Mesopotamia unit terms

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Mesopotamia-”The Land Between the Rivers (Tigris and Euphrates)

In the Middle East-near present day Iraq

Its settlers were herders from the grasslands of the Arabian Peninsula and the highlands of Turkey.

1st known to control their environment(irrigation)-put holes in levees to get water to crops…Canals were dug to get greater amounts farther distances

#1- BarleyAlso, vegetables, fruits, flax,

sesame, dates

City Life

Ur- City State built by Sumerians from Sumer

Walls made of mud and crushed reeds for protection from enemies

Center of city life was the temple

With many people, they had to make laws

Mesopotamia Unit TermsCivilization-society w/ a

developed knowledge of farming, trade, government, art, and science

Mesopotamia Unit TermsCulture- way of life

Mesopotamia Unit TermsArtisans-skilled workers

Mesopotamia Unit TermsEmpire-lands ruled by an

emperor

Mesopotamia Unit Terms

Ziggurat-Mesopota-mian temple

Mesopotamia Unit TermsCity-state- a city that is

also an independent nation

Mesopotamia Unit TermsIrrigate-to supply dry land

w/water

Cuneiform-Sumerian wedge-shaped writing

Scribe-Sumerian writer

Sumerian Cities

They were city-statesMade up of cities

w/farmland around it

Sumerian Cities

Religion was the center of Sumerian life.They believed in 3000 gods. Most of these were involving nature.

Sumerian Learning

Only rich boys went to school.

Writing (cuneiform) was done w/reeds on clay tablets

Men and Women

Women could buy and sell property and slaves

Men and Women

Men were heads of the house. They could divorce for no reason or even sell their wives and children for up to 3 years. Men arranged marriages for children.

Children

Their job was to OBEY both parents and older siblings, as well as the priest.

Priests/Kings

Priests were usually kings of city-states

Priests/Kings

About 3000 B.C. military leaders began being kings instead.

Priests/Kings

After that, kingship was hereditary.

2400 B.C.-Sumer’s glory fadesSargon I created the

world’s first empire by defeating Sumerian city-states.

2400 B.C.-Sumer’s glory fadesAfter Sargon I died,

Hammurabi, King of Babylon and the Amorite people conquered the area all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.

Hammurabi’s Reforms

Improved irrigationBabylonian godsTax systemGov’t housingCODE OF LAWS

Hammurabi’s Code

Innocent until proven guilty

Hammurabi’s Code

Punishments- fines to death; no prisons

Hammurabi’s Code

Upper class more severely punished

Mesopotamian Contributions

“Cradle of Civilization”

1st written laws

Sailboat

12-month calendar based on astronomy

Number system based on 60-led to the clock

Mesopotamia unit terms

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