lesson 2 mesopotamia
TRANSCRIPT
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