Mesopotamia Civilization

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA (MODERN IRAQ)

Introduction: Origin & Development •

Mesopotamia-Greek Mesopotamia-Greek word meaning: meaning:  The flat land between two rivers (Tigris & Euphrates) Also means ‘Fertile Crescent’ (traditional Garden of Eden)

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Initially inhabited by nomads- Semitic language Family (Hebrew & Arabs) Late became builders & Farmers in the South Civilization begun 3500BC in the cities of  Sumer, Kish, Ur, Nippur, Uruk & Umma

Geography: •

Land: Steep and difficult with temp raising to 38 in summer and rainfall low- 10inches Rain unpredictable Spring- rivers flooded the valley  –

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Rain re news soil fertility Snow melt, not rain (little vs. lots of snow, fast melt vs. slow melt)

Economic life: •

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Crops grown: wheat, barley, vegetablesonions, leeks, & dates Animals reared: Donkeys, cows, goats, pigs & sheep Surplus produces allowed Sumerians to result to other activities. Resulting to: •

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Production of bricks Invention of potter wheel Pottery Use of bronze

Challenges: •

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Control of flooded rivers Keeping up a stable irrigation system Keeping off enemies –

Socio-political system/Government Each

Sumerian city was independent of others Characterized warCities emerged same time & overlapped with time Rivalry- land, water & trade, mainly land & water 

Leader- Highest priest (priest-king)- theocratic Priests had supreme authoritySumerians believed that the land & city-state was owned by gods and priests ruled on behalf  of the gods

Social Structure 

Based on level of dependency & freedom enjoyedNobles (Kings, Priests, Palace officials) 

Free Clients (Dependent (D ependent on the Nobility

Commoners (Free Citizens) Protected by law

Slaves (Foreigners, prisoners of wars criminals, debtors)

Social System Cont’d….. Women

protected by dowry Men had absolute power  sickness- caused by magic & evil spirits Education: Only

the rich kids went to school particularly the boys Maths, Botany, linguistics & writing 

Religion: Polytheist

society- divided among functions tried to control the earth  rain, sun, storms, water, wisdom Ziggurat-

Cont’d…… Desert Feudalism system: Petty-statism: Polarization:

Political Organizations:  

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Two main political settings: Confederate city-state Initially organized as city-state  Loose confederate city/states – 100 square Empire Emerges

when people are conquered & are absorbed into a larger political system

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Political Organizations: Organizations: 

Famous Kings: Sumerian Empire – Lugal Zagge Akkadian - Sargon Akkad Guti – Ur- Nammu Old Babylon Empire- Hammurabi Assyrian Persian Empire unit- Satrapy or Province

Genesis of Civilization: Started by Sumerian who settled on the lower Tigris-Euphrates Created a form of writing Cuneiform Development of dykes, canals & irrigation ditches irrigation First to use fertilizer & invent glass Use of silver as a means of exchange Invent the wheel, cart & carriage

Formulated laws- based on ‘tit for tat’ or lex talionis Believed in Heroism- example of Hero storiesGilgameshas- recorded in Epic of Gilgamesh

Akkadian - Sargon (2300-2200): (2300-2200): 

Overthrew Sumerian govt  Retained social & administrative systems of  Sumerian  Characterized by invasion of foreign lands  Authoritarian regime

Faced by external attacks & internal revolts

Guti Empire: 

Nomad community from Zagros mountains  Destroyed urban set up & imposed militaristic system  Features: Decline in trade Anarchy as result of military coups & counter coups Only one successful king- Ur-Nammu (21132000) 

 Collapse of the empire attributed to foreign

attacks & division of the country by two powers

Amorites (Old-Babylonian)(Old-Babylonian) Hammurabi (1792-1750 (1792-1750)) 

Systematized law (Hammurabi code)

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Composed of 300 laws set in a public place 

Royal taxation  Compulsory military services  Treason & sedition – serious offense  Protected women & children- dowry property of  the women 

Amorites (Old-Babylonian)(Old-Babylonian) Just

society

Economy of willing buyer & seller  Law of partnership, title deeds, wills & interest  Encouraged working on farms to ensure selfsufficiency 

Assyrians - King Sennacherib  Brutal & militaristic people- destroyed rather than built 

Methods used to establish govt were ruthlessinstill fear & obedience 

Building constructed 

Administrative & military center for population control to minimize rebellion  Propaganda- make people fear the king

Assyrians - King Sennacherib  Characteristics: 

Commerce & industry not promoted- lowered dignity of soldiers  Agriculture main stay  Trade was for non-Assyrians  Intellectual contributions- military & health provision for military  Art

Chaldean/Neo-Babylonian Chaldean/Neo-Babylonian Resurgence  King Nebuchadnezzar (Medes- Iran) 

Astrologers- divided the sky into 12 parts (Zodiac)  Invented 7 day week  Divided day into 120 minutes  Charted the movements of planets & eclipses of  the sun & moon  Invented 360 degree-circle 

King Nebuchadnezzar militarism formation of Hebrew Empire (Judah) 

Enslaved them in Neo-Babylon

led

to

Hebrew (Israelites, Jews)  History contained in the Torah 

Trace their origin in Sumerian city- Ur

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1950 BC – Abraham made covenant with God- Ur  Ur under attack by the Elemites (Iran)  Migrated to Palestine  12 tribes migrated to Egypt – 1600 BC under Hyksos 

After Hyksos were overthrown – Hebrews were enslaved – Biblical bondage  Moses led them & led them to Canaan arrived in Canaan – Joshua (1200BC)

Hebrew Cont’d…… 

Moses led them & led them to Canaan arrived in Canaan – Joshua Jos hua (1200BC)  Followed by the leadership of the judges which ended in 1020 BC- Saul united the two tribes  Followed by David & Solomon built the temple (First Temple)  Solomon was extravagant – caused to cede 20 cities in Galilee in lieu of payment leading to hostility with his subjects  Hostility continued during leadership of  Solomon’s son- Rehoboam

Hebrew Cont’d……   The rise of two nations in Israel- Israel & Judah 

Israel (North of Palestine) & Judah (South)  Divided Kingdom resulted to idolatry  Division led to attacks by foreigners – Israel (Assyrians) & Judah (Chaldeans)  Attacks scattered the Hebrews all over the world resulting to 10 lost tribes of Israel 

Nebuchadnezzar II & Israel 

Hebrews (Judah) were incarcerated in Babylon  Conspired with King Cyrus of Persian overthrew Neb  Mesopotamia became a province of Persia & some Hebrews returned to Israel  Those who remianed in Babylon (Disapora) – refers

Hebrew Cont’d……   The return of the Jews: 

Jews from Judah tried to rebuild the temple but never succeeded coz of constant attacks 

Attacked by Alexander the Great, King Antiochus (Syria), Herod (Roman) 

King Herod renamed it Judea & destroyed when the Jews tried to rebel leading to second wave of Jews migration to Europe 

Hebrew Cont’d……   Jews & Discrimination: 

1096- Christian crusade persecuted & discriminated non-Christians  Jews required to wear a badge or special clothes that would categorize them as Jews  Lived in separated communities- Ghettos  Jews lost right to own land & became money lenders & peddlers  England & France expel Jews – settled in Poland & Germany

Hebrew Cont’d…… Enlightenment

Age (1700s) & Plight of Jews:

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Period marked by ideas of liberty & equality- in Europe 

Resulted into tolerance of Jews, emancipation and acceptance of Jews as citizens in individual European countries 1800s- Anti-semitism re-emerged when writersGermany tried to proof that Jews were inferior to Aryans  1849 a Jewish French army officer accused of  treason 

Hebrew Cont’d…… Enlightenment

Age (1700s) & Plight of Jews:

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  Then Jews decided only solution to antisemitism was a Jewish independent state  Creation of Zionist movement  Zionist movement begun by buying land in Palestine & established farms in Tel-Aviv  During WWII – anti-semitism in parts of Europe lead to the death of 6 million Jews  Israel – created in 1948 (Britain & US) 

  Jewish religious & national identity could be developed

PERSIAN EMPIRE  Established by Cyrus the Great 

Leader of Southern Persian tribes considered himself leader of Asia Minor

but

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Succeeded by Cambyses- conquered Egypt  Darius- conquer Greece 

Key Contributions: 

Religion – Zoroastrianism (600BC) & Mithraism (400BC)

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