Middle East: Mesopotamia
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Middle East: Mesopotamia
MesopotamiaMesopotamia means: “land between
two rivers”. The civilization developed between the Euphrates and the Tigris Rivers
The area is often called the “Fertile Crescent”
By 3200 B.C. a number of cities are established by the Sumerians
Major Contribution: The Invention of Writing
Origins of writing probably go back to the 9000 B.C.
4000 BC - realized that drawing tokens was easier than making tokens
Developed of cuneiform: “wedge-shaped”pictographic system
Sumeria: 3200 BC
Sumeria
Developed advanced city-statesSpecialized workers, social classes
Advanced Math: Number system based on 60 (60 seconds = 1 min.)
Polytheistic
Sumerian Inventions
Wagon wheel Potter’s wheel
(shape containers)
Number system 12 month
calendar
• Sail• Some of the
earliest known maps
• New architecture• Metal plow
AkkadiansSumeria fell to foreign invaders The Akkadians:
Nomadic people f/ Arabian Peninsula that migrated to Mesopotamia
Sargon (2300-2200 BC) unites all Mesopotamian cities (creates first empire)
The Akkadians did not rule for long …
Babylonia
Located in modern day Syria
Hammurabi--created a system of civil law (a code with harsh punishments)
Borrowed heavily f/ Sumerian cultureAfter Hammurabi’s death Babylon
declined
Hittites: 1400 BC
Hittites
Conquered Babylon in 1400 BC
A strong army with chariots
Knew how to make iron which was plentiful and cheap
Borrowed from Mesopotamian and Egyptian culture
Assyrians: 1100 BC
Assyrians
Powerful army / warfare was central to their culture
Treated conquered people cruelly
Large empire with good roads
Collapsed about 612 BC
Babylon Revived: 612 BC
Babylon Revived:
Descendents from Hammurabi’s Babylonians
At its height during the rule of Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC)Spent a lot of money on BabylonBuilt Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Empire collapsed after being defeated by the Persians
Persians: 539 BC
Persians Cyrus conquered in 539BC, &
eventually conquered from Nile to Indus Darius I – the skilled organizer
Used satraps (governors)Tolerant to those who were conquered Increased trade and built roadsMoney economy using coinsBelieved in a Single GodLost to the Greeks in 480 BC
Meanwhile, those Phoenicians ...
Phoenicians
A small state with own contributions:Sailors around present day Mediterra-
nean, including Lebanon and SyriaManufacturing and trade gurus who set
up coloniesCreated the basis for the alphabet we
use today!Spread middle east civilization around
Mediterranean
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