Mesopotamia
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Mesopotamia
Land Between Two Rivers
Mesopotamia was known
as the “Fertile Crescent”
because of it’s crescent
shape and availability of
fertile or “rich” soil…good
for planting. It was also
known as the “Cradle of
Civilization” because it
was the birthplace of
civilization…the first
major civilization.
Mesopotamia was located between the Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers. The country of Iraq is there today.
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Mesopotamia…the Land
Dry, hot and desert-like outside of the river valley. The rivers would flood
every Spring, leaving silt behind to help create fertile, rich soil which was great
for growing! Mesopotamians made advancements in agriculture and
domestication of animals.
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Mesopotamia – City-States
There were many
city-states that
developed in
Mesopotamia.
They each had
their own
government and
leaders. Often
times, they would
fight wars over
resources and
land.
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Development of Agriculture
Important Inventions: The plow, the
wheel/cart, irrigation systems. These
inventions helped crops to grow which
led to a surplus of food. The surplus let
to a system of trading.
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Development of Language –
Cuneiform Writing
Development of a
language and
system of writing:
Cuneiform on clay
tablets. Scribes
were people that
could read and
write the
language.
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Buildings in Mesopotamia
Mud-brick houses, reed huts
and ziggurats at the center of
the city
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Ziggurat – Temple for the Gods
Mesopotamians were polytheistic which means
they believed in many gods.
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Development of Laws –
The Code of Hammurabi
A civilization needs laws.
The first set of written laws
that we know about is
called the “Code of
Hammurabi.” King
Hammurabi came up with a
set of laws for his people to
follow. The rules had very
strict and harsh
consequences. The laws
became known as the “Eye
for an Eye” laws because
the consequence would
often fit the crime.
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Social Classes and Division of Labor
• People started specializing or becoming trained in
different jobs. There were farmers, craftsmen,
priests, merchants, soldiers, scribes, rulers and
slaves. People had different jobs to do and
contributed to the society.
• Depending on their wealth and education, people
were valued differently and were treated
differently by the law. Slaves and peasants were
at the bottom of the social pyramid and rulers,
priests and the wealthy were at the top.
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Contributions of Mesopotamia
calendar
cobblestone streets
cultivation of grains
day of 24 hours
domestication of livestock
irrigation, canals, dams
legal system / laws
mathematics based on base 60
measuring and surveying instruments
metal working
plows
pottery
the sailboat
wheel / wheeled carts
writing (cuneiform)
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Mesopotamian Empires
Birds Eye View…
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A Land of Fierce Warriors…
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