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Ancient Mesopotamia

Brief History

  • First settled where only crops would grow in this case a river

    • They settled between two rivers which was perfect for farming

      • The two rivers were Tigris and Eurphrates river

  • Hunter-gatherer groups settled in Mesopotamia more than 12,000 years from now

    • Every once and a while the two rivers would have floods

  • Yet the first settlement was formed in  early 7000 BC

    • Durning this settlement they grew wheat, barley, and many other types of grain

    • They also caught livestock, birds, and fish as a stable food supply

      • This helped the settlement grow as the world's first civilization

Geography

  • The Mesopotamia lived in the Fertile Crescent

    • They lived in between two rivers

      • Tigris River

      • Euphrates River

    • The Fertile Crescent was a large arc of rich, or fertile farmland

      • So it was the perfect place to start a civilization

    • It is near many water sources including the two rivers

      • Persian Gulf

      • Mediterranean Sea

      • Caspian sea

      • Dead Sea

    • It is also near many geographical features

      • Syrain Desert

      • Zagros Mountains

      • Taurus Mountains

      • And more

Economy

  • Sumerian

    • With all the water that surrounded Mesopotamia there were many plants they grew

      • Wheat

      • Barley

      • And other types of grain

    • They also had animals they ate

      • Livestock

      • Birds

      • And fish

    • Also traders would trade the wheat they grew for things they didnt have like gold, silver, copper, precious stones, and lumber

  • Babylon

    • They expanded trade and also did lots of trade

  • Assyrians

    • Heavy taxes across the whole empire

  • Phoenicians

    • They took over the sea for a way to trade 

Social Structure

  • Highest classes

    • Kings, priests and nobles

  • Lower classes

    • Merchants, Skilled crafts eople and traders

    • There was also a working class made up of farmers and laborers

    • Lastly at the bottom of social structure is slaves

  • Women

    • Women took the role of taking care of the home and their children

    • Also women in the Sumer if educated were priestesses

      • In the role they would help shape the culture

  • Men

    • Some men held political power and even made laws as well

    • Educations was almost all the time reserved for men

Government

  • Sumerian

    • City-states for government

      • Fought to gain farmland

        • With these fightes it made their armies stronger than ever

      • They were ruled by a single king

  • Akkadian

    • Was peaceful until 2300s BC

    • Had the first permanent army 

      • Used his army to start alot of wars with neighboring kingdoms

  • Bablon

    • Formed a powerful goverment

    • Used taxes to pay for buildings and irrigation projects

    • Laws

      • Everyone in the empire could read the laws

  • Hittites & Kassites

    • Strong Kingdom in Asia Minor

    • Strong army that used chariots

  • Assyrians

    • Organized army

    • Heavy taxes across the whole entire empire

    • Enforced laws

  • Chaldeans

    • Weak empire

  • Phoenicians

    • Great military power

    • Wealthy due to trading across the sea

 

Beliefs/Religion

  • Sumer

    • Polytheism

      • The worship of many gods

        • Many gods included Enlil, Enki, and Inanna

      • The sun and the moon were represented by the two gods Utu and Nanna

        • Each considered one of the gods to be their speical protector

      • Belived that the gods either brought good or bad 

      • Had priest that led religioyus ceremonies and gave the gods offerings in temples in speical buildings meant for ceremonies

Advancements/Achievements

  • Sumer

    • Cuneiform

      • Worlds first writing system

      • Used styluses to write on clay tablets

      • Later used pictographs as the writing system

      • Used cuneiform to keep track of records

        • This could be a job called a scribe that wrote for a job

    • Epics

      • A long poem that tells the stories of heroes

    • Wheel

      • First to make the wheel

        • Used wheels for vehicles like carts

      • Also used the wheel for making pottery

        • Used it to spin the clay  in to bowls and other shapes

        • This was called a potter's wheel

    • Plow

      • Used to plant crops faster

      • They were puled by oxens

      • This grew the production of crops

    • Sewers

      • Used for plumbin and more

    • Math

      • Developed a number system based on the number 60

      • Figured out the 360 degree circle

    • Science

      • Wrote the longest list to record the study of the world

      • Medicine

        • Used ingredents from animals, plants, and minerals

Architecture

  • Sumer

    • Palaces

      • Two-story homes with lots of rooms

    • Small houses

      • One-story

      • 6-7 rooms

  • Ziggurates

    • An outdoor staircase lead to a large platform that had a shrine at the top

  • Arts

    • Statues of their own gods for temmplles

    • Pottery

    • Jewelry was very popular in the Sumer

      • Made jewelry out of gold, silver, and even gems

      • Jewelry included Earrings, necklaces, and more

    • Cylinder seals

      • Were engraved with many diffrent designs

      • Made of clay 

      • Some showed even battle scences

    • Music

      • The Sumer enjoyed music 

      • Played music with reed pipes, drums, tambourines, and harp like instruments caleed lyres

      • In schools even children learned songs as well

      • Some songs were about either theirs gods or their king

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