Civilizations in Mesopotamia

Civilizations in
Mesopotamia
By Gal Bejerano, Eric Chiem, Sarah Lynn Duquette, Jackie
Forson, Ana Khovanskaya, Adam Rivelli, Sashrika Saini, and
Chris Thorne
Mesopotamia
General Mesopotamia
“Mesopotamia” comes from Greek meaning “between
rivers”
Location: includes modern day eastern Syria, southeastern
Turkey, and much of Iraq
Also called the Fertile Crescent: beginning of Ancient
Civilizations
Sumerians
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The Sumerian Civilization emerged from the flood of the Tigris River in 4000 BCE and
ended in 900 BCE.
Resided in modern day Iraq (Mesopotamia)
Organized as city-states surrounding a temple, which was ruled by a Priesthood.
○ Antediluvian rulers, such as priesthoods lasted until 2900 BCE
○ Starting from 1817 BCE, the 20 Dynasties, starting with the Dynasty of Kish, and
ending with Isin.
Before the kingships, communities were considered slaves of the priesthood in service to
the local god.
Calamities were explained as other gods acting in concert which overruled the local god.
Classes of Priest, craftsmen, and peasants, and warriors which protected the community
THE GOAL OF LIVING WAS TO PLEASE GODS AND PROTECT FROM THE FALL OF
COMMUNITY
Elamites
● Located in modern day Southwest Iran
● Two types of Elamites: Proto-Elamites and Elamites
○ Proto-Elamites: 3200-2700 BCE;
○ Elamite: 2700-539 BCE
● Seven dynasties: Avan, Simash, Elam, Babylonian, Igehalkid, Shutrukid,
and Late Elam
● Were often at war with Sumer, Akkad, and Assyria
Assyrians
LOCATION- Present- Present-Day northern Iraq, southeastern Turkey, northeastern
Syria, northwestern Iran
● HISTORY: Ancient versus Contemporary
ANCIENT ASSYRIANS
Ancient Assyrians were part of Assyrian Empire- Ended 612 B.C.E
Ancient Assyrians worshipped the god Assur until 256 B.C.E
CONTEMPORARY
Contemporary Assyrians were one of the first to accept Christianity
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Assyrians
First Golden Age
Emergence
3 Parts of Assyrian Empire
1. Emergence: Beginnings To 2400 B.C.- Ashur and Arbel were the first two cities formed in the Empire
2. First Golden Age: 2400 B.C. to 612 B.C.A. Sargon of Akkad established his kingdom in 2371 B.C.E and became the first king of the Assyrians.
Shamshi-Adad I became the ruler that was able to unite three cities of Ashur, Nineveh and Arbel.
B. In 1472 B.C.- Mittanian king annexed Assyria but he was soon overthrown. Then Ashuruballit formed the
Assyrian Empire.
C. The empire then continued on a rollercoaster of declines and peaks.
D. Tiglath-Pileser III (745-727)- he began the greatest expansion of the Assyrian Empire.
3. First Dark Age: 612 B.C. to 33 A.D.-The Assyrian empire collapsed in 612 B.C. They remained under the radar for
600 years
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Akkadians
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The Akkadian Dynasty was founded in 2350 B.C. by Sargon, king of Kish
The Akkad region encompassed most of Mesopotamia near Iraq, from Anatolia to Iran to
Arabia to Mediterranea
Began as a small empire but soon overtook the Sumerians and their land area
The climax of the Akkadian Dynasty was under the rule of Naram-Sin, grandson of
Sargon
Around 2200 B.C., drought hit the area and the government fell
Amorites
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Best known for Babylonia under king Hammurabi.
an ancient Semitic-speaking people, dominated Mesopotamia/Syria/Palestine 2000-1600BC.
used to be nomadic, settled down
true place of origin likely Arabia
transformed Babylon from a “minor administrative center” into an independent city-state
developed powerful cities during Early Bronze Age
referred to as Amurru in Sumerian texts, Amurru vs. Amorite
appear as uncivilized, brutish before settling down (Sumerian hymn)
referenced sporadically in Bible, Talmud
fell under Hittite empire, re-emerged as Arameans in 12th century BC
Babylonians
Location: southern Mesopotamia
612 BC: Babylon is independent from Assyria. Chaldeans
(ruling peoples) proceed to conquer the rest of
southern Mesopotamia.
539 AD: Empire overthrown by Cyrus the Great, a
Persian king. City of Babylon remains important.
Kassites
● Location - Eastern Iraq, Western Iran, Zagros
Mountains
● Attacked first Babylonian dynasty (Amorites), repelled
● Took over Tigris-Euphrates valley, established capital city of DurKurigalzu
● Reigned over Babylonia from Dur-Kurigalzu before creating the second
Babylonian dynasty
● Brought out of power by the Elamites, after being weakened by local
uprisings
● Reigned from 1595 B.C. to 1155 B.C.
Chaldeans / Neo babylonian empire
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625-539 BC
Located in modern day Syria, Iraq, and Southeastern Turkey
King Nebuchadnezzar was a part of the Chaldean Dynasty
○ Conquered much of Syria, Israel
○ Began the Babylonian Captivity of the Jews
Ended when Persia conquered the
Middle East
Language, Writing,
Communication
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Sumerian language was divided into 4 parts: Archaic, Old, New, and Post. Most of the text
contained business and administrative records. All text was written in cuneiform.
Language became more bilingual: included lamentations, myths, epics and etc.
The Elamites had their own unique cuneiform language called Elamite
From the Assyrian Empire’s beginning to about 750 B.C.E, they spoke and wrote Akkadian. The
second language they adopted was Modern Assyrian.
The Akkadian language (Akkadia) was similar to Sumerian in that it was a type of cuneiform
adapted to their own uses
The Kassites used Sumerian cuneiform as the main form of writing and Babylonian as the
main language
The Chaldean language was Aramaic, a different dialect than the one later spoken
Amorite language- early northwest Semitic language, one of Canaanic languages, known from
recorded non-Amorite proper names. Canaanite-Hebrew dialect of West Semitic.
The Babylonian language was a variant of semitic Akkadian
Natural Resources,
Agriculture
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Sumerians utilized the flooding river to fertilize soil.
Sumerians produce a surplus of olives, barley, emmer (wheat), flax, and grapes.
An important natural resource was mud. It was used to make tablets, as well as foundation
for houses, as well as city walls.
Irrigation was used to dig ditches for defense.
Most natural resources found in river (silt, mud, clay)
The Elamites mined large amounts of Lapis Lazuli
The Akkadians relied on agriculture so much that when drought hit, the government
collapsed
The Assyrian southern lands are next to the Tigris River. Farther south, there is a
lack of rainfall for proper agriculture.
Amorites- move triggered by a drought.
Babylonians’ agriculture (barley, wheat, fruits, vegetables) formed economy
Creative expression,
culture, art
Sumerians
Elamites
Assyrians
Akkadians
Amorites
Babylonians
Kassites
Chaldeans
Organization, Specialization,
Government and Laws, Hierarchy
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Sumerians - Classes of Priest, craftsmen, and peasants, and warriors which protected the
community
○ Multiple dynasties
The Elamites were ruled by a king, whose descendants acted as viceroys. When the king died,
a viceroy would take the throne. If there were no viceroys, a vassal prince would then be
chosen as the next king.
The Assyrians were mainly ruled by military leaders.
Akkadians were run by a family of people in a monarchical system, from Sargon to Rimus to
Man-Istusu to Naram-Sin to Shar-Kali-Shari
Kassites ruled using Feudalism
The Chaldeans were ruled by a king who was (usually) succeeded by their son. There were
social classes, with priests and warriors near the top.
Amorites ruled by dynasties of kings, destroyed existing, made their own (warlike)
Babylonian hierarchy included king, nobles, free citizens, those in service (three classes: awilu,
mushkenu, wardu)
Monetary system,
trade and commerce
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Sumerians’ main source of income was agriculture.
○ Also learned to obtain copper and gold.
○ Traded with Anatolians, Mediterranean coast, Persian Gulf, and India.
The Elamites sometimes traded with Sumer, Akkad, and Assyria
The modern day shekel was introduced by the Mesopotamians in around 3000 B.C.
The name of the shekel currency came from the Akkadian ‘she,’ which meant barley,
for barley was used as a unit of trade by the Akkadians
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1 mina = 1 lb. of silver
1 mina = 60 shekels
1 talent = 60 minas
Kassite kings used kudurrus (boundary stones) as records of land grants
Assyrians were very detailed with trading and they kept organized notes of trades.
Amorites maintained trade with Canaan and Egypt.
Chaldeans depended largely on war and tribute from their captured peoples.
For Babylonians, trade resulted in weath.
Community, cities, buildings,
infrastructure, transportation
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Sumerians were organized as city-states surrounding a temple
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Temples were the center for society
Extremely elaborately built
Quarters for all merchants, craftsmen, priests, etc.
Well cared for.
The Elamites built tall thick structures out of unrefined brick. Cities in the northwest had double or
triple stone walls
The Kassites renovated many Babylonian cities
The Ancient Assyrians built their original homes with mud and bricks. Their efforts failed during the
First Dark Age, making it impossible to rebuild their empire for 600 years.
The Akkadians had roads and an intricate postal service
The Chaldeans developed several architectural advances (Double-walled cities, Moats, Hanging Gardens,
Ziggurats, Brickwork)
Amorites developed city-states behind powerful walls, elaborate temples and palaces.
In Babylonia, around the temple were houses made of sun-dried brick, ith narrow, irregular, streets
Technology
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Sumerian- Technology Writing and systematic record-keeping(Plow, Social and economic
structure, units of time (day=24 hrs, 1hr=60 mins), wheel)
Elamite scripture was based on sumerian cuneiform. Although not competent compared to
other languages, Proto-Elamite scripture had a linear format and used as a basis for
Greek. It was unlike the other cuneiform characters which were boxed, without order.
The Akkadians implemented a system of weights and measures, mostly in terms of the
size of a barleycorn, and had the first postal service where clay tablets were wrapped
in clay
The Assyrians invented spoke wheels that made chariots lighter and faster.
The Chaldeans were excellent Astronomers
○ Eclipses, Astrology, Predictions
Babylonians measured time with water or sun clock. There were 12
lunar months in the year (similar to now)
Religion, moral
system, values
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Sumerians believe in local and universal gods.
The Elamites worshipped multiple gods but don’t have any mythological texts and
characteristics of each god are very limited. Most interpretations of their gods are based
off of Mesopotamian texts.
Akkadians worshipped many gods such as An/Anu, Adad, and Sin
Assyrians were among the first to accept Christianity during their Contemporary history.
During their Ancient civilization, they practiced Ashurism
The sacred animal of the Kassites was the horse
Amorites described as non-religious and warlike before, then worshipped pantheon of gods
headed by Amurru, Belu Sadi, Belit Seri.
Ishtar - Goddess of Love, War
Babylonians - polytheistic. Each god had his own specialty, but there was a lot of
overlapping. Daily presentation of offerings, cleaning, and purification.
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