Cultural Analysis of

Mesopotamia

SPRITE IT!!!!

Geography1. Land between Two

RiversTigris and Euphrates

2. Fertile Crescent

3. Hazardous, unpredictable flooding, alluvial plain, desert

4. Modern day Iraq

5. Lack natural resources

Social Aspects

1. Sumerians and Semites (Language)1. BlendingAssimilation, little ethnic conflict,

Akkadian language dominates, intermarriage

2. Village Life companionship, protection, marriage potential, help during harvests

3. Urban and village dependency city-states4. Three classes: free landowning, dependent

farmers, slaves5. Women no political role, lost standing due

to agri., men gain power in household, prostitutes, were able to own property

Political Aspects1. Priests held both political and religious power2. Lugal “big man”, increased frequency in warfare

over resources, chosen by community, backing of army, not hereditary, earthly rep. of God

3. Sargonunited cities under one king, centralized gov’t, standardized weight, taxes, labor projects etc.

4. Hammurabi aggressive military campaigns, law code

5. Bureaucracy, central gov’t

Religious Aspects1. At the mercy of the Gods hazardous flooding and

unpredictable nature of rivers, must appease Gods2. Anthropomorphic lust, anger, hate3. Amulets feared afterlife4. Ziggurats mud-brick pyramid like structures,

house deities, centrally located, residence of Gods5. Priestsowned land, controlled shrine, wealthy,

powerful, rituals,

Ziggurat

Mesopotamian Gods

Technological Aspects

1. Dependant on irrigation, dams, canals2. Mud-bricks city-walls 8. Base number

system3. Cuneiform 9. Astronomy4. Bronze5. Pottery6. Horse-drawn chariots7. Boats, barges, carts

Economic Aspects1. Agricultural based-villages provided

surplus and cities supplied markets for trade

2. Cities control land3. Slavery existed but not fundamental

to economy4. Record keeping property and trade

Think about…• How did the Mesopotamians interact with their

environment and how did this shape their society?

• Why did they need codified law in Mesopotamia?• Read Hammurabi’s code and answer the

questions in complete sentences.• What does this law code reveal about what is

valued in Mesopotamian society?