Transcript Ancient Mesopotamia: Ch.1.3 & 2.1

Ancient Mesopotamia:
Ch.1.3 & 2.1
Origins of Civilization
A Case Study: Ur in Sumer
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What makes a civilization?
1.
2.
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5.
Advanced cities (what creates a city?)
Specialized workers – artesians and trade
Complex institutions – government and laws;
religion
Record keeping – scribes and cuneiform
Advanced technology – Bronze Age
Ur
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Around 3000 BC, Ur had a population of
around 30,000
Agricultural economy with large-scale
irrigation – why is irrigation important?
Trade was conducted with a bartering
systemm
Temple (ziggurat) being the center of city life
shows importance of religion
City States in Mesopotamia
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The region is known as the
Fertile Cresent due to the shape
it takes lying between the Tigris
and Euphrates rivers
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Why is this location important?
What environmental challenges
were there?
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Flooding and then period of
little to no participation
No natural barriers for
protection
Building materials and other
natural resources were scarce
City States in Mesopotamia
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How were these problems solved?
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Organization!
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Irrigation provided water
Built walled cities for defense
Traded manufactured goods for natural resources
City states arose… the cultures in Mesopotamia
shared a common culture but WERE NOT a
unified country.
City States in Mesopotamia
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Priests and rulers shared control, and this led
to the rise of dynasties.
The success of the city states led to more of
them, and through cultural diffusion more
sprung up in areas that were removed from
Mesopotamia.
Sumerian Culture
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The Sumerians practiced
polytheism, or a belief in more
than one god. People were their
servants, and their #1 goal was
to keep them happy. Death is
not a reward… “Dust is their
fare and clay is their food.”
Social classes arose with
civilizations – what causes class
separation today? Back then?
Developed a number system
based on 60 (where does a
minute come from?), modern
architecture (columns & arches)
Created a system of writing
called
Empire Building in Mesopotamia
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Sargon of Akkad was the first Mesopotamian empire
builder, who united northern and southern
Mesopotamia. The Akkadian Empire stretched from
the Mediterranean coast to Iran. The dynasty only
lasted 200 years thanks to infighting.
Amorites invaded in 2000 BC, establishing their
capital at Babylon. This empire reached its peak
during Hammurabi’s reign, from 1792 BC to 1750
BC
Hammurabi's Code
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He recognized that a single, uniform
code of laws would unify the diverse
group of people living in his empire.
He compiled his code from existing
rules and judgments.
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It lists 282 specific laws dealing
with every possible thing that could
impact the community – many of
these are property based
It applied to everyone, but set
different punishments for men and
women, rich and poor – is it fair to
take circumstances into
consideration?
Hammurabi believed that it was the
government’s responsibility to
protect those who could not protect
themselves