Ancient Mesopotamia

Cornell Note Taking

Cornell Note Taking

Gilgamesh The King

Supreme over other kings, lordly in appearance, he is the hero. He walks out in front, the leader, and walks at the rear, trusted by his companions. Mighty net, protector of his people, raging flood wave who destroys even walls of stone! Two thirds of him is god, one third of him is human. Gilgamesh befriends a wild man, Enkidu, and goes on a journey seeking eternal life.

Aspects of a Civilization

1. Stable Food Supply

Farming is required

More food supports larger populations

Invention: The Plow

Modern Examples:

Farms

Stores

2. Social StructureDifferent jobs and

social levels

Your status affects your quality of life

Slavery appears in the lowest classes

Modern Examples:

Upper Class

Family Roles

3. GovernmentMakes life orderly

Protects and guides the people

Creates and enforces laws

Modern Examples:

Democracy

King/Queen

4. Religion/Philosophy

A set of beliefs

A common way of life

Values

Modern Examples:

Buddhism

Human Rights

5. Developed Culture

Art forms such as music, art, architecture, & literature

Proof of advanced thinking strategies

Modern Examples:

Picasso

Beatles

6. TechnologyPractical tools and

inventions

Creations to make life easier

Wheel created in 3500 B.C.E.

Modern Examples:

Internet

Car

7. WritingCreated from a more

basic form: Pictographs

Detailed written language

Used to record information about society

Modern Examples:

Phonetic Alphabet

Character Writing

Mesopotamia

• Modern day Iraq• Meso (Greek) =

middle• Potamos (Greek) =

river• “The land between

the rivers”

Fertile Crescent

• Green Strip of Land• From Persian Gulf to

Mediterranean Sea• Rich soil good for

farming• First cities appear

here

Akkadian EmpireYears: 2300 B.C.E. – 2100

B.C.E.

Main Ruler: Sargon

First ever empire (multiple people groups ruled by one person)

Strong army

Broke down city walls

Replaced leaders with loyal followers

Required payment (tribute)

Babylonian Empire

Years: 1800 B.C.E. – 1500 B.C.E.

Main Ruler: Hammurabi

The Code of Hammurabi - one set of laws for everyone

United under the god Marduk

The Empire was well maintained

Assyrian EmpireYears: 911 B.C.E. – 612 B.C.E.Main Leader: Tiglath Pileser IIIThe King obeyed the godsTreated conquered people

harshlyAqueducts brought water to

the cityLarge Empire from Egypt to the

Persian GulfThe army was stretched out

too thinly and was defeated

Neo-Babylonian Empire

Years: 605 B.C.E. – 562 B.C.E.Main Leader: Nebuchadnezzar

IICapital: BabylonBuilt 2 walls (an outer and

inner wall)Created the sundial Built the hanging gardens of

Babylon