Mesopotamia

Objective

Compare the ancient civilizations in Asia

● Sumer
 “Remind them to be
submissive to rulers
and authorities, to be
obedient, to be ready
for every good work.”

Titus 3:1
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
The Mesopotamian Civilization is considered to be the
first of its kind in the world. Various ancient human
groups inhabited the Sumerians, Akkadians,
Babylonians, Hittites, Assyrians, Chaldeans, and
Persians. In this lesson, you will learn about the
geographical features, contributions, causes of the
development, and fall of Mesopotamian civilization.
Sumeria
Sumeria
Sumerian Civilization (3500-2340 BCE)
• Sumerian nomads lived on river valley
farmland.
• Formed 12 city-states (e.g. Eridu, Kish,
Lagash, Uruk, and Ur) led by a
priest-king.
• They believe in many gods and
goddesses that are anthropomorphic or
have human nature and behavior.
• Ziggurat is the name given to the
structure that served as the home and
temple of the patrons or gods found in
each city.
Sumeria Contributions
Inventions:
1. Cuneiform –Wedge-shaped; first developed pen system using stylus
and clay or clay tombstone; a type of pictograph depicting objects used
with 600 markers in word formation
2.Wheels - the first carriage was made when it was discovered
3. Cacao beans - used as the first monetary unit
4. Algebra - in this mathematical principle, the system of counting based
on 60, division or fraction, as well as square root
5. Lunar calendar with 12 months
6. Dome, vault, ramp, and ziggurat - architectural and engineering designs
used in Sumerian palaces and temples
7. Clay - used in brick making which served as a record of the Sumerians
Sumeria Contributions
Other contributions to civilization:
1. They were the first to use a system of measurement
of weight and length.
2. First established an organized force in the
construction of dikes.
3. They also discovered the science of surgery.
4. First to use animals to plow the fields.
Sumeria’s Rise and Fall
Development:
1. The inventions made by the Sumerians promoted farming, trade,
and other industries which also developed their global society.
2. Established city-states that greatly helped establish government
and strengthen the Sumerians as a group.
3. Education has greatly helped the people to become proficient in
almost every aspect of life, from trade to astrology.
Fall:
• City-states often clashed over land and water so the Sumerians
did not form a stable government.
Akkadia
Akkadian
The Akkadian Empire usually refers to the Semitic speaking state that
grew up around the city of Akkad north of Sumer, and reached its greatest
extent under Sargon of Akkad (2296-2240 B.C.E.). It has been described
as the first true empire in world history. It was a flourishing civilization in
one of the most fertile areas of the globe, the alluvian plain of Southern
Mesopotamia that fed into the later Babylonian Civilization. Women
appear to have been respected and to have played a significant role in the
religious cultus. King Sargon was the first ruler to unite the peoples of
Southern Mesopotamia into a single political unit.
Akkadians Contribution
1. First Empire - It has been described as the first true empire in world
history.
2. The empire was bound together by roads, along which there was a
regular postal service.
3. The first collection of astronomical observations and terrestrial omens
was made for a library established by Sargon.
Akkadians CoLLAPSE
Fall:

● The fall of the empire established by Sargon seems to have been as

sudden as its rise, and little is known about the Gutian period. From
the fall of Akkad until around 2100 B.C.E., there is much that is still
dark.
● Historians believe the empire weakened due a to series of issues,
including a political power struggle, incursions from abroad, and a
series of droughts and famines.
● Lack of competent successors to the throne
Babylonia
Babylonia (Hammurabi)
Babylonian Civilization (1792-1595 BCE)
• Hammurabi, head of the city of Babylon, conquered Mesopotamia.
• Babylon became the capital of the Babylonian empire.
• In the time of Hammurabi, the northern kingdoms, including the Ashur
kingdom, were conquered.
• When Hammurabi died the kingdom of Babylon was divided.
• In 1595 B.C.E., the Hittite Anatolians invaded Babylon although the
city-states continued to live under foreign rulers.
• The Hittites originally came from the northeastern part of the Black Sea.
They left and settled in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey).
Babylonia
Babylonia’s Contribution
Hammurabi's Code - consists of 282 laws that serve as the
standard of Babylonian civilization.
- It covers perceived violations of the rights of citizens and its
property; matters of goods, land, dues, professional services; and
family.
- It also lists the penalties that should be imposed on offenders
such as death, mutilation, etc. that are considered cruel at the
present time.
- These laws describe an organized society.
Babylonia’s Rise and Fall
Development:
• The Hammurabi Code strengthened society and government.
This contributed to the development of almost every aspect of
Babylonian life.
• The cooperation of low-ranking government officials, soldiers,
and judges with the king brought social security.
Fall:
• Invasion of the Kassites, an Indo-European tribe. This was
followed by the Hittites with superior weapons made of steel.
Babylonia (Nebuchadnezzar)
Nabopolassar (612-605 BCE) established the new empire of Babylonia after
leading an uprising against Assyria.
• Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BCE), son of Nabopolassar, eventually
defeated the remaining Assyrian army in 609 BCE.
• Nebuchadnezzar II was the leader of the empire when it reached the
pinnacle of greatness. He also built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon for his
wife who was recognized by the Greeks as one of the Seven Wonders of the
Ancient World.
• In 539 BCE, Babylon was invaded by the army of Cyrus the Great of Persia
until Mesopotamia became part of the wider Persian empire.
Babylonia’s Contribution
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were one of the most
spectacular scenes in ancient times.
• The Neo Babylonians/Chaldeans developed the
concept of the zodiac and horoscope.
Babylonia’s Rise and Fall
Development:
• The rule of King Nebuchadnezzar brought the Chaldeans to the pinnacle
of victory. He chose wise young men from the conquered lands to be his
leadership assistants.
Fall:
• Only Nebuchadnezzar II became the mighty king of the Chaldeans. At his
death, a weak king ruled the Chaldean. They focus only on luxury,
prosperity, and fun. They did not stabilize the economy, politics, and the
armed forces. When the Persians invaded in 529 B.C. the Chaldeans were
quickly defeated which was the beginning of the collapse of its empire.
Assyria
Assyrian Civilization
Assyrian Civilization (1813–605 BCE)
• In 1120 BCE, Tiglath-Pileser I (1114-1076 BCE) conquered the Hittites
and reached the shores of the Mediterranean and established the Assyrian
empire.
• In the 9th century BCE, they sent military expeditions to the west to gain
access to important trade routes and to receive tribute.
• Ashurbanipal (circa 668-627 BCE) was one of the kings who saw good
governance in his time.
• The Chaldeans overthrow Assyria in an uprising.
Assyrian Contribution
• The Assyrians were the first
group that developed an effective imperial leadership
system. Another group in the near east copied the rule
of the Assyrian Empire.
• First library with 200,000 clay tablets built by
Ashurbanipal.
ASSYRIA’s Fall
Fall
• The continuing uprising of cities such as Media and
Babylon conquered by Assyria greatly reduced Assyria's
wealth and weakened its army.
• The Chaldeans, Medes, and Persians united in 612
B.C. to help invade Assyria.