Modern Mesopotamia Modern Mesopotamia

MesopotamiaMesopotamia The oldest of all The oldest of all

civilizationscivilizations Land between the two Land between the two

rivers (The Tigris and rivers (The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers)Euphrates Rivers)

BUT = land between the BUT = land between the rivers was inhospitable. rivers was inhospitable. Sudden flooding could Sudden flooding could cause death.cause death.

It was in this area that It was in this area that humans first gave up their humans first gave up their nomadic lifestyle and nomadic lifestyle and settled down into settled down into permanent settlements.permanent settlements.

MesopotamiaMesopotamia It stretches It stretches

northwest from northwest from the Persian gulf the Persian gulf to Baghdadto Baghdad

North (Sumer)North (Sumer)

South (Akkad)South (Akkad)

The two regions The two regions are also known are also known as Babyloniaas Babylonia

Geography of MesopotamiaGeography of Mesopotamia

Land: Land: Alluvial PlainAlluvial Plain Low rainfallLow rainfall Climate is hot and Climate is hot and

drydry No mineralsNo minerals No trees/stone for No trees/stone for

buildingbuilding Why would anyone Why would anyone

live here?live here?

Mesopotamia “The People”Mesopotamia “The People”

Mesopotamian Mesopotamian civilization was the civilization was the result of the mixture result of the mixture of 3 distinct groupsof 3 distinct groups

1. Summerians – 1. Summerians – developed writing, developed writing, language, first citieslanguage, first cities

2. Assyrians – 2. Assyrians – FightersFighters

Babylonians – scribe, Babylonians – scribe, Hummarabi lawsHummarabi laws

LeveesLevees

Occur along the banks Occur along the banks of the Euphratesof the Euphrates

Natural levees are the Natural levees are the result of thousands of result of thousands of years of flooding years of flooding which deposits which deposits sediment along the sediment along the bankbank

These levees are These levees are highest next to the highest next to the river and slope gently river and slope gently awayaway

Sumer (Sumar)Sumer (Sumar)

Sumerian Society 2900-Sumerian Society 2900-2400 BC2400 BC

The Sumerians were the first The Sumerians were the first civilization to occupy the civilization to occupy the Tigris-Euphrates river valley Tigris-Euphrates river valley called the Mesopotamia called the Mesopotamia

Each of their separate city-Each of their separate city-states had its own ziggurat, states had its own ziggurat, which contained which contained governmental offices as well governmental offices as well as a temple. The temple was as a temple. The temple was located on the highest located on the highest platform (now eroded in the platform (now eroded in the example). example).

Since the Mesopotamia had Since the Mesopotamia had no geographical barriers, it no geographical barriers, it was open to attack from other was open to attack from other developing civilizations. Thus, developing civilizations. Thus, its history is one of continual its history is one of continual invasions. With each invasions. With each successive ruler, new artistic successive ruler, new artistic influences were absorbed.influences were absorbed.

The AssyriansThe Assyrians When the Assyrians conquered the When the Assyrians conquered the

Babylonians in the 9th century Babylonians in the 9th century B.C.E., they erected citadels to B.C.E., they erected citadels to protect their temples and palaces protect their temples and palaces from further invasions. from further invasions.

On the huge stone walls were On the huge stone walls were carvings depiting winged deities, carvings depiting winged deities, which was emblematic of the power which was emblematic of the power of their king. At the entrance to the of their king. At the entrance to the citadel of Nimrud were a pair of citadel of Nimrud were a pair of winged bulls.winged bulls.

The face is believed to be a portrait The face is believed to be a portrait of the king, Ashurnasirpal II. His cap of the king, Ashurnasirpal II. His cap indicates his divine status. indicates his divine status.

There is an interesting peculiarity There is an interesting peculiarity about this statue: They felt it was about this statue: They felt it was necessary that both front legs were necessary that both front legs were visible on approaching it, but also visible on approaching it, but also wanted it to appear as if it was wanted it to appear as if it was walking when viewed from the side. walking when viewed from the side. This problem permitted them to This problem permitted them to make a compromise by giving the make a compromise by giving the creature 5 legs. creature 5 legs.

WritingWriting

Mesopotamians Mesopotamians invented writing invented writing around 3500 BC. around 3500 BC. Their writing was Their writing was called cuneiform. It called cuneiform. It was done by pressing was done by pressing a stylus into soft clay.a stylus into soft clay.

It represented a shift It represented a shift from pictograms to from pictograms to ideograms. The ideograms. The symbols represented symbols represented ideasideas

The Babylonian EmpireThe Babylonian Empire

The BabyloniansThe Babylonians Hammurabi reigned Hammurabi reigned

Mesopotamia between 1792 Mesopotamia between 1792 and 1750 B.C.E. His code of and 1750 B.C.E. His code of laws was probably the first laws was probably the first written rule of conduct written rule of conduct governing property rights, governing property rights, financial transactions, and financial transactions, and domestic matters.domestic matters.

At the top of the stele, At the top of the stele, Hammurabi is shown, receiving Hammurabi is shown, receiving divine inspiration from the sun-divine inspiration from the sun-god - who sits on his heavenly god - who sits on his heavenly throne, with light rays throne, with light rays radiating off of his shoulders. radiating off of his shoulders. Below this is a complex Below this is a complex inscription of laws. Its entire inscription of laws. Its entire height is 7'4", though only the height is 7'4", though only the top portion is pictured heretop portion is pictured here

Lasting impact was his law Lasting impact was his law code: where the “eye for an code: where the “eye for an eye” concept comes from here.eye” concept comes from here.