Transcript River Valleys-Mesopotamia - Mrs. Martin`s Nango Bears

Mesopotamia“Land Between the Rivers”
Mrs. Martin
2008
I. Geography-Let’s map it!
A.
B.
C.
D.
North and East of Egypt
Called Fertile Crescent (see your map)
Between Tigris and Euphrates River
No natural barriers
1. Open to invasion
2. Easy to migrate
3. Difficult to unify
E. Cradle of civilization
II. Sumer
A. When? 5,000 years ago
B. Religion-polytheistic- what’s the goal?
1.
Worship? In ziggurats (temples)
C. Government-absolute monarchies
1.
2.
City-states
Hereditary ruler-absolute monarchy
a.
b.
Servant of the gods
Enforces laws, collect taxes, maintain walls and irrigation
systems
Ziggurats
II. Sumer (cont.)
D. Social structure-similar to Egypt
1. Ruling family,
2. Priests have much power
3. Merchants and artisans,
4. Peasant farmers
E. Economy- based on their geography, what
do you predict?
1. Extensive trade due to geography
F. Achievements
1. Cuneiform writing
2. Irrigation systems to protect from flooding
3. Arch
4. Ziggurat
Cuneiform
III. Other Empires
A. Assyrians- rule entire Fertile Crescent (600s B.C.)
1.
Enemies united and destroy in 612 B.C.
B. Persians- united by Darius (500 B.C.)
1. Religion-Zoroasterianism
a. Monotheistic
b. Good will triumph
2. Darius makes professional army
Why is a professional army significant?
C. Babylon
1. Hammurabi most powerful ruler
2. Hammurabi’s Code
a. Harsh punishment- eye for an eye
b. Social divisions - Favors upper classes
c. First known collection of laws
King Darius
III. Other Empires ( cont.)
D. Phoenicians- create alphabet and spread it
through trade
E. Lydians- money economy (vs. barter)
1. Makes trade easier