the advantaged old world: mesopotamia and the americas
TRANSCRIPT
The Advantaged Old World: Mesopotamia and the Americas
I. Introduction
Collision at Cajamarca Mesopotamia and the Americas
II. Sumeria
A. Geography’s Helping Hand1. Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
2. Favorable Crops
3. Favorable Animals
B. Surplus Food and Rapid Population Growth
II. Sumeria (cont.)
C. The Mother of Invention1. Government
a. Irrigation
b. Defense
2. Cities (City States)
3. Specialists and Innovation
II. Sumeria (cont.)
4. Writing--Cuneiform
5. The Law--Hammurabi's Code
D. Trade and Diffusion
II. Sumeria (cont.)
E. Geography's Revenge--Sumeria's Decline1. Akkadian Empire (2340-2100 B.C.E.)
2. Hammurabi’s Empire (1792-1750 B.C.E.)
3. Salt
III. The Americas
A. Civilizations of the Americas1. The Olmec (1st Millennia B.C.E.)
2. The Mayan Civilization (300 B.C.E.-8th Century C.E.)
III. The Americas
B. Technological Innovations1. Writing
2. The Wheel
III. The Americas
C. Developmental Problems1. Late Arrival
2. Geography
3. Difficult Diffusion
Sumeria
Templeat Choga
Aerial View of Choga
Ancient Envelope
LamassuGuardiansFromSargon II’s Palace
Hammurabi’sCode
The Americas
El Castillo
IV. Conclusion
• Cajamarca Revisited
• The Unfolding Middle East