today’s objectives city-states in mesopotamia summarize how geography affected cultural...

Today’s ObjectivesToday’s ObjectivesCity-States in MesopotamiaCity-States in Mesopotamia

Summarize how geography affected Summarize how geography affected cultural development in the Fertile cultural development in the Fertile CrescentCrescent

Describe city-states and how other Describe city-states and how other cultures learned about themcultures learned about them

Describe Sumerian religious beliefs, social Describe Sumerian religious beliefs, social structure, and Technologystructure, and Technology

Explain the influence of Sumer on later Explain the influence of Sumer on later civilizationscivilizations

Where is Mesopotamia?Where is Mesopotamia?

Geography of the Fertile Geography of the Fertile CrescentCrescent

• Living in Mesopotamia has disadvantages as well as benefits– No natural barriers– Limited natural

resources– Tigris/Euphrates

flooded annually & unpredictable(silt)

Sumerians Create City-Sumerians Create City-StatesStates

• Sumerians created city-states ruled by priests– Success of crops depended

on blessings of the gods

• Solving problems together was the beginning of Sumerian organized government– Build city walls,

irrigation, organized trade


• During war, military leaders take over.

• They eventually become full time leaders


• This concept of city-states spread to other cultures through trade– Surplus food allowed

trade to flourish

Sumerian CultureSumerian CultureSumerians believe that natural forces Sumerians believe that natural forces

and human affairs are controlled by and human affairs are controlled by many godsmany godsPolytheismPolytheismEnlil: god of clouds and air—among the Enlil: god of clouds and air—among the

most powerfulmost powerful

Sumerian CultureSumerian CultureSumerian society developed a class Sumerian society developed a class

structurestructureHighest: Priest & KingsHighest: Priest & KingsSecond tier: Wealthy merchantsSecond tier: Wealthy merchantsThird tier: Ordinary SumeriansThird tier: Ordinary SumeriansLowest: SlavesLowest: Slaves

What did each group contribute to What did each group contribute to Sumerian society?Sumerian society?

Sumerian CultureSumerian Culture• Sumerians make

advances in farming and architecture– Invented wheel, sail,

plow– 1st to use bronze– Developed a system of

writing– Developed a number

system in base 60

• The Babylonians divided the day into 24 hours, each hour into 60 minutes, each minute into 60 seconds

First Empire BuildersFirst Empire Builders

• Sargon of Akkad created the first empire by uniting the city-states under his rule, 2350 B.C.– 200 yr rule

• Amorites created a new empire in Mesopotamia with Babylon as the capital

• Babylonian empire: 18th-6th century B.C.

Code of HammurabiCode of Hammurabi

• Strict legal code of equal retaliation or an “eye for eye” used to govern Babylonia– 282 “laws”


• 1792 BCE, Hammurabi becomes king

• Conquers Mari & Babylon

• Hammurabi rules for 43 years– Conquers all the

surrounding area

Code of HammurabiCode of Hammurabi• Hammurabi is clever

administrator– Control his empire by

promising harmony and obedience

• Brings together all the existing laws from all over Mesopotamia– Becomes the “Code of

Hammurabi


• 282 laws inscribed on an 8 foot stela– Hammurabi receives

the code from Babylonia Sun-god “Shamash”

• Promote the welfare of the people

HammurabiShamash


• Code deals with aspects of daily life

• Administered by local judges

• Assembly consisted of free citizens who sat with judges– First juries


• Refelct the values of Babylonian society

• Babylonian class structure dictated different punishments for same crime based on defendants gender and social class

Questions

SphinxSphinxWhat are the cultural/religious meanings?What are the cultural/religious meanings?

What depictions have you seen in What depictions have you seen in American pop culture?American pop culture?

Geography of EgyptGeography of Egypt

Where is Egypt?Where is Egypt?

Geography of EgyptGeography of Egypt

• The Nile creates rich soil for crops and promotes Egyptian trade– Annual flooding (like

clockwork) left farmland rich

– Nile was worshiped as a god

Pharaohs, believed to be gods, ruled Pharaohs, believed to be gods, ruled the Old Kingdomthe Old Kingdom2 separate rules: Upper and Lower Egypt2 separate rules: Upper and Lower Egypt

Egypt Unites into a Egypt Unites into a KingdomKingdom

King Menes Capitol


Upper/lower united under King MenesUpper/lower united under King Menes

3rd Dynasty known as the “Old 3rd Dynasty known as the “Old Kingdom”Kingdom”

White: UpperRed: Lower


The pyramids, which were tombs for The pyramids, which were tombs for the pharaohs, reflected the strength the pharaohs, reflected the strength of the Egyptian cultureof the Egyptian culture

Egyptian CultureEgyptian Culture

Polytheistic beliefs (many gods)Polytheistic beliefs (many gods)2000 gods and goddesses2000 gods and goddesses

Flexible class structureFlexible class structureLower classes could gain status Lower classes could gain status

(marriage or job success)(marriage or job success)

Egyptian SocietyEgyptian Society

KingQueen

Upper ClassRich Landowners

Government officialsPriests, Army Comdrs

Middle ClassMerchants, artisans

Lower ClassLargest class, Peasant farmers

Unskilled laborers

Not locked into socialClasses

-Must be able to read and write

Egyptian CultureEgyptian Culture

Egyptians preserved bodies by Egyptians preserved bodies by mummificationmummificationEmbalming and drying the corpseEmbalming and drying the corpse

Tut

40 Days to embalm70 days until burial

HieroglyphicsHieroglyphicsEgyptian writing systemEgyptian writing system

Pictures stood for an ideaPictures stood for an idea““Owl” may have stood for the “Owl” may have stood for the “mm” sound” sound

Similar to cuneiform, it most likely came to Egypt when they begantrading with the Sumerians

Questions

Today’s ObjectivesToday’s ObjectivesThe AfterlifeThe Afterlife

Understand how belief systems can affect Understand how belief systems can affect other aspects of cultureother aspects of culture

See that information about a culture is not See that information about a culture is not limited to written sourceslimited to written sources

Understand why many different articles Understand why many different articles were buried in Egyptian tombswere buried in Egyptian tombs

Taking it with YouTaking it with You

Thought to provide the king with an alternative body for the deceased spirit

Jars holding internalOrgans (canopic jars)Qebehsenuef, the falcon head -- intestinesDuamutef, the jackal head -- stomachHapy, the baboon head -- lungsImsety, the human head -- liver

They believed they could only reach their full potential after death

Each person also has a ba. Similar to what we call "personality"

ba is represented as a bird

Each person also has what is called a ka, orlife-force Egyptians would bring food to a dead person's tomb as an offering to his or her ka

"Opening of the Mouth." This ceremony was to magically give the deceased the ability to speak and eat again it releasedThe ba and ka to the next world

Osiris is the god of the dead and the god of the resurrection into eternal life; he is ruler, protector, and judge of the deceased

Anubis: God ofembalming

Judgement

Warm-upWarm-upBegin preparing a list of items you will Begin preparing a list of items you will

need for the afterlife. At a minimum, need for the afterlife. At a minimum, use the following categories:use the following categories:FoodFoodClothesClothesEntertainmentEntertainmentFurnitureFurnitureCosmetics/toiletriesCosmetics/toiletriesHousehold goodsHousehold goodsPersonal belongingsPersonal belongings

You may list other categories—you decide!

Geography of South AsiaGeography of South Asia

The Indus and Ganges Rivers created The Indus and Ganges Rivers created a fertile plaina fertile plain

Geography of ChinaGeography of ChinaThe geography isolates China and The geography isolates China and

determined where early settlements determined where early settlements developeddeveloped

Taklimakn Desert

Pacific Ocean

Himalaya M

tns

Gobi Desert

Geography of South AsiaGeography of South Asia

Geography presented challenges for Geography presented challenges for the Indus Valleythe Indus ValleyWet/Dry seasonsWet/Dry seasonsMonsoons: Yearly floods unpredictableMonsoons: Yearly floods unpredictableWorld’s tallest mountains to the northWorld’s tallest mountains to the north

Civilization Emerges on the Civilization Emerges on the IndusIndus

Early Indus Valley settlers developed Early Indus Valley settlers developed farming villages along the Indus River farming villages along the Indus River (3200 B.C.)(3200 B.C.)Arrived by boat from Africa (?) 7000 B.C.Arrived by boat from Africa (?) 7000 B.C.


Indus Valley cities were well planned Indus Valley cities were well planned and had plumbing and sewage and had plumbing and sewage systems (2500 B.C.)systems (2500 B.C.)Used a grid system and fortified citadelUsed a grid system and fortified citadelSeparate residential areasSeparate residential areas


Ruins reveal the character and Ruins reveal the character and trading patterns of the Indus Valley trading patterns of the Indus Valley civilizationcivilizationUniform housing social divisions not Uniform housing social divisions not

greatgreatFew weapons conflict not greatFew weapons conflict not great

Indus seals in Sumer meant trade Indus seals in Sumer meant trade occurred between the twooccurred between the two

Mysterious End to Indus Mysterious End to Indus Valley CultureValley Culture

The Indus Valley civilization ends The Indus Valley civilization ends mysteriously in about 1500 B.C.mysteriously in about 1500 B.C.Indus River may have change course (no Indus River may have change course (no

floods)floods)Possibly overgrazed/farmedPossibly overgrazed/farmedPossibly natural disaster or attack from Possibly natural disaster or attack from

northnorth

Questions

Geography of ChinaGeography of ChinaThe geography isolates China and The geography isolates China and

determined where early settlements determined where early settlements developeddeveloped

Taklimakn Desert

Pacific Ocean

Himalaya M

tns

Gobi Desert

Geography of ChinaGeography of ChinaEarly settlers faced challenges as a Early settlers faced challenges as a

result of result of China’s geographyChina’s geographyHuang He (Yellow river) floods Huang He (Yellow river) floods Settlers more self reliantSettlers more self reliantNot immune to attack from outsidersNot immune to attack from outsiders

Civilization Emerges in Civilization Emerges in Shang TimesShang Times

Before Sumer, Chinese built Before Sumer, Chinese built settlements along the Huang Hesettlements along the Huang HeLegend: first Chinese dynasty is the XiaLegend: first Chinese dynasty is the XiaLeader: Yu—built first flood control Leader: Yu—built first flood control

projectsprojects


When Mesopotamia, Egypt and Indus When Mesopotamia, Egypt and Indus Valley fell to invadersValley fell to invaders

Shang dynasty rose to powerShang dynasty rose to powerBuilt palaces and left written recordsBuilt palaces and left written records


Shang society was divided between Shang society was divided between ruling nobles and peasant farmersruling nobles and peasant farmersWarrior/nobles owned the land sent Warrior/nobles owned the land sent

tribute to the Shang rulertribute to the Shang ruler

Origins of Chinese CultureOrigins of Chinese Culture

The Family was central to Chinese The Family was central to Chinese societysocietyChief loyalty throughout your life is to Chief loyalty throughout your life is to

familyfamilyHighest virtue: honor your parents!Highest virtue: honor your parents!Men, most important, made the decisionsMen, most important, made the decisions


Chinese communicated with gods Chinese communicated with gods through ancestor spirits and oracle through ancestor spirits and oracle bonesbonesQuestions written on the bones, then hot Questions written on the bones, then hot

poker applied priests “read” the poker applied priests “read” the cracks for the answerscracks for the answers

Oracle bones were the earliestform of written Chinese language


• China’s written language was not connected to its spoken language– Each character represent

an idea (not sound)

– Advantage: Everyone learned same writing

• Need to know 1000 characters to be literate


Shang artisans made silk and excelled Shang artisans made silk and excelled at bronzeworkat bronzeworkBronze used only for weaponsBronze used only for weapons

Silk was a symbol of civilizationSilk was a symbol of civilization

Zhou Bring New IdeasZhou Bring New Ideas

The Zhou use the Mandate of Heaven The Zhou use the Mandate of Heaven to overthrow the Shang (1121-221 to overthrow the Shang (1121-221 B.C.)B.C.)Natural disasters could spell the end to a Natural disasters could spell the end to a

rulerrulerEstablished the Established the Dynastic CycleDynastic Cycle

Dynastic CycleDynastic CycleMandate of HeavenMandate of Heaven

New Dynasty

-Brings Peace-(Re)builds infrastructure-Gives land to peasants-Protects people

Generations go byNew Dynasty becomes…..

Old Dynasty

-Taxes people too much-Stops protecting people-Lets infrastructure decay-Treats people unfairly

Old Dynasty losesMandate of HeavenProblems

-Floods, earthquakes, etc-Peasant revolt-Invaders attack empire-Bandits raid countryside

New Dynasty claimsMandate of Heaven


Feudalism led to increase local Feudalism led to increase local warfarewarfareZhou rulers gave control to local lordsZhou rulers gave control to local lordsAs lords grew more powerful, became As lords grew more powerful, became

less reliant on Zhou rulers fought less reliant on Zhou rulers fought among themselveamong themselve


War and the collapse of traditional War and the collapse of traditional values bring an end to the Zhou values bring an end to the Zhou DynastyDynasty

TAKS Test Review

today’s objectives city-states in mesopotamia summarize how geography affected cultural...

Documents

code of hammurabi slide

powerful slide

unpredictablesilt slide

seconds slide

code of hammurabi hammurabi

citystates sumerians

sumerian culture sumerians

organized trade slide