Mesopotamia and the
Patriarchal Period
Ancient Mesopotamia
Ancient Mesopotamia
Ancient Mesopotamia
• World’s oldest civilization (ca. 3000 B.C.)
• called “Sumarian” (= region, culture,
religion, language)
• Developed the oldest form of writing:
“cuneiform”
Cuneiform
Cuneiform
Ancient Mesopotamia
• World’s oldest civilization (ca. 3000 B.C.)
• called “Sumarian” (= region, culture,
religion, language)
• Developed the oldest form of writing:
“cuneiform”
• First to build “city-states”
City-States
Ancient Mesopotamia
• World’s oldest civilization (ca. 3000 B.C.)
• called “Sumarian” (= region, culture,
religion, language)
• Developed the oldest form of writing:
“cuneiform”
• First to build “city-states”
• Ur = highly developed city-state (ca. 2000 B.C.)
• Ur was the largest city in the world from 2030 to
1980 BC. Population = 65,000
Ur
Ur
Ur
Ur
Ur
Ancient Mesopotamia
• World’s oldest civilization (ca. 3000 B.C.)
• called “Sumarian” (= region, culture,
religion, language)
• Developed the oldest form of writing:
“cuneiform”
• First to build “city-states”
• Ur = highly developed city-state (ca. 2000 B.C.)
• Ur was the largest city in the world from 2030 to
1980 BC. Population = 65,000
• Ziggurat – religious temple at center of city
Ziggurat
Ziggurat
Ziggurat
Ancient Mesopotamia
• World’s oldest civilization (ca. 3000 B.C.)
• called “Sumarian” (= region, culture,
religion, language)
• Developed the oldest form of writing:
“cuneiform”
• First to build “city-states”
• Ur = highly developed city-state (ca. 2000 B.C.)
• At this time, the largest city in the world. Population
= 65,000
• Ziggurat – religious temple at center of city
• 2004 – Ur is burned to the ground
Abraham
Abraham
Born: 2166
Abraham lived at the height of Ur’s prosperity. “He did not
live in some scrubby boondocks where nothing had yet
happened…Pre-Abrahamic Mesopotamia contained all the
necessary components of civilized life…Our modern age has
advanced over ancient Mesopotamia, but only in the
spheres of technical knowledge and gadgetry” (Hoerth, 54).
Abraham
“Thousands of economic, legal, and judicial
texts witness to the complex and pervasive
roles of the palace and the temple in the
everyday life of the people. The rich
archaeological finds from Ur indicate that it
was a thriving commercial center during this
entire period. It was from such a culturally
advanced city that Abram began his earthly
pilgrimage of faith (Gen 11:31; Acts 7:4)”
(ZAOB, 90)
Abraham
Translated: Abram was a rich pagan from New
York when God interrupted his life.
“Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the
Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and
of Nahor; and they served other gods” (Josh
24:2)
Translated: Abraham worshipped the moon god
Nanna at the Ziggurat in Ur, had sex with temple
prostitutes, and set food before shrines as food
for the gods, when God called him to faith.
Abraham