Ancient Middle East (Mesopotamia and Empires)

1. Ancient Middle East(Mesopotamia and Empires) AMH UHSMR. Moran

2. The word Mesopotamia is Greek meaning- people of between the rivers Mesopotamia is one of the earliest centers of urban civilization Found in the area of modern Iraq and eastern Syria between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers The early people were Sumerians and they were believed to be nomads. What is in a name?

3. What was there prior? • The site were chosen because it was believed to be sacred land. • Temples were built • Sacrifice to the gods were held there • Pilgrimage • Soon religious leaders requested bigger temples • Lead to more pilgrimage and tithes. • Stories tell of the city of Eridu created by the God Marduk (text date to 3800 BCE)

4. The need for self-defense and irrigation led the ancient Mesopotamians to organize and build canals and walled settlements. The city of Uruk is believed the oldest city in this region. First discovery was the Ubaid Temple (4900 BCE From Protection to Cities

5. Mesopotamia was composed a number of city-states (independent urban centers and the surrounding territories) Kish, Eridu, Nippur, Ur, Uruk, and Sumer A city-state controlled a large city and the surrounding areas. Because of Specialization and competition the City-states were in constant competition and war. At first, the cities were governed by elected officials, (religious leaders) Originally, leaders were priests En=man Nin=woman but later, because of war, they were “lugal” or big man Today we call them kings. City-states/ Kings and Warlords

6. Constant building created great cities The lack of rocks pushed the Sumerians to us clay. Ziggurat or Mesopotamian pyramids were built to show power. Important inventions Writing called cuneiform Wheel Irrigation systems Potter’s wheel The inventions and building required organized governments. Once protected…city-states flourished

7. Sumerian Inventions • Cuneiform writing • The wheel • Potter’s wheel • Sailing ship • Pick-axe • Brick mold • Glass • 60-based counting system: 60 minutes to an hour, 360 degrees to a circle • Number positioning • Beer • Epic poetry

8. Sumerian Schools • Literacy was a highly valued skill • Sumerians set up first institutions of formal education: edubba • Education included writing and mathematics • Tuition paid for education • Educated were privileged elite: government officials, scribes, etc.

9. Writing Tablet of pre-cuneiform scriptSouth MesopotamiaUruk III, end of 4th millenium BC.Clay (?sun-baked clay)Louvre • Why • Record Keeping • Trade • Laziness

10. Pictograms Laziness led to simple abstract drawings Written up and down Abstract elements then turned 90 degrees and wrote left to right A number system is also important Dashes or ticks were first used then a number system Steps

14. Egyptians Hieroglyphics Chinese Characters Indo-Aryans Sand script Semitic groups Aramaic Other languages

19. First pictograms represented items (nouns) Abstract kept same principles Prefixes and suffixes were added to show meaning or intent (verbs) Abstract then represented sounds First all consonants Then added vowels Finally we have an alphabet From over 400 pictures to 26 letters Evolution

22. Sargon of Akkad (ca 2350 BCE), became a powerful official of the city of Kish. Story is similar to that of Moses Gilgamesh (most famous Ruler of Uruk) He seized power from the king and with an army conquered Akkad. His mighty army soon conquered Sumer Sargon and his successors controlled most of Mesopotamia for ca 75 years. First Dynasty Believed Sumer customs were adopted The Rise of an Empire(Sumer and Akkadian Empire)

23. Consisted of 5 kings who ruled for 100 years. Accomplished by a combination of military campaigns/ conquests and marriages. The Dynasty created tight government control and helped the development of the infrastructure Roads, communication systems, record keeping, standardized weights Great city walls and structures Due to nomadic incursions and Elamite attacks, The Ur Dynasty fell. The Third Dynasty of UR

24. A new city emerged as a powerful center Created by the Amorites Babylon had strict codes thanks to King Hammurabi (r. 1792-1750 BCE) Hammurabi’s Code Aggressive military campaigns brought about the next empire the “Old Babylonian State” The Babylonian Empire was the larger than the Sumer/Akkad Empire Hammurabi’s code create a template for society to grow and flourish Trade and commerce grew to create centers of luxury and excess. Babylon and the Amorites

25. 3 class system The free, landowning class Royalty, high ranking officials, warriors, priests, merchants, and some artisans and shopkeepers Dependent farmers and artisans Legally attached to the land that belonged to kink or temple (work force Slave class Primarily employed in domestic service Social class was important as it dictated authority and punishment Because of education we know life of the elite but not from anyone else Mesopotamian Society

26. Women • Lost power and rights in a male dominated society • Men did heavy work leaving women to child bearing and rearing • No political role but could own property • Controlled dowries • Engage in trade • Some worked outside the house • Textile factories, breweries, prostitutes, tavern keepers, bakers, fortune tellers. • By 2000 BCE more power and laws favored men • Divorce was given if women did not produce children • Or could take a second wife (as long as he could afford it) • Families used women as instruments of society • Marrying them to other families or for deity service

27. Chronology of Mesopotamia

28. Egypt and the Nile Delta AMH UHS Mr. Moran

29. Another River-Valley civilization developed on the Nile River in Africa. Egypt was protected by surrounding barriers that allowed it to flourish Desert No harbors Marshy sea coast Where Mesopotamia was open to trade and cultural diffusion, Egypt developed a special society which was self-sufficient and unique For long periods of time had nothing to do with other civilizations The Gift of the Nile

30. Is the longest river in the world It begins in Lake Victoria and ends at the Mediterranean Sea. Flows northward which confuses many people. The river creates a green fertile strip of land that is surrounded by desert The river, is believed, to have carved out the valley through out the years. The valley always flooded in September. The Nile River

31. Migration to the River • Unlike Mesopotamia were cities were created because of trade centers, the change in climate and growth of the desert moved hunter-gatherers to the river. • Here nomads became farmers who depended on domestic animals and foods • Clay and bamboo were abundant for building and fertile land provide a variety of foods. • The river also provided fish and other wild life • The Nile became the primary source of food, transportation, and communication

32. Divine Kingship • With the increase of population, small local areas developed kings; similar to the evolutionary theory • However, the conquest of the small kingships lead to the creation of three major Epoch of Egypt • Old Kingdoms (2575-2134 BCE) • Middle Kingdoms (2040- 1640 BCE) • New Kingdoms (1532- 1070 BCE)

33. The central figure in the Egyptian state was the Pharaoh or King He was believed to be a god who came down to earth He was there to maintain ma’at or divinely authority over the universe He was the link between the people and the gods and ensured the welfare of the people The concept of divine king was the source of law and justice, there fore there were no written laws similar to Hammurabi’s code In an attempt to satisfied the gods, great resources were use to ensure the well being of the pharaohs spirit upon death This lead to the building of the pyramids Pharaohs

34. Capitals were picked by the ruling dynasties. Memphis was the capital of the lower Nile Capital of Old Kingdom Thebes was the capital of the upper Nile Middle and New Kingdoms The main purpose of the government was to keep detailed records and collect revenue The bureaucracy starts at the village level to the central government. Kept track of labor, land, products, and people. The focus is revenue Revenue was use to run the palace, government, and army Capitals and Administrations

35. Egyptians believe that the natural world was a place of recurrent cycles and periodic renewal. The sun god Re traveled across the sky every day. Believed in the after life; story of Osiris. Polytheistic Religion To appease the gods temples were built or decorated with lavish gifts Many towns had temples Gods had animal heads while others had human bodies Cult practices occurred in side the temple Festivals were held to celebrate special occasions. Religion

36. The Afterlife • Egyptians were very adamant about the afterlife and the preparations needed for safe passage to the next world. • The process of mummification is an Egyptian trade mark though other cultures used it. • Tombs had great treasure and personal items believed to be necessary for afterlife. • Tombs usually reflected the wealth and stature of the individual • Kings had great tombs • Common folk had to settle for pit graves or small mud-brick chambers.

37. Babylon was one of the most important cities of the ancient world Babylon means “Gate of God” Middle East (1700-1100 BCE)