mesopotamia - a brief summary

Who were the Mesopotamians? Where and when did they live?

They lived 4000 years before Christ!

They were groups of people who lived in what is now - IraqSyria and Turkey.

Why did the Mesopotamians live between the Tygris and Euphrates Rivers?

The Fertile Crescent

3000-1700 BCSumerians – lived near Bagdad, Iraq

Ancient city of Uruk.

1700-500 BCKing Hammurabi became ruler. He united and strengthen his people. They were called Babylonians.

…during this same time…

The Assyrians lived in the area now called Turkey.

They were very warlike and aggressive.

How were the Mesopotamians ruled?

The people believed the kings were chosen by the gods and must be obeyed.

King Naram-Sin of Assyria insisted that he was not just a god-chosen king but was a god himself!!

King Hammurabi wrote laws down for the first time! It was called “The Code of Hammurabi”The laws

protected everyone equally….

If somebody broke another person’s bone, then the offender’s punishment would be to have the same bone broken.

What weapons did the Mesopotamians use?

Spears, sword, chariots, bows, knives, arrows….made from wood, cooper and later on, iron

Chariots were usually ridden by two soldiers. One soldier had the job of steering and the other did the fighting!

What were Mesopotamian homes like?

*People lived in small, cube-shaped houses.

*They had two floors. The ground floor was used as a workshop. The top floor was used for living.

*Few families could afford their own bathrooms. For those who had bathrooms the drains emptied into a nearby river…

*Houses were made from mud. People sometimes painted their door frames red to ward off evil spirits!

What was life like for the Mesopotamian women?

*Women were require to be responsible for their homes.

*Not keeping a well-ordered house was seen as a good reason for divorce!

*Women did not have equal rights with men.

Take a look at King Nebuchadnezzar II palace!!

How about clothing?

*Men were bare-chested and wore skirts that tied at the waist.

*Women wore robes that they draped over their left shoulder.

*They also used shawls and work jewelry with beads.

Pottery? Yes!

A board game with very hard rules …only adults could play it!!

What did the Mesopotamians eat?

What did the Mesopotamians bring to the world?

…and they also gave us……..