.
People and their History
The Chaldean empire declined after the death of Nebuchadnezzar
The new Persian Empire extended for 3,000 miles from Egypt to India. It lasted for about 200 years, reaching its height under King Darius I