Transcript Intellectual

9/19 & 9/20
Objectives:
•Analyze primary source
documents
to better understand the
political, social, intellectual
and religious characteristics
of Mesopotamia.
•Describe PERSIA G
characteristics of
Mesopotamia
River Valley Civilizations
There were four primary river civilizations
that developed between 3500 – 500 BCE
Why did the first civilizations begin in
the river valleys?
•Rich soil along the river
banks was good for farming
•Natural geographic features
around the river valleys
offered protection
The river valleys were the “Cradles of
Civilization.”
What do you think that means?
They provided the baby civilizations what they
needed to grow.
Each civilization made major
contributions to social, political
and economic
progress.
1. Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent
Geography:
Mesopotamia means “Land
between two rivers”
Geography
•Mesopotamia is located in the Fertile
Crescent in present-day Iraq
•Flooding left behind fertile silt which made the
soil between the rivers perfect for farming
•Mountains and deserts provided protection
from outside invaders
•Unpredictable river flooding led to the
development of irrigation systems
Political
First city-states, later empires
The region of Sumer, and the city-states
of Ur and Uruk, located between the
Tigris and Euphrates rivers were among
the oldest civilizations.
First ruled by kings as independent city states, later,
Mesopotamia would be ruled as empires. What is an
empire? What factors would lead one civilization to conquer
another?
These empires would develop from within Mesopotamia.
1) Akkadian
2) Babylonian
3) Assyrian
4) Neobabylonian
.
What were the functions
of these ancient
governments?
Economy of Mesopotamia
•Based primarily on agriculture – 90
percent of the people were farmers.
•But, evidence of trade along rivers,
and with Egypt.
•Artifacts revealed metal work in
bronze, gold and copper
Religion
•The Mesopotamians worshiped many
gods and goddesses which means they
were POLYTHEISTIC.
•They constructed huge pyramids,
called Ziggurats, to worship their
gods.
•Sumerians had a
negative view of the
afterlife where their
souls would wander
in the land of no return.
Religion – continued
•Rulers were believed to be divinely
chosen –the gods appointed them
to rule. This is called a theocracy rule by a religious authority. The
earliest rulers in Mesopotamia were
priests.
Can you name a modern-day theocracy?
Sumerian Society
Priests and Kings
Scribes
Wealthy merchants
Commoners
Slaves
Society - Continued
Why were priests in the upper
classes of society?
Priests communicated and made offerings
to the gods. Since the gods controlled the
people’s fate, priests, were very important.
•Sumerian women had more rights than
women in later civilizations but it is believed
that they were not educated.
Intellectual
•Cuneiform was the first
written language.
•It was made using clay
and a stylus, and has
wedge-shaped
characters
•Its characters are
based on pictograms
Intellectual - Continued
More Cuneiform:
Intellectual - Continued
Two important written documents come from
Mesopotamia:
1. The Epic of Gilgamesh
2. Hammurabi’s Code
Both were written in cuneiform
and translated.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is
possibly the oldest story
ever written. It was found
on clay tablets and tells the
story of a king (Gilgamesh)
and a man (Enkidu) who
fight an evil God named
Humbaba. The man is
mortally wounded and
Gilgamesh realizes that
men are not immortal.
The Code of Hammurabi
is the code of laws established
By Hammurabi of Babylon
When he conquered all
Of Mesopotamia.
What might we learn about
Mesopotamia by looking
at its laws? Think P.E.R.S.I.A. G. ?
Hammurabi’s Code
The laws were carved onto a
basalt (stone) slab called a
stele.
•It included laws for
commerce
•Harsh punishments
including, “an eye for an
eye”
•It contained different rules
for different social classes
•It even set forth rules and
punishments for marriage
Achievements
Agricultural
Surpluses
Job
Specialization
Invention of
Wheel, sail, plow, irrigation
systems
Bronze tools
Plow
Bronze Weapons
Irrigation System
Photo Credits
Slide 1:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_XfexFiNgHVs/SBTmvYuOpOI/AAAAAAAAAfI/boYW9JMeBv0/CIM
G0116.JPG
Slide 2: http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/images/riv-vall.gif
Slide 3: http://bibleworld.com/euphrates_turkey_sm.jpg
Slide 4: http://www.historywiz.com/images/neareast/royalstandardofurbox.jpg
http://www.utexas.edu/courses/classicalarch/images1/2ur-lyre1.jpg
Slide 5:
http://www.eastchester.k12.ny.us/schools/ms/teachers/stabile/images/fertile1.jpg
Slide 7: http://www.beautyworlds.com/cultureofiran/JewelryFromRoyalTombsOfUr.jpg
http://www.theancientweb.com/images/explore/Iraq_Sumer_Gold_Helmet.jpg
Slide 12: http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/19200/19279/cuneiform_19279_lg.gif
Slide 13: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/wpcontent/gallery/slates/cuneiform_660.jpg
Slide 14:
http://thisfragiletent.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/gilgamesh_louvre.jpg?w=386&h=900
Slide
15:http://www.foliosociety.com/images/books/illustrations/lrg/GIL_12748775780.jpg
Slide 19:
http://www.digitaldesktopwallpaper.com/wallpapers/digitalwallpapers/1024x768/wood
en-wheel.jpg
http://www.reflexivity.us/blog/sailboat.jpg
Slide 20: http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/21900/21917/plow_21917_lg.gif
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Rudimentary_irrigation_system_
Morocco.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Middle_Bronze_Age_weapons.p
ng