lesson 2 mesopotamia

Lesson 2 Pages: 40-46

Early Days…

• Early Mesopotamia had two major City-States:

• Sumer in the South• Akkad in the North

http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/262/268312/art/figures/KISH_01_08.gif

(magnifier)

Similarities….

• Farming• Business• Customs

…..Differences

• Language!

• War often: • Water • Land

Sumer

• Between 3500-2330 b.c.: More Powerful

• Largest City-State in Sumer:--Uruk

City-States in Sumer…

• 50,000 people• Mudbrick walls surround the city• Painted their houses white to keep

cool. • Large irrigated fields surround the

city.

Ziggurat

Link between Heaven and Earth

Religion and Government

• Huge Temples: Show importance of Religion to Society

• Society: Organized community with Rules and traditions

Polytheism

• Belief in Many gods

• gods & goddesses: responsible for the well-being of people and land.

Anu: god of Heaven

Enlil: god of wind

Enki: god of water

Ninhursag: mother of gods

Pleasing the gods…

• Peace and Prosperity for the People meant the gods were pleased

• Temple Priests worked hard to make gods happy• Burned incense• Offered food/drink

Religion and Government

• Closely linked• Kings chosen by gods• “Divine Kingship” –divine right to

rule• Kingship passed from father to son

Sumer Class System

#1 Kings

#2

• Wealthy Business People• Landowners• Government Officials

#3

• Artisans• Farmers

#4

• Slaves

Rise and Fall of the Akkadian Empire

2334 b.c.

• Sargon attacked Sumer and conquered all the city-states

• Result: All of Mesopotamia united under one single Empire

• Empire: Large territory all under the control of a single ruler.

Dynasty…

• Ruling Family

• Sargon passed his power on to his son.

• Sargon’s Dynasty lasted for 150 years.

Sumer’s Final Days

2100-2000 b.c.

• Mesopotamia controlled by Ur, a city- state in Sumer

Most Successful Dynasty in Ur was founded by Sumerian King Ur-Nammu

Most important contributions by Sumerian

civilization:• Cuneiform

• Ziggurats

• Wheel

*** Advancement of Sumer Civilization:

• Writing

• Religion

• Technology