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Mesopotamia

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Mesopotamia

EuphratesTigris

Empires / Cities

Sumer

EriduKishUrukUr

LagashNippurNgirsu

Elam

Susa

Akkadian Empire

AkkadMari

Amorites

IsinLarsa

a!ylonia

Ba!"on#ha"dea

Assyria

AssurNimrud
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#column-onehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#column-onehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#searchInputhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphrateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphrateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigrishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigrishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eriduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eriduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kish_(Sumer)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urukhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urukhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urukhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagashhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngirsuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngirsuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akkadian_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akkadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akkadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari,_Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari,_Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoritehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larsahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larsahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babyloniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaldeahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaldeahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimrudhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:IshtarLionIconFacingLeft.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#searchInputhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphrateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigrishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eriduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kish_(Sumer)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urukhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagashhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngirsuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akkadian_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akkadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari,_Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoritehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larsahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babyloniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaldeahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimrudhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#column-one


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; *eograph!

< Language and 0riting

o Science and techno"og!

o >-3 Astronom!

o >-6 Mathematics

o >-; Medicine

o >-< /echno"og!

? 1e"igion

= +o"ida!s, easts, and estiva"s

o =-3 rimar! gods and goddesses

o =-6 Buria"s

@ #u"ture

o @-3 Music, songs and instruments

o

@-6 *ameso @-; ami"! "i(e

Econom!

3 Agricu"ture

33 *overnment

o 33-3 Kings

o 33-6 o0er

o 33-; Car(are

o 33-< La0s

36 Architecture

o 36-3 +ouses

o 36-6 /he a"ace

o 36-; Diggurats
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Geographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Language_and_writinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Literature_and_mythologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Science_and_technologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Science_and_technologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Astronomyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Mathematicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Medicinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Technologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Holidays.2C_Feasts.2C_and_Festivalshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Primary_gods_and_goddesseshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Burialshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Music.2C_songs_and_instrumentshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Gameshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Family_lifehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Economyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Agriculturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Governmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Kingshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Warfarehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Lawshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Houseshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#The_Palacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Zigguratshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Geographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Language_and_writinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Literature_and_mythologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Science_and_technologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Astronomyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Mathematicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Medicinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Technologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Holidays.2C_Feasts.2C_and_Festivalshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Primary_gods_and_goddesseshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Burialshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Music.2C_songs_and_instrumentshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Gameshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Family_lifehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Economyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Agriculturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Governmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Kingshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Warfarehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Lawshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Houseshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#The_Palacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Ziggurats


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3; 1e(erences

o 3;-3 Notes

o 3;-6 Bi"iograph!

o 3;-; Eterna" "inks

Etymology

/he regiona" topon!m Mesopotamia & F meso &GH' midd"e and potamia F OGP river, "itera""! means .et0een t0o rivers.' 0as coined in the +e""enisticperiod 0ithout an!de(initeoundaries, to re(er to a road geographica"area and proa"! used ! the Se"eucids-/he term biritum/birit narimcorresponded to a simi"ar geographica" concept and coined at thetime o( the Aramaici8ationo( the region, in the 3th centur! B#E-2>4It is ho0ever 0ide"!accepted that ear"! Mesopotamian societies simp"! re(erred to the entire a""uviumas kalaminSumerian &"it- ."and.'- More recent"! terms "ike .*reater Mesopotamia. or .S!ro%Mesopotamia. have een adopted to re(er to 0ider geographies corresponding to the NearEast or Midd"e East- /he "ater euphemisms are Eurocentricterms attriuted to the region inthe midst o( various 3th centur! Cestern encroachments-2?4

"istory

Main article:Timeline of Ancient Mesopotamia

Qvervie0 map o( ancient Mesopotamia

/he histor! o( Mesopotamia egins 0ith the emergence o( uran societies in northern Ira5 in> B#E, and ends 0ith either the arriva" o( the Achaemenid Empirein the ?th centur!

B#E, 0hen Mesopotamia egan eing co"oni8ed ! (oreign po0ers, or 0ith the arriva" o( theIs"amic #a"iphate,0hen the region came to e kno0n as Ira5-

A cu"tura" continuit! and spatia" homogeneit! (or this entire historica" geograph! &.the *reat/radition.' is popu"ar"! assumed, though the assumption is pro"ematic- Mesopotamia housedsome o( the 0or"dRs most ancient states 0ith high"! deve"oped socia" comp"eit!- /he region0as (amous as one o( the (our riverinecivi"i8ations 0here 0riting0as (irst invented, a"ong0ith theNi"eva""e! in Eg!pt, the Indus a""e! in theIndian sucontinentand Te""o0 1iverva""e! in#hina&A"though 0riting is a"so kno0n to have arisen independent"! inMesoamerica'-

Mesopotamia housed historica""! important cities such as Uruk,Nippur,Nineveh, andBa!"onas 0e"" as maor territoria" states such as the cit! o( Ma%ases"u, Akkadiankingdom,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Noteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Bibliographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographicalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramaichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alluviumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocentrismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocentrismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Ancient_Mesopotamiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Ancient_Mesopotamiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenid_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliphatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliphatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urukhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninevehhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akkadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Mesopotamia.PNGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Mesopotamia.PNGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Noteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#Bibliographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographicalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramaichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alluviumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocentrismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Ancient_Mesopotamiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenid_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliphatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urukhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninevehhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akkad


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/hird $!nast! o( Ur,andAss!rianempire- Some o( the important historica" Mesopotamian"eaders 0ere Ur%Nammu&king o( Ur', Sargon&0ho esta"ished the Akkadian Kingdom',+ammurai&0ho esta"ished the Q"d Ba!"onian state', and /ig"ath%i"eser I&0hoesta"ished the Ass!rian Empire'-

.Ancient Mesopotamia. egins in the "ate?th mi""ennium B#,and ends 0ith either the rise o(theAchaemenidersiansin the ?th centur! B#E or theIs"amic con5uest o( ersianMesopotamia in the =th centur! #E- /his "ong period ma! e divided as (o""o0s:

/rends in Mesopotamian +istor! re%otter!Neo"ithic:

o Jarmo&ca- = B#E%V B#E'

otter! Neo"ithic:

o +assuna&ca- ? B#E%V B#E', Samarra&ca- >> B#E%


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Iron Age

o Neo%+ittiteor S!ro%+ittite regiona" states &33thW=th c- B#E'

o Neo%Ass!rian Empire&3th to =th c- B#E'

o Neo%Ba!"onian Empire&=th to ?th c- B#E'

#"assica" Anti5uit!

o Achaemenid Ass!ria&?th to


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ephemera", and "oca"ism has (ragmented po0er into tria" or sma""er regiona" units-2=4/hesetrends have continued to the present da! in Ira5-

$anguage and &riting

/he ear"iest "anguage0ritten in Mesopotamia 0as Sumerian, an agg"utinative"anguageiso"ate-Scho"ars agree that other "anguages 0ere a"so spoken in ear"! Mesopotamia a"ong0ith Sumerian- Later a Semitic "anguage, Akkadian, came to e the dominant "anguage,a"though Sumerian 0as retained (or administration,re"igious,"iterar!, andscienti(icpurposes-$i((erent varieties o( Akkadian 0ere used unti" the end o( the Neo%Ba!"onian period- /henAramaic,0hich had a"read! ecome common in Mesopotamia, ecame the o((icia" provincia"administration "anguage o( the Achaemenidersian Empire- Akkadian (e"" into disuse, ut

oth it and Sumerian 0ere sti"" used in temp"es(or some centuries-

In Ear"! Mesopotamia&around mid


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is a composite product, and it is proa"e that some o( the stories are arti(icia""! attached tothe centra" (igure-

'hilosophy

Further information:Babylonian literature: hilosophy

/he origins o(phi"osoph!can e traced ack to ear"! Mesopotamian 0isdom, 0hichemodied certain phi"osophies o( "i(e, particu"ar"! ethics, in the (orms o( dia"ectic,dia"ogs,epic poetr!,(o"k"ore,h!mns,"!rics,prose,andprovers- Ba!"onian reasoningand rationa"it!deve"oped e!ondempirica"oservation-2@4

/he ear"iest (orm o("ogic0as deve"oped ! the Ba!"onians, nota"! in the rigorousnonergodicnature o( theirsocia" s!stems- Ba!"onian thought0as aiomaticand iscompara"e to the .ordinar! "ogic. descried ! John Ma!nard Ke!nes-Ba!"onian thought0as a"so ased on anopen%s!stemsonto"og!0hich is compati"e 0ith ergodicaioms-24Logic 0as emp"o!ed to some etent in Ba!"onian astronom!and medicine-

Ba!"onian thought had a considera"e in("uence on ear"! *reek phi"osoph!and +e""enisticphi"osoph!-In particu"ar, the Ba!"onian tet!ialog of essimismcontains simi"arities to theagonisticthought o( thesophists, the +erac"iteandoctrine o( contrasts, and the dia"ecticanddia"ogs o("ato, as 0e"" as a precursor to themaieuticSocratic methodo( Socrates-234/hehoenicianphi"osopher /ha"esis a"so

Science and technology

Astronomy

Main article:Babylonian astronomy

Further information:Babylonian astrologyandBabylonian calendar

/he Ba!"onian astronomers 0ere ver! interested in stud!ing the stars and sk!, and mostcou"d a"read! predict ec"ipses and so"stices- eop"e thought that ever!thing had some purposein astronom!- Most o( these re"ated to re"igion and omens- Mesopotamian astronomers0orked out a 36 month ca"endar ased on the c!c"es o( the moon- /he! divided the !ear intot0o seasons: summer and 0inter- /he origins o( astronom! as 0e"" as astro"og!date (rom thistime-

$uring the @th and =th centuries B#, Ba!"onian astronomers deve"oped a ne0 approach toastronom!- /he! egan stud!ingphi"osoph!dea"ing 0ith the idea" nature o( the ear"! universeand egan emp"o!ing an interna" "ogic0ithin their predictive p"anetar! s!stems- /his 0as animportant contriution to astronom! and thephi"osoph! o( scienceand some scho"ars havethus re(erred to this ne0 approach as the (irst scientific re(olution-2334/his ne0 approach toastronom! 0as adopted and (urther deve"oped in *reek and +e""enistic astronom!-

In Se"eucidandarthiantimes, the astronomica" reports 0ere o( a thorough"! scienti(iccharacterX ho0 much ear"ier their advanced kno0"edge and methods 0ere deve"oped is

uncertain- /he Ba!"onian deve"opment o( methods (or predicting the motions o( the p"anetsis considered to e a maor episode in thehistor! o( astronom!-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_literature#Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialectichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialoghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialoghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_poetryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folklorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folklorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hymnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hymnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyricshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyricshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proverbhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proverbhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reasoninghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationalityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empiricismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empiricismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonergodichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_structurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_structurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoughthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axiomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Maynard_Keyneshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Maynard_Keyneshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_system_(systems_theory)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_system_(systems_theory)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergodichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-Sheila-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_astronomyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_astronomyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agonisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agonisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraclitushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialectichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maieuticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maieuticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_methodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoeniciahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoeniciahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_astronomyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_astronomyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_astrologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_astrologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_sciencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-Brown-10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucid_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucid_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Astronomy#Mesopotamiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Astronomy#Mesopotamiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_literature#Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialectichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialoghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_poetryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folklorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hymnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyricshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proverbhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reasoninghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationalityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empiricismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonergodichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_structurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoughthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axiomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Maynard_Keyneshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_system_(systems_theory)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergodichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-Sheila-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_astronomyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agonisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraclitushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialectichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maieuticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_methodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoeniciahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_astronomyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_astrologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_astrologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_sciencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-Brown-10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucid_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Astronomy#Mesopotamia


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/he on"! Ba!"onian astronomer kno0n to have supported ahe"iocentricmode" o( p"anetar!motion 0asSe"eucus o( Se"eucia&- 3 B#'-236423;423


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possi"e to determine the patientRs disease,its aetio"og! and (uture deve"opment, and thechances o( the patientRs recover!-23=4

Esagi"%kin%ap"i discovered a variet! o( i""nessesand diseases and descried their s!mptoms inhis!iagnostic "andboo#- /hese inc"ude the s!mptoms (or man! varieties o(epi"eps!and

re"atedai"mentsa"ong 0ith their diagnosis and prognosis-264

Technology

Mesopotamian peop"e invented man! techno"ogies- /he #rank%#onnecting 1od S!stem in a#ontinuous"! 1otating Machine4- Qther Mesopotamian inventions inc"ude meta"0orking,copper%0orking,g"assmaking,"ampmaking,teti"e 0eaving, ("ood contro", 0ater storage, as0e"" asirrigation-

/he! 0ere a"so one o( the (irstBron8e agepeop"e in the 0or"d- Ear"! on the! used copper,ron8eand go"d,and "ater the! usediron- a"aces 0ere decorated 0ith hundreds o( ki"ogramso( these ver! epensive meta"s- A"so, copper, ron8e, and iron 0ere used (or armoras 0e"" as(or di((erent 0eapons such as s0ords, daggers,spears,andmaces-

/he ear"iest t!pe o(pump0as theArchimedes scre0, (irst used ! Sennacheri, King o(Ass!ria, (or the 0ater s!stemsat the +anging *ardens o( Ba!"onandNinevehin the =thcentur! B#, and "ater descried in more detai" ! Archimedesin the ;rd centur! B#-2634Laterduring the arthianor Sassanidperiods, the Baghdad Batter!, 0hich ma! have een the (irst

atteries, 0ere created in Mesopotamia-2664

)eligion

Mesopotamian re"igion0as the (irst to e recorded- Mesopotamians e"ieved that the 0or"d0as a ("at disc, surrounded ! a huge, ho"ed space, and aove that, heaven- /he! a"so e"ievedthat 0ater 0as ever!0here, the top, ottom and sides, and that the universe0as orn (rom thisenormous sea- In addition, Mesopotamian re"igion 0aspo"!theistic-

A"though thee"ie(sdescried aove 0ere he"d in common among Mesopotamians, there0ere a"so regiona" variations- /he Sumerian 0ord (or universe is an%ki, 0hich re(ers to thegod An and the goddess Ki- /heir son 0as En"i", the air god- /he! e"ieved that En"i" 0as themost po0er(u" god- +e 0as the chie( god o( theantheon, as the *reeks had Deusand the1omans hadJupiter- /he Sumerians a"so posedphi"osophica"5uestions, such as: Cho are0eV, Chere are 0eV, +o0 did 0e get hereV- /he! attriuted ans0ers to these 5uestions toep"anations provided ! their gods-

"olidays, Feasts, and Festi(als

Ancient Mesopotamians had ceremonies each month- /he theme o( the ritua"s and (estiva"s(or each month is determined ! si important (actors:

3' /he phase o( the MoonX

0aing Moon aundance and gro0thX0aning Moon dec"ine, conservation, and (estiva"s o( the Under0or"dX
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diseasehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diseasehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-Stol-99-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illnesshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epilepsyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epilepsyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ailmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ailmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metalworkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copperhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamp_(fixture)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamp_(fixture)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copperhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronzehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swordhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daggerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daggerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spearhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spearhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mace_(club)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mace_(club)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedes_screwhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedes_screwhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sennacheribhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_water_systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanging_Gardens_of_Babylonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninevehhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninevehhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassanid_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baghdad_Batteryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_(electricity)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-BBC-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytheistichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beliefhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheon_(gods)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheon_(gods)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter_(mythology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter_(mythology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diseasehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-Stol-99-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illnesshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epilepsyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ailmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metalworkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copperhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamp_(fixture)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copperhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronzehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swordhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daggerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spearhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mace_(club)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedes_screwhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sennacheribhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_water_systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanging_Gardens_of_Babylonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninevehhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassanid_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baghdad_Batteryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_(electricity)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-BBC-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytheistichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beliefhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheon_(gods)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter_(mythology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon


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6' the phase o( the annua" agricu"tura" c!c"eX;' e5uinocesand so"sticeso( the so"ar !earX


12/18

This section does notciteany references or sources*"ease he"p improve this section! adding citations tore"ia"e sources- Unveri(ia"emateria" ma! echa""enged and removed- $%ctober &''()

+undreds o(graveshave een ecavated in parts o( Mesopotamia, revea"ing in(ormation

aout Mesopotamianuria"haits- In the cit! o( Ur, most peop"e 0ere uried in (ami"! gravesunder their houses &as in #ata"hu!uk', a"ong 0ith some possessions- A (e0 have een (ound0rapped in mats andcarpets- $eceased chi"dren 0ere put in ig .ars. 0hich 0ere p"aced inthe (ami"! chape"-Qther remains have een (ound uried in common cit! grave!ards- 3=graves have een (ound 0ith ver! precious oects in them X it is assumed that these 0erero!a" graves-

Culture

Music, songs and instruments

Some songs 0ere 0ritten (or the gods ut man! 0ere 0ritten to descrie important events-A"though music and songs amused kings,the! 0ere a"so eno!ed ! ordinar! peop"e 0ho"iked to sing and dance in their homes or in the marketp"aces- Songs 0ere sung to chi"dren0ho passed them on to their chi"dren- /hus songs 0ere passed on through man!generationsunti" someone 0rote them do0n- /hese songs provided a means o( passing on through thecenturieshigh"! importantin(ormationaout historica" eventsthat 0ere eventua""! passed onto modern historians-

/heQud&Araic:]^_`' is a sma"", stringed musica" instrument- /he o"dest pictoria" record o(the Qud dates ack to theUrukperiod in Southern Mesopotamia over > !ears ago- It is on

a c!"inder sea"current"! housed at the British Museum and ac5uired ! $r- $omini5ue#o""on- /he imagedepicts a (ema"e crouching 0ith her instruments upon aoat, p"a!ingright%handed-/his instrument appears hundreds o( times throughout Mesopotamian histor!and again in ancient Eg!pt(rom the 3@th d!nast!on0ards in "ong% and short%neck varieties-

/he oud is regarded as aprecursorto the European"ute- Its name is derived (rom the Araic0ord ]^_` a"%b7d Rthe 0oodR, 0hich is proa"! the name o( the tree (rom 0hich the oud 0asmade- &/he Araic name, 0ith the de(inite artic"e, is the source o( the 0ord R"uteR-'

%ames

+unting0as popu"ar among Ass!rian kings- Boingand 0rest"ing(eature (re5uent"! in art,and some (orm o(po"o0as proa"! popu"ar, 0ith men sitting on the shou"ders o( other menrather than on horses-26;4/he! a"so p"a!ed maore, a game simi"ar to the sport rug!, ut

p"a!ed 0ith a a"" made o( 0ood- /he! a"so p"a!ed a oard game simi"ar to senetandackgammon, no0 kno0n as the .1o!a" *ame o( Ma%ases"u-.

Family life

'lease helpimpro(e this section!y e+panding it*urther in(ormation might e (oundon the ta"k page- $*une &''+)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiabilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiabilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mesopotamia&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reliable_sourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reliable_sourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiabilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiabilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grave_(burial)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grave_(burial)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burialhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalhuyukhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpetshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpetshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graveyardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketplacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centuryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centuryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oudhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oudhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urukhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urukhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylinder_sealhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-handedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-handedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynastyhttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Precursorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrestlinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backgammonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_Game_of_Ma-asesblu&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mesopotamia&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mesopotamia&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Mesopotamiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Wiki_letter_w.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Question_book-new.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiabilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mesopotamia&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reliable_sourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiabilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grave_(burial)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burialhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalhuyukhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpetshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graveyardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketplacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centuryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oudhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urukhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylinder_sealhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-handedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynastyhttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Precursorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrestlinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backgammonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_Game_of_Ma-asesblu&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mesopotamia&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Mesopotamia


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/he Ba!"onian marriage market, in the 1o!a" +o""o0a! #o""ege-

Mesopotamia across its histor! ecame more and more apatriarcha" societ!, in 0hich the men0ere (ar more po0er(u" than the 0omen- /horki"d Jacosen, and others have suggested that

ear"! Mesopotamian societ! 0as ru"ed ! a .counci" o( e"ders. in 0hich men and 0omen0ere e5ua""! represented, ut that over time, as the status o( 0omen (e"", that o( menincreased- As (or schoo"ing, on"! ro!a" o((spring and sons o( the rich and pro(essiona"s suchas scries, ph!sicians, temp"e administrators, and so on, 0ent to schoo"- Most o!s 0eretaught their (atherRs trade or 0ere apprenticed out to "earn a trade- 26


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%o(ernment

#ings

Further information: Sumerian #ing list,-ist of .ings of Babylon, and.ings ofAssyria

/he Mesopotamians e"ieved their kings and 5ueens 0ere descended (rom the #it! o( *ods,ut, un"ike the ancient Eg!ptians, the! never e"ieved their kings 0ere rea" gods- 26>4Mostkings named themse"ves king o( the universe or great king- Another common name 0asshepherd, as kings had to "ook a(ter their peop"e-

Nota"e Mesopotamian kings inc"ude:

Eannatumo(Lagash0ho (ounded the (irst &short%"ived' empire-

Sargono( Akkad0ho con5uered a"" o( Mesopotamia and created the (irst empire that out"ivedits (ounder-

+ammurai(ounded the (irstBa!"onianempire-

/ig"ath%i"eser III(ounded the neo%Ass!rianempire-

Neuchadne88ar0as the most po0er(u" king in the neo%Ba!"onianEmpire- +e 0as thoughtto e the son o( the god Nau- +e married the daughter o( #!aeres, so the Median and theBa!"oniand!nastieshad a (ami"ia" connection- Neuchadne88ar\s name means: Nao,

protect the cro0nf

Be"shede88ar 0as the "ast king o( Ba!"onia- +e 0as the son o( Naonidus 0hose 0i(e 0asNictoris, the daughter o(Neuchadne88ar-

'o&er

ChenAss!riagre0 into an empire, it 0as divided into sma""er parts, ca""edprovinces- Eacho( these 0ere named a(ter their main cities, "ike Nineveh, Samaria, $amascusand Arpad-/he! a"" had their o0ngovernor0ho had to make sure ever!one paid their taesX he had toca"" up so"diersto 0ar, and supp"! 0orkers0hen a temp"e0as ui"t- +e 0as a"so responsi"e(or the "a0s eing en(orced- In this 0a! it 0as easier to keep contro" o( an empire "ikeAss!ria- A"though Ba!"on 0as 5uite a sma"" statein the Sumerian, it gre0 tremendous"!throughout the time o(+ammuraiRs ru"e- +e 0as kno0n as the "a0 maker, and soonBa!"onecame one o( the main cities in Mesopotamia- It 0as "ater ca""ed Ba!"onia, 0hichmeant .the gate0a! o( the gods-. It a"so ecame one o( histor!Rs greatest centers o( "earning-

Warfare
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumerian_king_listhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumerian_king_listhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Kings_of_Babylonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_of_Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_of_Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepherdhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eannatumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagashhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagashhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akkadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammurabihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammurabihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiglath-Pileser_IIIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babyloniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babyloniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babyloniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samariahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damascushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arpadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soldierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Templehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammurabihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammurabihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammurabihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumerian_king_listhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Kings_of_Babylonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_of_Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_of_Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepherdhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eannatumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagashhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akkadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammurabihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiglath-Pileser_IIIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babyloniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babyloniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samariahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damascushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arpadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soldierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Templehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammurabihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon


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Ass!rian so"diers, (rom a p"ate in T" "IST%01 %F 2%ST3M! Braun Schneider &ca-3@?'-

As cit!%statesegan to gro0, their spheres o( in("uence over"apped, creating argumentset0een other cit!%states, especia""! over "and and cana"s- /hese arguments 0ere recorded inta"ets severa" hundreds o( !ears e(ore an! maor 0ar % the (irst recording o( a 0ar occurredaround ;6B#E ut 0as not common unti" aout 6>B#E- At this point 0ar(are 0asincorporated into the Mesopotamian po"itica" s!stem, 0here a neutra" cit! ma! act as anaritrator (or the t0o riva" cities- /his he"ped to (orm unions et0een cities, "eading toregiona" states-26?4Chen empires0ere created, the! 0ent to 0ar more 0ith (oreign countries-King Sargon, (or eamp"e con5uered a"" the cities o( Sumer, some cities in Mari, and then0ent to 0ar 0ith northernS!ria- Man! Ba!"onianpa"ace0a""s 0ere decorated 0ith the

pictures o( the success(u" (ights and the enem!, 0hether desperate"! escaping, or hiding

amongst reeds- A king in Sumer, *i"gamesh, 0as thought t0o%thirds god and on"! one thirdhuman- /here 0ere "egendar! stories and poems aout him, 0hich 0ere passed on (or man!generations, ecause he had man! adventures that 0ere e"ieved ver! important, and 0onman! 0ars and att"es-

$a&s

King +ammurai,as mentioned aove, 0as (amous (or his set o( "a0s, /he #ode o(+ammurai&created ca- 3=@ B#', 0hich is one o( the ear"iest sets o( "a0s (ound and one o(the est preserved eamp"es o( this t!pe o( document (rom ancient Mesopotamia- +e madeover 6 "a0s (or MesopotamiaFor more information, see"ammurabiand 2ode of

"ammurabi4See also:-a5s of shnunna,2ode of 3r67ammu4

Architecture

/he stud! o( ancient Mesopotamian architecture is ased on avai"a"e archaeo"ogica"evidence, pictoria" representation o( ui"dings and tets on ui"ding practices- Scho"ar"!"iterature usua""! concentrates on temp"es, pa"aces, cit! 0a""s and gates and other monumenta"

ui"dings, ut occasiona""! one (inds 0orks on residentia" architecture as 0e""-26=4Archaeo"ogica" sur(ace surve!s a"so a""o0ed (or the stud! o( uran (orm in ear"!Mesopotamian cities- Most nota"! kno0n architectura" remains (rom ear"! Mesopotamia are

the temp"e comp"ees at Uruk(rom the


16/18

/hird $!nast! o( Urremains atNippur&Sanctuar! o( En"i"' andUr&Sanctuar! o(Nanna',Midd"eBron8e Ageremains at S!rian%/urkish sites o( E"a, Mari, A"a"akh, A"eppoandKu"tepe, Late Bron8e Age pa"aces at Boga8ko!&+attusha', Ugarit, AshurandNu8i, Iron Age

pa"aces and temp"es atAss!rian&Ka"huYNimrud, Khorsaad,Nineveh', Ba!"onian&Ba!"on',Urartian&/ushpaYan Ka"esi, #avustepe, A!anis, Armavir, Ereuni, Bastam' and

Neo%+ittitesites &Karkamis,/e"" +a"a(,Karatepe'- +ouses are most"! kno0n (rom Q"dBa!"onian remains at Nippur and Ur- Among the tetua" sources on ui"ding constructionand associated ritua"s, *udeaRs c!"inders (rom the "ate ;rd mi""ennium are nota"e, as 0e"" asthe Ass!rian and Ba!"onian ro!a" inscriptions (rom the Iron Age-

"ouses

/he materia"s used to ui"d a Mesopotamian house 0ere the same as those used toda!: mudrick, mud p"aster and 0ooden doors, 0hich 0ere a"" natura""! avai"a"e around the cit!,26@4a"though 0ood cou"d not e natura""! made ver! 0e"" during the particu"ar time perioddescried- Most houses had a s5uare center room 0ith other rooms attached to it, ut a great

variation in the si8e and materia"s used to ui"d the houses suggest the! 0ere ui"t ! theinhaitants themse"ves 264- /he sma""est rooms ma! not have coincided 0ith the poorest

peop"eX in (act it cou"d e that the poorest peop"e ui"t houses out o( perisha"e materia"s suchas reeds on the outside o( the cit!, ut there is ver! "itt"e direct evidence (or this- 264

The 'alace

/hepa"aceso( the ear"! Mesopotamian e"ites 0ere "arge sca"e comp"ees, and 0ere o(ten"avish"! decorated- Ear"iest eamp"es are kno0n (rom the $i!a"a 1iverva""e! sites such asKha(aah and /e"" Asmar- /hese third mi""ennium B# pa"aces (unctioned as a "arge sca"e

socio%economic institutions, there(ore, a"ong 0ith residentia" and private (unction, the!housed cra(tsmen 0orkshops, (ood storehouses, ceremonia" court!ards, and o(ten associated0ith shrines- or instance, the so%ca""ed .giparu. &or *ig%ar%Ku in Sumerian' at Ur 0here theMoon godNannaRs priestesses resided 0as a maor comp"e 0ith mu"tip"e court!ards, anumer o( sanctuaries, uria" chamers (or dead priestesses, a ceremonia" an5uet ha"", etc- Asimi"ar"! comp"e eamp"e o( a Mesopotamian pa"ace 0as ecavated at Mariin S!ria, dating(rom the Q"d Ba!"onianperiod-

Ass!rian pa"aces o( the Iron Age, especia""! at Ka"huYNimrud, $ur SharrukinYKhorsaadandNinu0aYNineveh, have ecome (amous due to the pictoria" and tetua" narrative programs ontheir 0a""s, a"" carved on stone s"as kno0n as orthostats- /hese pictoria" programs either

incorporated cu"tic scenes or the narrative accounts o( the kingsR mi"itar! and civicaccomp"ishments- *ates and important passage0a!s 0ere ("anked 0ith massive stonescu"pture o( apotropaic m!tho"ogica" (igures- /he architectura" arrangement o( these Iron Age

pa"aces 0ere a"so organi8ed around "arge and sma"" court!ards- Usua""! the kingRs throneroomopened to a massive ceremonia" court!ard 0here important state counci"s met, stateceremonies per(ormed-

Massive amounts o( ivor! (urniture pieces 0ere (ound in man! Ass!rianpa"aces pointing outan intense trade re"ationship 0ith North S!rianNeo%+ittitestates at the time- /here is a"sogood evidence that ron8e repousse ands decorated the 0ooden gates-

iggurats
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Dynasty_of_Urhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Dynasty_of_Urhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin_(mythology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eblahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari,_Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alalakhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleppohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kultepehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogazkoyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugarithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuzihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalhuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khorsabadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninevehhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urartianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urartianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tushpahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armavir,_Armeniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erebunihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Hittitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carchemishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tell_Halafhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tell_Halafhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karatepehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karatepehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-27http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/282/5393/1442http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-28http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diyala_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nannahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nannahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nannahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari,_Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Babylonianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Babylonianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimrudhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khorsabadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninevehhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Hittitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Dynasty_of_Urhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin_(mythology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eblahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari,_Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alalakhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleppohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kultepehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogazkoyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugarithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuzihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalhuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khorsabadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninevehhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urartianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tushpahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armavir,_Armeniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erebunihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Hittitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carchemishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tell_Halafhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karatepehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-27http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/282/5393/1442http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia#cite_note-28http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diyala_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nannahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari,_Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Babylonianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimrudhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khorsabadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninevehhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Hittite


17/18

Diggerates&Akkadian8iqquratu(rom the ver 8a59ru' 0ere massive p!ramids (ound incertain Mesopotamian sanctuaries- A good eamp"e o( such structure 0as the temp"ededicated to Ea atEridu&/e"" Au Shahrain' ecavated ! uad Sa(ar and Seton L"o!d in3


18/18

armers gre0 (ood to (eed the peop"e o( Mesopotamia, ut the 0ea"th o( the cities o(Mesopotamia came (rom merchants and cra(tspeop"e- /he Mesopotamians p"aced great va"ueon commerce- Mesopotamia didn\t have man! natura" resources, so the! traded most"! grainand teti"es- /he /igris and Euphrates rivers 0ere responsi"e (or getting the goods to and(rom Mesopotamia- /he! traded goods as (ar as A(rica, Asia, and Europe- Mesopotamia didn\t

use coins, ut standards ased on the 0eight o( si"ver and grains 0ere esta"ished- Mone!(rom taes he"ped a program to ui"d a ridge across the Euphrates river to trade even more-Cithout trade Mesopotamia 0ou"d have easi"! (ai"ed- Mesopotamians created the (irst0hee"ed vehic"es in aout ;> B-#-E- /he! (irst used the 0hee" to make 0hee" W thro0n

potter! and then in Uruk, 0hi"e tr!ing to (igure out ho0 to carr! a heav! "oad o( goods a mancreated a sort o( 0hee"- +e p"aced a "ock o( 0ood on a "og and used it to pu"" hisgoods-Cithout the invention o( the 0hee" the modern 0or"d 0ou"d not e the same-

mesopotamia vista view

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