Mesopotamia Civilization
Mesopotamia Civilization
(MODERN IRAQ)
Introduction: Origin & Development
• Mesopotamia-Greek word meaning:
– The flat land between two rivers (Tigris
& Euphrates)
– Also means ‘Fertile Crescent’
(traditional Garden of Eden)
– 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
– Rain re news soil fertility
– Snow melt, not rain (little vs. lots of snow,
fast melt vs. slow melt)
–
Economic life:
• Crops grown: wheat, barley, vegetables-
onions, leeks, & dates
• Animals reared: Donkeys, cows, goats,
pigs & sheep
• Surplus produces allowed Sumerians to
result to other activities. Resulting to:
• Production of bricks
• Invention of potter wheel
• Pottery
• Use of bronze
Challenges:
• 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 war-
Cities emerged same time & overlapped with
time
Rivalry- land, water & trade, mainly land &
water
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:
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
Political 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
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 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 led to
formation of Hebrew Empire (Judah)
Enslaved them in Neo-Babylon
Hebrew (Israelites, Jews)
History contained in the Torah
Trace their origin in Sumerian city- Ur
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 (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
to Jews living outside Israel
Hebrew Cont’d……
The return of the Jews:
Jews from Judah tried to rebuild the temple
but never succeeded coz of constant attacks