MesopotamiaWhat Artifacts Tell Us of this

Complex Society

Kit Bernal

WAITI DON’T KNOW WHERE MESOPOTAMIA IS

like, is that even a place

Mesopotamia was located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (modern day Iraq). It was a culturally thriving society with many empires, but lasted approximately from 6000 bce to 700s ce

it’s just there why hello

consider yourself enlightened

Mesopotamia, being one of the first complex societies, has left behind a wealth of artifacts in various forms which, taken together, encompass all of the AP World History themes and sub-themes.

The Five Themes

1. Interaction between

humans and the

environment

2. Development of

Culture

3. Development of

Economic Systems

4. State-building,

Expansion, and

Conflict

5. Development of

Social Structures

• Demography and disease• Migration• Settlements

• Religions• Ideologies• The Arts• Scientific Development

• Agriculture• Trade• Labour Systems• Industrialisation

• Governments• Empires• Nations• Wars

• Gender roles• Familial roles• Ethnic, social, and economic

constructions

Interaction Between Humans and the Environmentin Ancient Mesopotamia

historum.com

UrukA Babylonian city-state, Uruk was part of the setting for the Mesopotamian literary epic (of Gilgamesh). It is thought to have influenced most of eastern architecture, as shown by the fragmented wall here.This is a definitive settlement and one of the earliest archaeologically accessible cities.

Theme One: Patterns of Settlement

Mesopotamians by nature interacted with their environment, located as they were between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Mesopotamians also migrated throughout the region and built distinctive permanent settlements (Theme One subthemes).

There were, however, no disease epidemics of any sort.

The HittitesThe Hittites were a migrating ethnic group from Indo-Europe that built an empire in Southwest Asia. Depicted here in Egyptian art (the Hittites were prisoners of Ramses the III). Their empire began about 1300 bce, but was overthrown by civil war.

Theme One: Migration; Demography

Development and Interaction of Culturein Ancient Mesopotamia

The Mesopotamian culture was most prominent through1. The Epic of Gilgamesh, which also gave light to several Mesopotamian

Ideologies and featured a surprising amount of carnage2. The ziggurat, a religious, pyramid-esque temple3. Inventing writing and the alphabet

if you can read this, thank the mesopotamians

ZigguratsElaborately built pyramids with many steps and columns, ziggurats were giant temples to Mesopotamian gods. Among the gods worshipped were goddesses of fertility, gods of military prowess, and various gods of things in nature. The Mesopotamians were (reasonably) very concerned with agriculture and their gods reflect that, many standing for fertility, the sun, moon, or earth, or weather patterns.

Theme Two: Religion; Architecture

The Epic of GilgameshThe Epic of Gilgamesh focused on the character Gilgamesh and his quest for immortality. It placed high value on being moral, fair, loyal, and family-oriented. It also revealed that the Mesopotamians believed immortality foolish and unattainable and the afterlife an unfavourable place.

Theme Two: Ideologies; Arts

The AlphabetMesopotamia invented two alphabets.

Cuneiform: in use from the 30th century bce, most commonly used for trade transactions, and was primarily linear figures and triangles.

Replaced by the Phoenician alphabet (pictured); this featured a symbol for phonetic sounds and letters.

Theme Two: Science and Technology

Development of Economic Systemsin Ancient Mesopotamia

Though Mesopotamia was first primarily agricultural, specialization occurred and left openings for other jobs.

Mesopotamians frequently traded with neighbours as far north as the Mediterranean and were adept at bronze metallurgy.

AgricultureMesopotamians were advanced in agriculture because of their location in the fertile crescent. This illustration demonstrates the use of irrigation; farmers also used plows and oxen.

Theme Three: Agriculture

Job SpecialisationMany jobs were available to Mesopotamians, including metallurgist. Shown are three bronze weapons made by a craftsmen. Other non-labour oriented jobs included artisan, law officer, tradesmen and sailor.

Theme Three: Labour systems

Mesopotamian TradeMesopotamia was rather lacking in raw materials so they required trade. From Mesopotamia, traders would take textiles and grains in exchange for precious metals, timber, and foods. They traded primarily with the Indus River Valley, although trade networks stretched as far as China.

Theme Three: Trade Networks

State-building and Conquestin Ancient Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia was constantly getting conquered by one group or another, and as such had many empires.

These empires varied in rule and practice but almost always ended by a) hostile takeoverb) civil warc) all of the above

Sargon of AkkadOne of the first Mesopotamian conquerors, Sargon came to power in Kish, then captured Uruk and Sumer. After numerous battles, he controlled the entire fertile crescent. Sargon’s empires revolted after his death.

Theme Four: Empires

HammurabiHammurabi was an emperor of Babylon almost 1000 years after Sargon. His reign was fairly peaceful and he is most famous for his civil works and code of laws, which followed the principles of retaliation. The Babylonian empire was invaded after his death.Theme Four: Government; Empires

The AssyriansThe Assyrians controlled all of Mesopotamia and most of Syria,

Palestine, and Egypt at the height of their empire. This was largely in part of their formidable army, which was based on standardised units and had officers that were promote based on ability. As most other Mesopotamian armies promoted officers based on lineage or

social status, the Assyrians conquered them easily. Despite building the cities of Assur and Nineveh, the Assyrians were unpopular rulers due to their brutality and taxation, and were

overthrown by a mix of invaders and civil unrest.Theme Four: Wars; Empires

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Social Structuresin Ancient Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia had a fairly straightforward social hierarchy in place. It was also an oppressive patriarchy.

Social Hierarchy of Mesopotamia

KingsKings were often considered ambassadors of deities or demigods

Priests: essential for communicating with the gods

Soldiers: law officers and defenders

Working ClassFarmers, teachers, labourers,craftsmen: essential to society but not possessing great power

Various Mesopotamian carvings show social structures in action. Here, a king governs his subjects, three men spinning thread, and a group of Sauron’s slave labourers.

Slaves, Peasants, and WomenTreated unfairly and having little to no say in society