Civilization of Mesopotamia

Key terms and names: the Tigris, the Euphrates, Sumer Sumerians, irrigation, cuneiform, city-states, temple economy, palace economy, ziggurats, Akkadian Empire, Sargon, Hammurabis Code

The Role of Environment Explain the importance of Environment that gave rise to civilization in Mesopotamia. As all other civilizations, Mesopotamian civilization developed along huge rivers. In Mesopotamia (Greek word that means the land between the rivers -) it was the Tigris and the Euphrates. It stretched over parts of modern Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran. Mesopotamia is historically divided into three parts: Sumer (South), Akkad Babylonia (Centre) and Assyria (North). Settlements and later city-states were built near these two rivers or its tributaries because the rivers: were source of life in the desert- like environment Caused regular floods in the spring that brought fertile soil from the North no extra fertilization of the land was needed. Were an important source of natural building material as clay and reeds. Clay and reeds were used for making sun-dried bricks. The area was lacking in timber and building stone. offered fish that was important part of diet transport Population What people did inhabit Mesopotamia? The region of Akkad (Babylonia or centre Mesopotamia) was inhabited by tribes of Semitic nomads. They were different people sharing one language. The south was settled by the Sumerians. Their origin is unclear (probably Migrants from the East) settling the area between 5000- 4000 B.C. The Sumerians differed from other peoples of Mesopotamia in terms of language, culture, anthropologically and level of progress. What is Sumerians contribution to building a civilization? The Sumerians built first cities (later turning into city-states). Creating these city-states was possible because of advanced techniques and inventions: Irrigation system They created system of canals, ditches and dykes. This irrigation system protected their settlements during times of flooding and kept the water supplies during dry seasons. Calendar / system of metrology The Sumerians a number system based on number 60 (application can be seen in 360 degrees of circle, 60 minutes). They used also a lunar way of counting time. building techniques: arch, sun-dried bricks bronze metal-working skill important for production of advanced tools inventions of wheel led transport cart and the use of advanced potters wheel Script Cuneiform it was wedge-shaped system of writing based on syllables (could be used for other languages). It developed from pictorial symbols. The original motivation for the use of writing could have been the need for recording in agriculture. At first the Sumerians wrote by scratching wet clay with the pointed end of a reed. Later, symbols were stamped into clay with the wedge-shape end of the reed which made the whole process of writing faster. The use of script must have given the rise to first schools. History recording of current events for the next generations

City-states Social organization Describe the rise of city- states and their social organization (hierarchy). Explain the difference between temple economy and palace economy. The first city-states emerged between 3500- 3000 B.C. A city- state included city and the surrounding villages. Normally, they had population of 10 000 that could have risen up to 60 000- 80000 at. Rising population and the need of labour on huge projects (irrigation system) suggest: division of labour (specialized occupation) and social organization (government). Temple Economy the centre of political and social organization was the local temple. Much of the city property was considered to be gods property. Priest acted as a middleman between gods and people. Priest (ENSI) as the head of local government was responsible for supervision of agriculture and education. Ziggurats were Mesopotamian forms of temples. Every city-state had a patron god that the city was dedicated. Sumerian agricultural society depended on weather so gods (deities) represented natural forces (water Enki, An heaven, sky, Enlil wind). As the influence and territory of city-states grew they clashed in conflicts. Later Sumerian civilization was almost constantly in the state of war, thus army and military leaders rose to power. Palace economy The king (LUGAL meaning a big man) became the new head of citystate. Society of city-states happened to be divided into 4 major classes. 1. Nobility king, nobles and religious authorities owned most of the land. 2. Clients were free but depended on nobility, the land they had remained the possession of the nobility and the temple 3. Commoners free, owned the land but had little political power. 4. Slaves - prisoners of war, criminals, or those who server as slaved to repay their debt. Name most important city-states in Sumer Ur, Uruk, Lagash, Kish, Larsa, Umma, Nippur that was the religious centre of Sumer. The power of the city-states differed but for a long time their kept their independence. The Akkadian Empire Who and when unified Mesopotamia for the first time? Describe this first empire. Sargon 2270/2251 B.C. (the great) unified city-states for the first time. He set the capital of his empire in Akkad. The Akkadian Empire stretched throughout the whole of the Fertile Crescent. The Akkadians were Semitic -speaking people that subdued the Sumerians for 150 years. Sargon set up administration of 5000 men to organize the empire and cuneiform proved to be helpful. Name other important empires of Mesopotamia. State their location, capitals, key figures and noticeable contribution to the progress of Mesopotamian civilization Old Babylonian empire (1894 1594 BC) Babylon, its centre was located in the central parts of Babylonia. The Empire was created by Semitic tribes of the Amorites. The most important ruler Hammurabi (1792-1750) managed to get under control most of Mesopotamia. His greatest achievement is his code of laws. Hammurabis Code became the base of social order. Althoughan eye for eye principle runs through the code, social hierarchy is the base of the code. The code presents him as supreme and divine leader (god-like) which is sign of oriental despotism. The Babylonians made also important discoveries in mathematics and astronomy.

Assyrian empire (1100-612 BC) - Nineveh was the center of the empire, the North of Mesopotamia. The key figure was Assurbanipal. They gained their reputation for cruelty in war and towards conquered people however the library of Nineveh preserved lots of clay tablets recording their era. New Babylonian empire (626-539) - the tribe of the Chaldeans rebuilt Babylon as their capitol. Nebuchadnezzar as the most important ruler built the Hanging gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders of the Ancient world. The Chaldeans made contribution to the science of astronomy. They began the study of astrology, because they believed that it is possible to tell the future from the stars.