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Ancient Civilizations: Mesopotamia

Explore the geography, cultures, and empires of ancient Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Discover how the Mesopotamians overcame environmental challenges and learn about the Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonia, Assyria, and Neo-Babylonian civilizations.

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Ancient Civilizations: Mesopotamia

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  1. Ancient Civilizations:Mesopotamia

  2. Geography & Environment “the land between the rivers…”

  3. The Geography • On which continent was Mesopotamia located? • Asia; in what is modern day Iraq, Syria & Turkey

  4. The Geography • On which rivers did the ancient Mesopotamians settle? • Between the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers; in an area known as the Fertile Crescent

  5. The Geography • Flooding provided rich soil for farming

  6. The Geography • Three Environmental Challenges: • Unpredictable flooding • No natural barriers for protection • Limited natural resources • Predict how Mesopotamians overcame each of these challenges…

  7. Early Mesopotamian Kingdoms

  8. Mesopotamian Cultures • Mesopotamia did NOT represent a unifiedkingdom, instead it was made up of a series of kingdoms that occupied a specific geographical space

  9. Mesopotamian Cultures • Sumer(c. 3500 – 2300 BC) • Akkad (c. 2300 -2200 BC) • Babylonia (1790-1590 BC) • Assyria (1360-620 BC) • Neo-Babylonia (629-540 BC)

  10. 3500 – 2300 BCE Sumer The first civilization

  11. Sumerian Geography • Geography: • Located at the southern end of Mesopotamia • Near the mouths of the Tigris & Euphrates

  12. Sumerian Geography • City-state: • A city + its surrounding lands • Independent political units that competed for trade & boundaries • i.e. Uruk, Kish, Ur, Lagash

  13. Sumerian Geography • Same culture, BUT each had its own: • Ruler, special god, and army

  14. Sumerian Religion & Government • Polytheism: • The worship of more than one god • Believed gods were immortal & all powerful; humans were to serve the gods

  15. Sumerian Religion & Government • Ziggurat: • Centralized temples where sacrifices and offerings were made to the gods • Animals, food, wine, etc.

  16. Sumerian Religion & Government • City-states were ruled by priest- kings who were viewed as powerful agents of the gods • Theocracy – gov’t based on religious authority

  17. Sumerian Religion & Government • Despite their religious practices, Sumerians had little, if any, belief in an afterlife • Believed that the souls of the dead went to the “land of no return”

  18. Sumerian Economy • Economy based on farming & trade • Traded with places as far away as Egypt and India • At first barter only • Used barley for money, then switched to coins

  19. Sumerian Culture & Knowledge • Developed a form of written language known as cuneiform • Wedge shapes scratched into clay tablets

  20. Sumerian Culture & Knowledge • Invention of the wheel (3000 BC)

  21. Sumerian Culture & Knowledge • Other notable contributions: • System of irrigation • Invention of the sail & plow • The usage of bronze • Development of a number system based on 60 • Architecture: arches, columns, ramps

  22. Sumerian Society

  23. Sumerian Society • Most Sumerians worked with their hands in fields and workshops • Houses were made of mud brick and clay

  24. Sumerian Society • Roles of Men/Women: • Men could sell wife/kids into slavery to pay off debt • But women could obtain a divorce and buy/sell property • Scribe Schools:Edubbas • For rich boys only

  25. Babylonia 1790 – 1590 BCE The first system of justice

  26. The Babylonian Empire • In 1792 BC a new empire took control of Mesopotamia • Babylonia • Reached its height during the reign of King Hammurabi

  27. The Babylonian Empire • Hammurabi’s Code: • 1st known code of law • Stressed responsible behavior • Capital punishment

  28. The Babylonian Empire • “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” • Punishments based on SOCIAL CLASS • Laws focused on ALL aspects of society

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