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Floodplain Civilizations Overview
Floodplain Civilizations Overview
• Mesopotamia
• Egypt
• Harappa (Indus Valley)
• Shang China (Huang He)
Mesopotamia was a succession of
societies
• Sumeria (Sumer)
• Akkad
• First Babylon
• Assyria
• Second Babylon
Geography
• Unpredictable rivers (Tigris and Euphrates)
• Delta region extremely fertile
• Flat land open to invasion – no natural barriers
• By 4,000 BCE at least four major groups had
migrated into Sumeria: Hamites from North Africa,
Semites from Arabia, Indo-Europeans from
Russia, and Caucasians from Georgia
• Semi-arid climate required extensive irrigation
projects
Growth of the state
• Irrigation projects required cooperation on
a grand scale and leadership
• Farmers banded together in settlements to
manage the environment and for protection
• These settlements became compact cities
surrounded by high mud-brick walls
• These cities were independent from one
another hence they were city-states
The city-states were often built around
existing religious structures – enhancing
the close relationship between
government and religion
The ziggurat became the focal point of
these city-states
Ziggurats - stepped towers topped by temples
Ziggurats were the focal
point of the city-state
The Tower of Babel is
believed to have been a
ziggurat
Sumeria lasted about 1,300 years (3360 – 2400 BCE)
There was constant warfare between city-states and
invaders and between city-states themselves
Each city-state controlled an area about 100 square
miles
There were about 12 major city-states including Ur,
Eridu, Lagash, and Uruk
Each city-state was ruled by a priest/leader called a
Patesi who was the highest political, religious, and
military authority
Religion
• People felt utterly dependent on will of gods due to
harsh life
• Originally, each city-state had its own patron god
but later all gods were collected into a hierarchy
reflecting Sumerian values
• As male gods became dominant = strengthening
of patriarchy
• Afterlife – sad and gloomy place (later used as
model for Hell)
Religion and Politics
• All land belonged to the gods and kings were their
representatives
• Kings and priests afforded special place in society
• Theocracy – rule by gods or priests
• By the end of Sumeria’s influence, kings were
becoming separate from the priest class
Class System
• Kings / priests
• Commoners: farmers, artisans, merchants
• Slaves
Sumerian Life
• Marriage was based on a contract
• Males were dominant but females had more freedom than
they do today
• Females exerted influence through sexuality
• Due to property inheritances, women would be put to death
for adultery
Cuneiform
• Oldest writing
system
• Original purpose was
economic
• Used to record
memoranda, lists of
goods, receipts,
contracts, etc
• One of first uses was
to record beer recipe
Cuneiform- first system of writing
Cuneiform tablet
with envelope
Writing was reserved for the wealthy classes
Writing systems beget
literature
Oldest literature was
epic poem The Epic of
Gilgamesh
Poem relates story of
Gilgamesh, ruler of
Uruk, who seeks out
survivor of great flood in
quest of eternal youth
Trade links with Egypt and Harappa
Adopted use of silver as means of exchange
“Invented” the wheel and pioneered use of carts and
chariots
Sumerian mathematics based on 12, 60, and 360
(clock and circle)
Sumerian astronomical charts basis for modern
astronomy
Invented quadratic expressions
Conquered Sumeria
= Akkad first empire
Some centralization
of power
Sargon I = first
emperor
Absorbed / took on
Sumerian culture
Political
• Akkad was overthrown
by Amorites
• Sumerian language
disappeared – replaced
by Amorite Semitic
language
• Made capital at Babylon
• Old Babylon overthrown
by invading Kassites and
Hittites
• Period of chaos followed
for about three centuries
Hammurabi
• Founder of the Old
Babylonian Empire
• Most known for his
code of laws
o based on two 282
laws
o principles: lex talonis
and class
Political
• Conquered Kassites and
brought all of Mesopotamia
under their control
• Noted for brutality and
ruthlessness
• Largest Mesopotamian
empire in landmass
• Conquered Egypt for short
period
• Assyria brought down by
invading Medes and
Chaldeans
Political
• Established by
Chaldeans who
made capital at
Babylon
• King
Nebuchadnezzar
• Hanging gardens
• Continued
Sumerian culture
• Conquered by
the Persians
Other Middle Eastern Societies
Hittites
• Iron
Israelites
• Two kingdoms
• Judaism
Phoenicians
• Alphabet
• Trade colonies
(Carthage)
1. What was the world’s first writing system?
11. What did the Aryans base the caste system on?
12. What does the word “Aryan” mean?