The document provides background information on Mesopotamia. It describes Mesopotamia as the earliest civilization known as the "Cradle of Civilization", located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in present-day Iraq. It summarizes that the Sumerians who lived in southern Mesopotamia were the first to develop systems of writing, mathematics, wheeled vehicles, and metalworking. The document also briefly outlines the major peoples and empires that arose and fell in Mesopotamia over 3000 years, including the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and Persians.

1. Mesopotamia:
Mesopotamia:
“The Cradle of Civilization”
“The Cradle of Civilization”

2. Earliest Civilization: the
Earliest Civilization: the
Fertile Crescent
Fertile Crescent
 earliest of all civilizations as people formed
earliest of all civilizations as people formed
permanent settlements
permanent settlements
 Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a Greek word that means
is a Greek word that means
“between the rivers”,
“between the rivers”, specifically, the area
specifically, the area
between the
between the Tigris River and Euphrates River
Tigris River and Euphrates River
(present day Iraq)
(present day Iraq)
 Lasted for approximately 3000 years
Lasted for approximately 3000 years
 Its peoples were the first to irrigate fields,
Its peoples were the first to irrigate fields,
devised a system of writing, developed
devised a system of writing, developed
mathematics, invented the wheel and learned to
mathematics, invented the wheel and learned to
work with metal
work with metal

4. Geographic Conditions
Geographic Conditions
 Little rainfall
Little rainfall
 Hot and dry climate
Hot and dry climate
 windstorms leaving muddy river valleys in
windstorms leaving muddy river valleys in
winter
winter
 catastrophic flooding of the rivers
catastrophic flooding of the rivers
in spring
in spring
 Arid soil containing little minerals
Arid soil containing little minerals
 No stone or timber resources
No stone or timber resources

5. Then why live in
Then why live in
Mesopotamia?
Mesopotamia?
NATURAL LEVEES
NATURAL LEVEES:
: embankments produced by build-up of sediment
embankments produced by build-up of sediment
over thousands of years of flooding
over thousands of years of flooding

6. Natural Levee
Natural Levee
 create a high and safe flood plain
create a high and safe flood plain
 make irrigation and canal construction easy
make irrigation and canal construction easy
 provide protection
provide protection
 the surrounding swamps were full of fish &
the surrounding swamps were full of fish &
waterfowl
waterfowl
 reeds provided food for sheep / goats
reeds provided food for sheep / goats
 reeds also were used as building resources
reeds also were used as building resources

7. History of Mesopotamia
History of Mesopotamia
 Over the centuries, many different people
Over the centuries, many different people
lived in this area creating a collection of
lived in this area creating a collection of
independent states
independent states
 Sumer-
Sumer- southern part (3500-2000 BCE)
southern part (3500-2000 BCE)
 Akkad-
Akkad- northern part (2340 – 2180 BCE)
northern part (2340 – 2180 BCE)
 Babylonia-
Babylonia- these two regions were unified
these two regions were unified
(1830-1500 BCE and 650-500 BCE)
(1830-1500 BCE and 650-500 BCE)
 Assyria-
Assyria- Assyrian Empire (1100 -612
Assyrian Empire (1100 -612
BCE)
BCE)

8. Religion
Religion
 Position of King was enhanced
Position of King was enhanced
and supported by religion
and supported by religion
 Kingship believed to be created
Kingship believed to be created
by gods and the king’s power
by gods and the king’s power
was divinely ordained
was divinely ordained
 Belief that gods lived on the
Belief that gods lived on the
distant mountaintops
distant mountaintops
 Each god had control of certain
Each god had control of certain
things and each city was ruled
things and each city was ruled
by a different god
by a different god
 Kings and priests acted as
Kings and priests acted as
interpreters as they told the
interpreters as they told the
people what the god wanted
people what the god wanted
them to do (ie. by examining the
them to do (ie. by examining the
liver or lungs of a slain sheep)
liver or lungs of a slain sheep)
gods were worshipped at
huge temples called
ziggurats
Polytheistic religion consisting of
Polytheistic religion consisting of
over 3600 gods and demigods
over 3600 gods and demigods
Prominent Mesopotamian gods
Enlil
Enlil (supreme god & god of air)
(supreme god & god of air)
Ishtar
Ishtar (goddess of fertility & life)
(goddess of fertility & life)
An
An (god of heaven)
(god of heaven)
Enki
Enki (god of water & underworld)
(god of water & underworld)
Shamash
Shamash (god of sun and giver of
(god of sun and giver of
law)
law)

9. Ziggurat
Ziggurat
s
s
 Large temples dedicated to
Large temples dedicated to
the god of the city
the god of the city
 Made of layer upon layer of
Made of layer upon layer of
mud bricks in the shape of
mud bricks in the shape of
a pyramid in many tiers
a pyramid in many tiers
(due to constant flooding
(due to constant flooding
and from belief that gods
and from belief that gods
resided on mountaintops)
resided on mountaintops)
 Temple on top served as
Temple on top served as
the god’s home and was
the god’s home and was
beautifully decorated
beautifully decorated
 Inside was a room for
Inside was a room for
offerings of food and goods
offerings of food and goods
 Temples evolved to
Temples evolved to
ziggurats-
ziggurats- a stack of 1-7
a stack of 1-7
platforms decreasing in size
platforms decreasing in size
from bottom to top
from bottom to top
 Famous ziggurat was
Famous ziggurat was
Tower of Babel
Tower of Babel (over 100m
(over 100m
above ground and 91m
above ground and 91m
base)
base)
Ziggurat of Ur -2000BCE

10.  Political structure an early form of
Political structure an early form of
democracy
democracy
 Frequent wars led to the
Frequent wars led to the
emergence of warriors as leaders
emergence of warriors as leaders
 Eventually rise of monarchial
Eventually rise of monarchial
system
system
 co-operation was the basis of
co-operation was the basis of
government
government
 Followed leadership of god of the
Followed leadership of god of the
city which was interpreted by a
city which was interpreted by a
council of leading citizens > or >
council of leading citizens > or >
priests > or leader of the city (ie.
priests > or leader of the city (ie.
king)
king)

11. Sumerians
Sumerians
 social, economic and intellectual basis
social, economic and intellectual basis
 Irrigated fields and produced 3 main
Irrigated fields and produced 3 main
crops
crops (barley, dates and sesame seeds)
(barley, dates and sesame seeds)
 built canals, dikes, dams and drainage systems
built canals, dikes, dams and drainage systems
 develop
develop cuneiform
cuneiform writing
writing
 invented the
invented the wheel
wheel
 Abundance of food led to steady increase of population (farm, towns,
Abundance of food led to steady increase of population (farm, towns,
cities)
cities)
 first
first city
city of the world
of the world
 Developed a
Developed a trade system
trade system with
with bartering
bartering: mainly barley but also wool
: mainly barley but also wool
and cloth for stone, metals, timber, copper, pearls and ivory
and cloth for stone, metals, timber, copper, pearls and ivory
 Individuals could only
Individuals could only rent land
rent land from priests (who controlled land on
from priests (who controlled land on
behalf of gods); most of profits of trade went to temple
behalf of gods); most of profits of trade went to temple
 However, the Sumerians were not successful in uniting lower
However, the Sumerians were not successful in uniting lower

12. Akkadians
Akkadians
 Leader: Sargon the Great
Leader: Sargon the Great
 Sargon unified lower Mesopotamia (after conquering Sumerians in
Sargon unified lower Mesopotamia (after conquering Sumerians in
2331 BCE)
2331 BCE)
 Established capital at Akkad
Established capital at Akkad
 Spread Mesopotamian culture
Spread Mesopotamian culture
 However, short-lived dynasty as Akkadians were conquered by the
However, short-lived dynasty as Akkadians were conquered by the
invading barbarians by 2200 BCE
invading barbarians by 2200 BCE

13. Babylonians
Babylonians KING HAMMURABI’S BABLYON
KING HAMMURABI’S BABLYON
 (6
(6th
th
Amorite
Amorite king) who conquered
king) who conquered
Akkad and Assyria (north and south)
Akkad and Assyria (north and south)
 He build new walls to protect the city
He build new walls to protect the city
and new canals and dikes to improve
and new canals and dikes to improve
crops
crops
 Economy based on agriculture and
Economy based on agriculture and
wool / cloth
wool / cloth
 individuals could
individuals could own land
own land around
around
cities
cities
 Artisans and merchants could keep
Artisans and merchants could keep
most profits and even formed guilds /
most profits and even formed guilds /
associations
associations
 Grain
Grain used as the medium of
used as the medium of
exchange > emergence of
exchange > emergence of
measurement of
measurement of currency
currency: shekel =
: shekel =
180 grains of barley;
180 grains of barley; mina
mina = 60
= 60
shekels
shekels
 Mina was eventually represented by
Mina was eventually represented by
metals which was one of first uses of
metals which was one of first uses of
money (but it was still based on grain)
money (but it was still based on grain)
 Hammurabi’s Legacy:
Hammurabi’s Legacy: law code
law code
• Babylonians reunited Mesopotamia in
Babylonians reunited Mesopotamia in
1830 BCE
1830 BCE
• central location dominated trade and
central location dominated trade and
secured control
secured control
• YET AGAIN, Mesopotamia was not
YET AGAIN, Mesopotamia was not
unified for long…
unified for long…

14. Code of Hammurabi
Code of Hammurabi
 To enforce his rule, Hammurabi collected all the laws of
To enforce his rule, Hammurabi collected all the laws of
Babylon in a code that would apply everywhere in the land
Babylon in a code that would apply everywhere in the land
 Most extensive law code from the ancient world (c. 1800
Most extensive law code from the ancient world (c. 1800
BCE)
BCE)
 Code of
Code of 282 laws
282 laws inscribed on a
inscribed on a stone pillar
stone pillar placed in the
placed in the
public hall for all to see
public hall for all to see
 Hammurabi Stone depicts
Hammurabi Stone depicts Hammurabi
Hammurabi as
as receiving his
receiving his
authority from god Shamash
authority from god Shamash
 Set of divinely inspired laws; as well as societal laws
Set of divinely inspired laws; as well as societal laws
 Punishments were designed to fit the crimes as people must
Punishments were designed to fit the crimes as people must
be responsible for own actions
be responsible for own actions
 Hammurabi Code was an origin to the concept of “
Hammurabi Code was an origin to the concept of “eye for an
eye for an
eye…”
eye…” ie. If a son struck his father, the son’s hand would
ie. If a son struck his father, the son’s hand would
be cut off
be cut off
 Consequences for crimes depended on rank in society (ie.
Consequences for crimes depended on rank in society (ie.
only fines for nobility)
only fines for nobility)

15.  10
10th
th
century BCE, Assyria emerged as dominant force in the
century BCE, Assyria emerged as dominant force in the
north
north
 City of
City of Assur
Assur- became important trading and political centre
- became important trading and political centre
 After Hammurabi’s death, Babylon fell apart and kings of
After Hammurabi’s death, Babylon fell apart and kings of
Assur controlled more of surrounding area and came to
Assur controlled more of surrounding area and came to
dominate
dominate
 Made conquered lands pay
Made conquered lands pay taxes
taxes (food, animals, metals or
(food, animals, metals or
timber)
timber)
 Rule by fear as kings were first to have a
Rule by fear as kings were first to have a permanent
permanent army
army
made up of professional soldiers (estimated 200 000 men)
made up of professional soldiers (estimated 200 000 men)
 Made superior weapons of bronze and
Made superior weapons of bronze and iron
iron
 iron changed lifestyles in Mesopotamia in weapons and in
iron changed lifestyles in Mesopotamia in weapons and in
daily life ie. replaced wooden wheels and applied to horse
daily life ie. replaced wooden wheels and applied to horse
drawn chariots
drawn chariots
• Assyrian reunited Mesopotamia and
Assyrian reunited Mesopotamia and
established the first true empire
established the first true empire
• However, states began to revolt and
However, states began to revolt and
ONCE AGAIN, Assyrian Empire
ONCE AGAIN, Assyrian Empire
collapsed by late 7th century BCE
collapsed by late 7th century BCE
• By 539 BCE, Mesopotamia part of the
By 539 BCE, Mesopotamia part of the
vast Persian Empire (led by Cyrus the
vast Persian Empire (led by Cyrus the
Great)
Great)
• Persian Empire dominated for 800
Persian Empire dominated for 800
years until Alexander the Great
years until Alexander the Great

16. Development
Of
WRITING

17. Development of Writing
Development of Writing
 Click
Click here
here to see the
to see the
development of writing
development of writing
from
from pictograms to
pictograms to
cuneiform
cuneiform
 Pictograms: picture to show meaning
Pictograms: picture to show meaning
 Ideograms: signs to represent words / ideas
Ideograms: signs to represent words / ideas
 Phonetics: signs to represent sounds
Phonetics: signs to represent sounds
*Phonetics are the basis of most writing systems
*Phonetics are the basis of most writing systems

18. Writing
Writing
 Greatest contribution of Mesopotamia to
Greatest contribution of Mesopotamia to
western civilization was the invention of
western civilization was the invention of
writing
writing
 allowed the
allowed the transmission of knowledge,
transmission of knowledge,
the codification of laws, records to
the codification of laws, records to
facilitate trade / farming
facilitate trade / farming
 Sumerians wrote on wet clay tablets with
Sumerians wrote on wet clay tablets with
the point of a
the point of a reed
reed > then dried in the
> then dried in the
sun to make a tablet
sun to make a tablet
 Scribes
Scribes were only ones who could read
were only ones who could read
and write and served as priests, record
and write and served as priests, record
keepers and accountants
keepers and accountants
 As society evolved, the first form of
As society evolved, the first form of
writing was developed called
writing was developed called
CUNEIFORM
CUNEIFORM (meaning “wedge
(meaning “wedge
shaped”), dating to 3500 BCE
shaped”), dating to 3500 BCE
 Cuneiform spread to Persia and Egypt
Cuneiform spread to Persia and Egypt
and became the vehicle for the growth
and became the vehicle for the growth
and spread of civilization and the
and spread of civilization and the
exchange of ideas among cultures
exchange of ideas among cultures

19. Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh
 Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh is an ancient story or epic
is an ancient story or epic
written in Mesopotamia more than
written in Mesopotamia more than
4000 thousand years ago
4000 thousand years ago
 Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh is the first known work of
is the first known work of
great literature and epic poem
great literature and epic poem
 Epic mentions a
Epic mentions a great flood
great flood
 Gilgamesh parallels
Gilgamesh parallels the Nippur
the Nippur
Tablet
Tablet, a six-columned tablet telling
, a six-columned tablet telling
the story of the creation of humans
the story of the creation of humans
and animals, the cities and their
and animals, the cities and their
rulers, and the great flood
rulers, and the great flood
ANALYSIS
ANALYSIS
 Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh and the Nippur tablet both
and the Nippur tablet both
parallel the story of
parallel the story of Noah and the
Noah and the
Ark
Ark (great flood) in the
(great flood) in the Old
Old
Testament
Testament of the Jewish and
of the Jewish and
Christian holy books
Christian holy books
 Modern science argues an increase
Modern science argues an increase
in the sea levels about 6,000 years
in the sea levels about 6,000 years
ago (end of ice age)
ago (end of ice age)
 the melting ice drained to the oceans
the melting ice drained to the oceans
causing the sea level to rise more
causing the sea level to rise more
than ten feet in one century
than ten feet in one century

20. Royal Tombs
Royal Tombs
of Ur
of Ur
 From 1922 to 1934, excavation of
From 1922 to 1934, excavation of
the ancient
the ancient Sumerian city of Ur
Sumerian city of Ur
 City famed in Bible as the home of
City famed in Bible as the home of
patriarch Abraham
patriarch Abraham
 discoveries such as extravagant
discoveries such as extravagant
jewelry of gold, cups of gold and
jewelry of gold, cups of gold and
silver, bowls of alabaster, and
silver, bowls of alabaster, and
extraordinary objects of art and
extraordinary objects of art and
culture
culture
 opened the world's eyes to the full
opened the world's eyes to the full
glory of ancient Sumerian culture
glory of ancient Sumerian culture
Great Death Pit
Great Death Pit
 mass grave containing the bodies
mass grave containing the bodies
of 6 guards and 68 servants
of 6 guards and 68 servants
 grave was a great funeral
grave was a great funeral
procession
procession
 drank poison, choosing to
drank poison, choosing to
accompany the kings and queens in
accompany the kings and queens in
the afterlife
the afterlife

21. Interesting Facts!
Interesting Facts!
 Mesopotamia, specifically Babylon used a
Mesopotamia, specifically Babylon used a
mathematical system based on sixty as all their
mathematical system based on sixty as all their
numbers were expressed as parts of or multiples
numbers were expressed as parts of or multiples
of sixty
of sixty
 Some parts of the ‘base-sixty’ system still remain
Some parts of the ‘base-sixty’ system still remain
today: 360 degrees in a circle, 60 seconds in a
today: 360 degrees in a circle, 60 seconds in a
minute and 60 minutes in 1 hour
minute and 60 minutes in 1 hour
 Devised a calendar base on cycles of the moon
Devised a calendar base on cycles of the moon
(number of days between the appearance of two
(number of days between the appearance of two
new moons was set as a month; 12 cycles made
new moons was set as a month; 12 cycles made
up a year
up a year

22. Who was the best?
Who was the best?
Sumer
Sumer
 Closely tied to
Closely tied to
environment
environment
 Irrigation
Irrigation
techniques for
techniques for
farming
farming
 wheel
wheel
 Trade- bartering
Trade- bartering
 Writing- cuneiform
Writing- cuneiform
 Religion tied to
Religion tied to
government as
government as
priests and kings
priests and kings
made decision for
made decision for
gods
gods
 ziggurats
ziggurats
Babylon
Babylon
 Production of food
Production of food
through farming
through farming
 Private ownership
Private ownership
of land vs
of land vs
ownership by the
ownership by the
gods
gods
 Developed
Developed
mathematics and
mathematics and
calendar system
calendar system
and system of units
and system of units
for currency
for currency
 Hammurabi’s law
Hammurabi’s law
code
code
Assyria
 Kings conquered
Kings conquered
lands to create
lands to create
empire of Assyria
empire of Assyria
 Cooler climate could
Cooler climate could
produce crops with
produce crops with
little irrigation
little irrigation
 Deposits of ore
Deposits of ore
allowed for
allowed for
development and use
development and use
of iron
of iron
 Assyrian army
Assyrian army
became most
became most
effective military
effective military
force
force

23. Legacies of Mesopotamia
Legacies of Mesopotamia
Revolutionary innovations
Revolutionary innovations emerged in
emerged in
Mesopotamia such as:
Mesopotamia such as:
 codified laws
codified laws
 ziggurats
ziggurats
 Cuneiform
Cuneiform
 Irrigation
Irrigation
 Metal working, tools
Metal working, tools
 Trade
Trade
 transportation
transportation
 wheel
wheel
 Writing
Writing
 mathematics
mathematics
 prosperous living based on large scale agriculture
prosperous living based on large scale agriculture