Mesopotamia

1
Mesopotamia
2
Geography

• Fertile Crescent Land b/w rivers
• Tigris, Euphrates
• Flood
• Plant in silt ? wheat and barley ? surplus

3
Environmental Challenges

• Unpredictable flooding
• No natural barriers
• Limited building resources
• Solutions?
• Irrigation
• City walls
• Trade
• Govt, leaders

4
City-States

• Surrounded by fields
• Own govt
• Much like own country

5
Priests and Rulers

• Govt controlled by priests
• Demanded portion of crops
• When war ? Soldier in control
• Many wars ? military leaders
• Dynasties Full-time military leaders when have
  heir to rule

6
Spread of Cities

• Surplus More trade
• Cultural Diffusion Ideas or products spread
  from one culture to another

7
Sumerian Culture

• Religion Polytheism
• Gods immortal and all-powerful
• Epic of Gilgamesh
• Social Classes
• Kings, Landowners, Priests
• Wealthy Merchants
• Majority Artisans
• Slaves

8
Women

• Many Rights
• Merchants, artisans, farmers
• Hold property
• Join priesthood
• Learned to read and write

9
Akkadian Empire

• Sargon
• 1st Empire Brings together several people,
  nations, or independent states together
• Lasted 200 Years

10
Old Babylonian Empire (1900-1600 BC)

• Amorites invade ? Establish Babylon as capital
• Hammurabi Peak of Babylonian Reign
• Code of Laws
• All over empire