Mesopotamian Civilization

WH6.2 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the early civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Kush.

Ancient MesopotamiaThe Fertile Crescent

Where is Mesopotamia?

Meso “between” and potamia “rivers” Region between the Tigris and Euphrates Modern day Iraq

Why did people settle there?

Known as the “fertile crescent” Great farm land Steady supply of fresh water

What was the first civilization of Mesopotamia?

Sumer Organized into city-states

Cities had their own govt. and went to war w/ each other.

Religion Believed in many gods (polytheism)

Skilled people Wrote in cuneiform on clay tablets Advance science and math

Sumerian Culture

How did Sumer fall?

City- states week, fell to Akkadians from the north.

Akkadians form an empire under Sargon.

What was Hammurabi’s Code?

Hammurabi an Akkadian ruler Earliest know

collection of Laws Covered crimes and

punishments

Who were the Assyrians?

Took over 1,000 years after Hammurabi Expert solidiers Ruled from Niniveh (story of Jonah and the

whale) to Egypts border and the Persian gulf. Empire divided into provinces

Who were the Chaldeans?

Rebelled against Assyrians and win Built own empire King Nebuchadnezzar (mentioned in story of

Daniel in the Bible) Builds Babylon Hanging Garden (Wonder of the Ancient

world)

Eventually falls to Persians