Mesopotamia G.R.A.P.E.S. TCAP Review
G.= Geography of Mesopotamia
• Southwest Asia
• Present Day- Southern Iraq
• Called the Cradle of Civilization and the Fertile Crescent
• Mesopotamia means the land between 2 rivers
• Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
• Unpredictable Flooding= silt, fertile soil for the FIRST farming community to become a civilization.
• Sumer is an area with many city-states (Ur, Uruk, Eridu)
R= Religion in Mesopotamia
• Polytheistic= many gods and goddesses
• Believed in rain/wind gods
• Each city-state claimed its own main god
• Believed gods lived in the very top of the ziggurats
A= Achievements in Mesopotamia
• 1st Irrigation-to help bring water to crops (dams, dikes, canals)
• Ziggurats- used for worship of gods
• large city walls for protection
• 1st written laws- Hammurabi's Code ("eye for an eye")
• 1st written language- Cuneiform (wedge shaped stylus on clay)-keep records of trade
Achievements con'd
• Epic of Gilgamesh- epic is a long story poem about a hero
• Invented the wheel, wheeled carts, chariots, sailboat, wooden plow, bronze, Number system based on 60 (60 sec. in a min.; 60 mins. in an hour, 360 degrees in a circle), followed a 7 day week, sundial
P= Politics in Mesopotamia
• Government= Monarchy (king/ queen)
• Empire= many lands under 1 ruler
• Sargon conquers and unites Akkad and Sumer into the 1st Empire
• Later- Hammurabi conquers Mesopotamia and names the capital Babylon and builds the Babylonian Empire; Hammurabi's Code- 1st written laws!
Politics con'd
• Assyrian Empire- conquers Mesopotamia area; strong army- chariots, horses, food soldiers; tribute (forced payments from conquered people); Iron Weapons (learned from Hittites); split empire into provinces; built roads; 1st Library at Nineveh; conquered by Chaldeans
• Chaldean Empire- Nebechadnezzar (ruler); capital is Babylon; huge Ziggurat with gold top-shined for miles; Hanging Gardens (7 Wonders of Ancient World)- kings palace; God-Marduk; built canals
• Fall of Mesopotamian Empires= weak rulers, poor harvests; Persians attacked and took over, allowed them to keep their culture!
E=Economics in Mesopotamia
• Trade Routes- Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
• Caravans-traveling groups for trade (camels)
• Barter (trade without money) was used
• Money was also mentioned in Hammurabi's code
• Agriculture- wheat, barley, dates, sheep, pigs, goats.
• Traded to get metal, timber, red and blue stones
S= Social Structure in Mesopotamia
• Men farmed or learned a skilled trade from a father
• Boys went to school and generally learned the job of the father
• Girls didn't go to school, learned to weave cloth, take care of house and children
• Women at home teaching girls women duties
• Social Hierarchy (social classes)- people are born into a class
• King (gods gave power to kings)
• Priests, warriors, gov't officials
• Merchants, farmers, fishers, artisans
• Slaves- captured in war, criminals, or couldn't pay debts