ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA (MODERN IRAQ)
Introduction: Origin & Development •
Mesopotamia-Greek Mesopotamia-Greek word meaning: meaning: The flat land between two rivers (Tigris & Euphrates) Also means ‘Fertile Crescent’ (traditional Garden of Eden)
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Initially inhabited by nomads- Semitic language Family (Hebrew & Arabs) Late became builders & Farmers in the South Civilization begun 3500BC in the cities of Sumer, Kish, Ur, Nippur, Uruk & Umma
Geography: •
Land: Steep and difficult with temp raising to 38 in summer and rainfall low- 10inches Rain unpredictable Spring- rivers flooded the valley –
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Rain re news soil fertility Snow melt, not rain (little vs. lots of snow, fast melt vs. slow melt)
Economic life: •
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Crops grown: wheat, barley, vegetablesonions, leeks, & dates Animals reared: Donkeys, cows, goats, pigs & sheep Surplus produces allowed Sumerians to result to other activities. Resulting to: •
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Production of bricks Invention of potter wheel Pottery Use of bronze
Challenges: •
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Control of flooded rivers Keeping up a stable irrigation system Keeping off enemies –
Socio-political system/Government Each
Sumerian city was independent of others Characterized warCities emerged same time & overlapped with time Rivalry- land, water & trade, mainly land & water
Leader- Highest priest (priest-king)- theocratic Priests had supreme authoritySumerians believed that the land & city-state was owned by gods and priests ruled on behalf of the gods
Social Structure
Based on level of dependency & freedom enjoyedNobles (Kings, Priests, Palace officials)
Free Clients (Dependent (D ependent on the Nobility
Commoners (Free Citizens) Protected by law
Slaves (Foreigners, prisoners of wars criminals, debtors)
Social System Cont’d….. Women
protected by dowry Men had absolute power sickness- caused by magic & evil spirits Education: Only
the rich kids went to school particularly the boys Maths, Botany, linguistics & writing
Religion: Polytheist
society- divided among functions tried to control the earth rain, sun, storms, water, wisdom Ziggurat-
Cont’d…… Desert Feudalism system: Petty-statism: Polarization:
Political Organizations:
Two main political settings: Confederate city-state Initially organized as city-state Loose confederate city/states – 100 square Empire Emerges
when people are conquered & are absorbed into a larger political system
Political Organizations: Organizations:
Famous Kings: Sumerian Empire – Lugal Zagge Akkadian - Sargon Akkad Guti – Ur- Nammu Old Babylon Empire- Hammurabi Assyrian Persian Empire unit- Satrapy or Province
Genesis of Civilization: Started by Sumerian who settled on the lower Tigris-Euphrates Created a form of writing Cuneiform Development of dykes, canals & irrigation ditches irrigation First to use fertilizer & invent glass Use of silver as a means of exchange Invent the wheel, cart & carriage
Formulated laws- based on ‘tit for tat’ or lex talionis Believed in Heroism- example of Hero storiesGilgameshas- recorded in Epic of Gilgamesh
Akkadian - Sargon (2300-2200): (2300-2200):
Overthrew Sumerian govt Retained social & administrative systems of Sumerian Characterized by invasion of foreign lands Authoritarian regime
Faced by external attacks & internal revolts
Guti Empire:
Nomad community from Zagros mountains Destroyed urban set up & imposed militaristic system Features: Decline in trade Anarchy as result of military coups & counter coups Only one successful king- Ur-Nammu (21132000)
Collapse of the empire attributed to foreign
attacks & division of the country by two powers
Amorites (Old-Babylonian)(Old-Babylonian) Hammurabi (1792-1750 (1792-1750))
Systematized law (Hammurabi code)
Composed of 300 laws set in a public place
Royal taxation Compulsory military services Treason & sedition – serious offense Protected women & children- dowry property of the women
Amorites (Old-Babylonian)(Old-Babylonian) Just
society
Economy of willing buyer & seller Law of partnership, title deeds, wills & interest Encouraged working on farms to ensure selfsufficiency
Assyrians - King Sennacherib Brutal & militaristic people- destroyed rather than built
Methods used to establish govt were ruthlessinstill fear & obedience
Building constructed
Administrative & military center for population control to minimize rebellion Propaganda- make people fear the king
Assyrians - King Sennacherib Characteristics:
Commerce & industry not promoted- lowered dignity of soldiers Agriculture main stay Trade was for non-Assyrians Intellectual contributions- military & health provision for military Art
Chaldean/Neo-Babylonian Chaldean/Neo-Babylonian Resurgence King Nebuchadnezzar (Medes- Iran)
Astrologers- divided the sky into 12 parts (Zodiac) Invented 7 day week Divided day into 120 minutes Charted the movements of planets & eclipses of the sun & moon Invented 360 degree-circle
King Nebuchadnezzar militarism formation of Hebrew Empire (Judah)
Enslaved them in Neo-Babylon
led
to
Hebrew (Israelites, Jews) History contained in the Torah
Trace their origin in Sumerian city- Ur
1950 BC – Abraham made covenant with God- Ur Ur under attack by the Elemites (Iran) Migrated to Palestine 12 tribes migrated to Egypt – 1600 BC under Hyksos
After Hyksos were overthrown – Hebrews were enslaved – Biblical bondage Moses led them & led them to Canaan arrived in Canaan – Joshua (1200BC)
Hebrew Cont’d……
Moses led them & led them to Canaan arrived in Canaan – Joshua Jos hua (1200BC) Followed by the leadership of the judges which ended in 1020 BC- Saul united the two tribes Followed by David & Solomon built the temple (First Temple) Solomon was extravagant – caused to cede 20 cities in Galilee in lieu of payment leading to hostility with his subjects Hostility continued during leadership of Solomon’s son- Rehoboam
Hebrew Cont’d…… The rise of two nations in Israel- Israel & Judah
Israel (North of Palestine) & Judah (South) Divided Kingdom resulted to idolatry Division led to attacks by foreigners – Israel (Assyrians) & Judah (Chaldeans) Attacks scattered the Hebrews all over the world resulting to 10 lost tribes of Israel
Nebuchadnezzar II & Israel
Hebrews (Judah) were incarcerated in Babylon Conspired with King Cyrus of Persian overthrew Neb Mesopotamia became a province of Persia & some Hebrews returned to Israel Those who remianed in Babylon (Disapora) – refers
Hebrew Cont’d…… The return of the Jews:
Jews from Judah tried to rebuild the temple but never succeeded coz of constant attacks
Attacked by Alexander the Great, King Antiochus (Syria), Herod (Roman)
King Herod renamed it Judea & destroyed when the Jews tried to rebel leading to second wave of Jews migration to Europe
Hebrew Cont’d…… Jews & Discrimination:
1096- Christian crusade persecuted & discriminated non-Christians Jews required to wear a badge or special clothes that would categorize them as Jews Lived in separated communities- Ghettos Jews lost right to own land & became money lenders & peddlers England & France expel Jews – settled in Poland & Germany
Hebrew Cont’d…… Enlightenment
Age (1700s) & Plight of Jews:
Period marked by ideas of liberty & equality- in Europe
Resulted into tolerance of Jews, emancipation and acceptance of Jews as citizens in individual European countries 1800s- Anti-semitism re-emerged when writersGermany tried to proof that Jews were inferior to Aryans 1849 a Jewish French army officer accused of treason
Hebrew Cont’d…… Enlightenment
Age (1700s) & Plight of Jews:
Then Jews decided only solution to antisemitism was a Jewish independent state Creation of Zionist movement Zionist movement begun by buying land in Palestine & established farms in Tel-Aviv During WWII – anti-semitism in parts of Europe lead to the death of 6 million Jews Israel – created in 1948 (Britain & US)
Jewish religious & national identity could be developed
PERSIAN EMPIRE Established by Cyrus the Great
Leader of Southern Persian tribes considered himself leader of Asia Minor
but
Succeeded by Cambyses- conquered Egypt Darius- conquer Greece
Key Contributions:
Religion – Zoroastrianism (600BC) & Mithraism (400BC)
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