Mesopotamian civilization developed between 3500 BC and 539 BC in the region between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers known as Mesopotamia. The Sumerians established the first cities in Mesopotamia around 3500 BC and developed a system of writing known as cuneiform. Power was held by independent city-states that were often in conflict over resources. Society was stratified with nobles, commoners, and slaves. Religion was polytheistic and centered around temples called ziggurats. The Mesopotamians made advances in areas like mathematics, astronomy, metalworking, and law with the Code of Hammurabi establishing strict legal principles.

1. MESOPOTAMIAN
CIVILIZATION
3500 B.C – 539 B.C.

2. • Origin
• Government
• Society
• Religion
• Language and Writing
• Technology
• Mathematics
• Astronomy
• Hammurabi Code

3. Origin
• ‘Mesopotamia’ from Greek words, mesos
(between) and potamol (rivers).
• The area between the Euphrates and Tigris -
known as the “Cradle of Civilization”.
• Now occupied by modern Iraq, eastern Syria and
southern Turkey.
• Not a political entity and no definite boundaries.

6. Origin
• The home of some world’s ancient civilizations;
the Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian and
Assyrian.
• The first literate societies were Sumerians.
• Transformed the land into agricultural land and
then city states.
• Sumerians founded the earliest cities in Sumer –
in 3500 B.C.

7. Origin
• Sumerians – their origin unknown.
• ‘Sumerian culture’ – the foundation of
Mesopotamian civilization – adopted by
Akkadians, Babylonians, etc.

9. Government
• 12 independent city states.
• E.g. Ur, Uruk, Babylon, Akad.
• Shared a common language, customs and beliefs
yet, were in constant warfare for water rights,
land and power.
• Divine kingship - most kings were thought to be
chosen by god, be a son of a god, or be a god
himself.
• Famous kings; Gilgamesh, Sargon, Hammurabi
and Nebuchadnezzar.

10. Sargon

11. Gilgamesh and Enkidu

12. Government
• Mesopotamian history – divided into 7 periods:
Sumeria 3500 – 2340 B.C.
Akkad 2371 – 2006 B.C.
Ur 2113 – 2006 B.C.
Babylon 2000 – 1530 B.C.
Kassites 1530 – 1100 B.C.
Assyria 1100 – 626 B.C.
Chaldea 626 – 539 B.C.

13. Society
• Sumerian society – 4 categories:
1. Nobles - (king & family, chief priests and high
court officials)
2. Clients - (free men dependent on nobility)
3. Commoners - (free citizens)
4.Slaves - (prisoners of war, foreigners & criminals)

14. Society
• Women had rights – could own property and, if
they had good reason, get a divorce.
• Slavery was a common feature in Mesopotamian
society.
• Slaves possessed some privileges; able to hold
property, participate in business, marry free men
or women and purchase their freedom.

15. Religion
• Very important in the people’s life – sought to
please gods due to vulnerability to natural
disasters – river flooding.
• Polytheism (worship of many gods). E.g: An
(Anu), Ki, Enlil, Marduk, Nabu, etc.
• ‘Ziggurat’- huge temples built to worship the
gods – run by traditional priesthood.

16. Ziggurat

17. Hanging Garden of Babylon

18. Hanging Garden of Babylon

19. Language and Writing
• The world’s earliest written language –
Sumerian.
• Developed through a few stages; from
pictographic (based on pictures) ideogram
cuneiform (syllabary writing system).
• Cuneiform written on clay tablets.

20. Language and Writing
• Invented ‘cylinder seals’ – made of stone or ivory
carved with pictures.
• Later, Akkadian became the dominant language -
Sumerian was retained for administrative,
religious, literary and scientific purposes.
• Then, Aramaic.

21. Writing and Language

22. Writing and Language

23. Writing and Language

24. Writing and Language

25. Technology
• Metalworking – among the first Bronze age
people in the world.
• Early on used copper, bronze and gold, and later
iron.
• Glassmaking and textile weaving.
• Water control, storage and irrigation –
construction of dams and aqueducts.
• Among the first people to make beer and wine.
• Invented wheels – wheeled chariots.

26. Mathematics
• Devised a sexagesimal numeral system – a
number system based on 60.
• The basis of the current 60-minute hour and 24-
hour day, also the 360 degree circle.
• Used the process of multiplication and division.
• Geometry – utilized e.g. for building projects
and mapmaking.

27. Astronomy
• Studied the stars and sky, predicted eclipses and
solstices - related to religion and omens.
• Sumerian calendar – 7 days a week.
• Calender was based on twelve lunar months.
• Nisannu, Ajaru, Simanu, Tamuzu, Abu, Ululu,
Tashritu, Arahsamnu, Kissilimu, Tebetu,
Shabatu, Addaru.

28. Astronomy
• Today’s constellations (Leo, Taurus, Scorpius,
Gemini, Capricornus and Sagittarius) – picked
out by Sumerian and Babylonian astronomers.
• Useful in determining the planting and harvesting
of crops.

29. Hammurabi Code
• Enacted by King Hammurabi “the law maker”.
• 282 laws; criminal offence, marriage and family,
slavery, land use and irrigation, commercial
activity, etc.
• The code reflects a society with a system of strict
justice.
• Penalties for criminal offenses – severe and
varied; according to the social class of the
offenders and victims.
• Written on pillars of stone – erected throughout
cities.

30. Hammurabi Code
• Stern punishment for burglary.
• If a robber is caught stealing, he will be killed.
• If a person stole goods belonging to the temples
or the state, he was put to death and so was the
person receiving the stolen goods.
• If couldn’t afford to compensate the loss of the
victim, he was put to death.

31. Hammurabi Code
• If one accuses another, but cannot prove it, the
accuser will be killed.
• If a builder builds a house and the house falls in,
killing the owner, the builder will be killed.
• If the son of the owner dies, the son of the builder
shall be killed.
• Surgeons – dangerous occupations – severe
penalties for failure.