The First Civilization!The First Civilization!

Mesopotamia Mesopotamia

SumerSumer

The people are called the Sumerians, The people are called the Sumerians, the land is called Sumer. the land is called Sumer.

ReligionReligion Polytheists- belief in Polytheists- belief in

multiple gods. multiple gods. Gods acted like Gods acted like

humanshumans Priests held high Priests held high

status and at first status and at first governed city-governed city-states. states.

Please gods to get Please gods to get good crops. good crops.

At heart of the At heart of the temples a pyramid temples a pyramid shaped structure shaped structure called a called a ZigguratZiggurat..

Enter the War Chiefs!Enter the War Chiefs!

War Chiefs became important to fight War Chiefs became important to fight battles and wage wars. battles and wage wars.

War chiefs gained power and formed War chiefs gained power and formed dynasties. dynasties.

Dynasties: a series of rulers from one Dynasties: a series of rulers from one family. family.

They also performed ceremonies to They also performed ceremonies to please gods and become please gods and become representatives to them. representatives to them.

Sumerian CultureSumerian Culture

Cuneiform: the first known writing system Cuneiform: the first known writing system to keep business records, law, grammar, to keep business records, law, grammar, literature. Epic of Gilgamesh (story of a literature. Epic of Gilgamesh (story of a king). king).

Math/Science: math system based on 60, Math/Science: math system based on 60, geometry (building, irrigation).geometry (building, irrigation).

CultureCulture

Invented the wheel Invented the wheel to make pottery to make pottery and vehicles. and vehicles.

The plowThe plow Bronze to make Bronze to make

stronger tools & stronger tools & weaponsweapons

Basic surgery Basic surgery

Architecture: Architecture: arches, ramps, and arches, ramps, and columns. columns.

Sculptures Sculptures Cylinder seals. Cylinder seals.

TradeTrade Most materials for building obtained Most materials for building obtained

through trade. through trade. Lacked wood, metals, and would trade Lacked wood, metals, and would trade

for them. for them. Trade brought social classes.Trade brought social classes. Hierarchy Hierarchy 1. Kings, priests, agents 1. Kings, priests, agents 2. Landowners, wealthy merchants2. Landowners, wealthy merchants 3. Artisans, farmers, laborers3. Artisans, farmers, laborers 4. Slaves (captured in battle)4. Slaves (captured in battle)

The AkkadiansThe Akkadians

Constant warfare weakened Sumer Constant warfare weakened Sumer and eventual was conquered by and eventual was conquered by others. others.

Others adopted Sumerian culture as Others adopted Sumerian culture as the conquered and it continued to the conquered and it continued to influence Mesopotamia. influence Mesopotamia.

The Akkadians lived north of Sumer. The Akkadians lived north of Sumer. Located on the Euphrates river at the Located on the Euphrates river at the

city of Akkad.city of Akkad.

The Akkadians The Akkadians Sargon I created Sargon I created

the first permanent the first permanent Army. Army.

Conquered all of Conquered all of Sumer and Sumer and Northern Northern Mesopotamia.Mesopotamia.

Formed the worlds Formed the worlds first Empire. first Empire.

Different kingdoms Different kingdoms and people now and people now under one ruler. under one ruler.

The AkkadiansThe Akkadians Adopted Cuneiform Adopted Cuneiform

from the Sumerians. from the Sumerians. Akkadians used Akkadians used

Cuneiform to write Cuneiform to write their own language. their own language.

The Akkadian The Akkadian languages was the languages was the official language of official language of the government. the government.

Sumerian language Sumerian language remained the remained the language for religious language for religious and literary texts. and literary texts.

Kept the power of Kept the power of the priesthood which the priesthood which helped keep helped keep Sumerian culture. Sumerian culture.

Lasted about 140 Lasted about 140 years. years.

Empire fell to other Empire fell to other tribes. tribes.

100 years of chaos 100 years of chaos following. following.

Babylonian EmpireBabylonian Empire

A tribe called the Amorites settled in A tribe called the Amorites settled in Babylon on the Euphrates river. Babylon on the Euphrates river.

1792 B.C.E. the Amorite King 1792 B.C.E. the Amorite King Hammurabi became king of Babylon. Hammurabi became king of Babylon.

A warrior who united all A warrior who united all Mesopotamia to create the Mesopotamia to create the Babylonian Empire. (named for its Babylonian Empire. (named for its capital)capital)

HammurabiHammurabi

Not only a warrior but great Not only a warrior but great administrator. administrator.

Oversaw great building projectsOversaw great building projects Improved tax collection system Improved tax collection system Increased tradeIncreased trade Absorbed earlier culturesAbsorbed earlier cultures Continued Sumerian traditions and Continued Sumerian traditions and

Cuneiform. Cuneiform.

Hammurabi’s CodeHammurabi’s Code Most famous for his Most famous for his

code of laws. code of laws. 282 laws dealing with 282 laws dealing with

every aspect of life. every aspect of life. Codified, and written Codified, and written

down for all to see down for all to see across the Empire. across the Empire.

3. If any one bring an 3. If any one bring an accusation of a accusation of a serious crime before serious crime before the elders, and does the elders, and does not prove what he has not prove what he has charged, he shall, be charged, he shall, be put to death.put to death.

56. If any one open his 56. If any one open his ditches to let in the ditches to let in the water to his crop, and water to his crop, and the water overflow the the water overflow the plantation of his plantation of his neighbor, he shall pay neighbor, he shall pay ten gur of corn for ten gur of corn for every ten gan of land.every ten gan of land.

136. If any one leave 136. If any one leave his house, run away, his house, run away, and then his wife go to and then his wife go to another house, if then another house, if then he wishes to take his he wishes to take his wife back, the wife of wife back, the wife of this runaway shall not this runaway shall not return to her husband.return to her husband.

Babylon EmpireBabylon Empire

Babylon become Mesopotamia’s Babylon become Mesopotamia’s greatest city.greatest city.

After Hammurabi died the Empires After Hammurabi died the Empires power declined power declined

In less then 200 years the Empire In less then 200 years the Empire had Fallen. had Fallen.

The HittitesThe Hittites Various tribes Various tribes

conquered conquered Mesopotamia Mesopotamia following the fall of following the fall of Babylon. Babylon.

They were a tribe from They were a tribe from Asia Minor (Turkey).Asia Minor (Turkey).

War like tribeWar like tribe Success through horse Success through horse

drawn chariots.drawn chariots. Heavy, slow, but three Heavy, slow, but three

people to drive, people to drive, defend, and attack. defend, and attack.

They sacked Babylon, They sacked Babylon, which fell later. which fell later.

Hittite CultureHittite Culture

Blended their cultures with those Blended their cultures with those around them. around them.

Used Sumerian Cuneiform and a Used Sumerian Cuneiform and a similar code to Hammurabi. similar code to Hammurabi.

First in the region to master iron First in the region to master iron work techniques. work techniques.

Peak in 1300s but remained a strong Peak in 1300s but remained a strong force until 1200 B.C.E. force until 1200 B.C.E.

The Fell to the Sea PeoplesThe Fell to the Sea Peoples

The AssyriansThe Assyrians From northern Mesopotamia from the From northern Mesopotamia from the

city of Assur along the Tigris river. city of Assur along the Tigris river. Grew barley and raised cattle. Grew barley and raised cattle. Adopted Sumerian culture as well. Adopted Sumerian culture as well. Good rainfall and sat among major Good rainfall and sat among major

trade routes. Many Tribes invaded due trade routes. Many Tribes invaded due to this. to this.

Been conquered various times, gained Been conquered various times, gained power a short time but did not last. power a short time but did not last. Eventually ruled all of Mesopotamia 900 Eventually ruled all of Mesopotamia 900 B.C.E.B.C.E.

The AssyriansThe Assyrians

They relied on They relied on Military Strength Military Strength they developed they developed from frequent from frequent warfare. warfare.

Chariots, foot Chariots, foot soldiers, cavalry all soldiers, cavalry all with iron weapons. with iron weapons.

Masters of Siege Masters of Siege warfare. warfare.

The AssyriansThe Assyrians

Relied on terror tactics to spread fear Relied on terror tactics to spread fear and control conquered areas. and control conquered areas.

Killed or maimed captives, enslaved, Killed or maimed captives, enslaved, and split up and resettled people to and split up and resettled people to keep people from rebelling. keep people from rebelling.

The AssyriansThe Assyrians Efficient government ruling through Efficient government ruling through

local leaders that governed a small local leaders that governed a small area. area.

Linked the empire with roads with Linked the empire with roads with messengers for communication. messengers for communication.

Nineveh (NI-nuh-vuh)- a massive library Nineveh (NI-nuh-vuh)- a massive library in their capital including 20,000 in their capital including 20,000 Cuneiform tablets (Epic of Gilgamesh). Cuneiform tablets (Epic of Gilgamesh). A valuable source for scholars today. A valuable source for scholars today.

The Empire grew to big to control and The Empire grew to big to control and fell to other tribes. fell to other tribes.

The ChaldeansThe Chaldeans

Chaldeans (Kal-Dee-Chaldeans (Kal-Dee-unzs)unzs)

Lived in southern Lived in southern MesopotamiaMesopotamia

Joined forces with the Joined forces with the Medes to defeat the Medes to defeat the Assyrians.Assyrians.

Chaldeans picked up Chaldeans picked up the pieces and took the pieces and took over. over.

Made Babylon their Made Babylon their capital capital

The New Babylonian EmpireThe New Babylonian Empire

Chaldeans are also known as the Chaldeans are also known as the second Babylonian Empire. second Babylonian Empire.

Nebuchadnezzar II: the most famous Nebuchadnezzar II: the most famous Chaldean KingChaldean King

(neb-uh-kuhd-nez-uhr)(neb-uh-kuhd-nez-uhr) A warrior and great BuilderA warrior and great Builder

The Chaldeans BuildThe Chaldeans Build

Rebuilt Babylon into a Rebuilt Babylon into a place of splendor. place of splendor.

Palaces, temples, Palaces, temples, immense multi-storied immense multi-storied ziggurats, filled the ziggurats, filled the city, and the city, and the Euphrates river flowed Euphrates river flowed through it. through it.

Temple featured the Temple featured the hanging gardens (one hanging gardens (one of the seven wonders of the seven wonders of the ancient world. of the ancient world.

The ChaldeansThe Chaldeans

Surprise, Surprise they adopted Surprise, Surprise they adopted Sumerian culture, studied its Sumerian culture, studied its language, built temples to Sumerian language, built temples to Sumerian gods.gods.

Developed a Calendar based on the Developed a Calendar based on the phases of the moon and made phases of the moon and made advances in astronomy.advances in astronomy.

The Chaldeans FallThe Chaldeans Fall

In spite of their many achievements In spite of their many achievements the empire was short-lived.the empire was short-lived.

Less then 100 years in 539 B.C.E. Less then 100 years in 539 B.C.E. they are conquered by the Persians. they are conquered by the Persians.

The Phoenicians The Phoenicians

During the rise and fall During the rise and fall of empires, smaller of empires, smaller states emerged. states emerged.

Various city-states in Various city-states in western Asia emerged western Asia emerged in Phoenicia as trading in Phoenicia as trading centers. centers.

Often under the rule Often under the rule of foreign empiresof foreign empires

The Phoenicians The Phoenicians

Now in the nation Now in the nation of Lebanon. of Lebanon.

Farming was Farming was difficult and difficult and resources were resources were limited due to limited due to rugged hills.rugged hills.

They turned to They turned to trade and the sea trade and the sea for their livelihood. for their livelihood.

Expert sailors.Expert sailors. Dominated trade on Dominated trade on

the Mediterranean the Mediterranean Ports in Egypt, Greece, Ports in Egypt, Greece,

Italy, Sicily, and Spain. Italy, Sicily, and Spain. Sailed along African Sailed along African

coast and to Britain. coast and to Britain. It is not known how far It is not known how far

they have sailed. they have sailed.

The Phoenicians The Phoenicians

They founded many colonies along They founded many colonies along trade routes like Carthage. trade routes like Carthage.

Traded wood from giant cedar trees, Traded wood from giant cedar trees, local shell fish produce purple dye, local shell fish produce purple dye, invented glassblowing (heating and invented glassblowing (heating and shaping glass). shaping glass).

The Phoenicians The Phoenicians

Greatest achievement Greatest achievement was their Alphabet.was their Alphabet.

Letters and alphabets Letters and alphabets more flexible then more flexible then other systems with other systems with symbols. symbols.

Consisted of 22 Consisted of 22 letters, all consonants. letters, all consonants.

Many adopted a Many adopted a similar one like the similar one like the Greeks and our own. Greeks and our own.