Four separate civilizations Mesopotamia Egypt Harappa (Indus Valley) Shang China (Huang He)

2. Four separate civilizations • Mesopotamia • Egypt • Harappa (Indus Valley) • Shang China (Huang He)

4. Mesopotamia was a succession of societies • Sumeria (Sumer) • Akkad • First Babylon • Assyria • Second Babylon

5. Geography • Unpredictable rivers (Tigris and Euphrates) • Delta region extremely fertile • Flat land open to invasion – no natural barriers • By 4,000 BCE at least four major groups had migrated into Sumeria: Hamites from North Africa, Semites from Arabia, Indo-Europeans from Russia, and Caucasians from Georgia • Semi-arid climate required extensive irrigation projects

7. Growth of the state • Irrigation projects required cooperation on a grand scale and leadership • Farmers banded together in settlements to manage the environment and for protection • These settlements became compact cities surrounded by high mud-brick walls • These cities were independent from one another hence they were city-states

8. The city-states were often built around existing religious structures – enhancing the close relationship between government and religion • The ziggurat became the focal point of these city-states

9. Ziggurats -stepped towers topped by temples

10. Ziggurats were the focal point of the city-state The Towerof Babel is believed to have been a ziggurat

11. Sumeria lasted about 1,300 years (3360 – 2400 BCE) • There was constant warfare between city-states and invaders and between city-states themselves • Each city-state controlled an area about 100 square miles • There were about 12 major city-states including Ur, Eridu, Lagash, and Uruk • Each city-state was ruled by a priest/leader called a Patesi who was the highest political, religious, and military authority

12. Religion • People felt utterly dependent on will of gods due to harsh life • Originally, each city-state had its own patron god but later all gods were collected into a hierarchy reflecting Sumerian values • As male gods became dominant = strengthening of patriarchy • Afterlife – sad and gloomy place (later used as model for Hell)

13. Religion and Politics • All land belonged to the gods and kings were their representatives • Kings and priests afforded special place in society • Theocracy – rule by gods or priests • By the end of Sumeria’s influence, kings were becoming separate from the priest class

14. Class System • Kings / priests • Commoners: farmers, artisans, merchants • Slaves • Sumerian Life • Marriage was based on a contract • Males were dominant but females had more freedom than they do today • Females exerted influence through sexuality • Due to property inheritances, women would be put to death for adultery

15. Cuneiform Oldest writing system Original purpose was economic Used to record memoranda, lists of goods, receipts, contracts, etc One of first uses was to record beer recipe

16. Cuneiform -first system of writing

17. Cuneiform tablet with envelope

18. Writing was reserved for the wealthy classes

19. Writing systems beget literature • Oldest literature was epic poemThe Epic of Gilgamesh • Poem relates story of Gilgamesh, ruler of Uruk, who seeks out survivor of great flood in quest of eternal youth

20. Trade links with Egypt and Harappa • Adopted use of silver as means of exchange • “Invented” the wheel and pioneered use of carts and chariots • Sumerian mathematics based on 12, 60, and 360 (clock and circle) • Sumerian astronomical charts basis for modern astronomy • Invented quadratic expressions

21. Conquered Sumeria = Akkad first empire • Some centralization of power • Sargon I = first emperor • Absorbed / took on Sumerian culture

22. Political • Akkad was overthrown by Amorites • Sumerian language disappeared – replaced by Amorite Semitic language • Made capital at Babylon • Old Babylon overthrown by invading Kassites and Hittites • Period of chaos followed for about three centuries

23. Hammurabi • Founder of the Old Babylonian Empire • Most known for his code of laws • based on 282 laws • principles: lextalonis and class

24. Political • Conquered Kassites and brought all of Mesopotamia under their control • Noted for brutality and ruthlessness • Largest Mesopotamian empire in landmass • Conquered Egypt for short period • Assyria brought down by invading Medes and Chaldeans

25. Political • Established by Chaldeans who made capital at Babylon • King Nebuchadnezzar • Hanging gardens • Continued Sumerian culture • Conquered by the Persians

26. Other Middle Eastern Societies • Hittites • Iron • Israelites • Two kingdoms • Judaism • Phoenicians • Alphabet • Trade colonies (Carthage)

29. 1. What was the world’s first writing system? 2. What was it developed for? 3. Who were literate in Mesopotamia? Why? 4. What was the first piece of literature? What was it about? 5. What was the basic political unit of Mesopotamia? 6. What was the focal point of the Mesopotamian city-state?

30. 7. How did geography affect the development of Mesopotamian religion? 8. How did geography affect the development of Mesopotamian civilization? 9. What was the first empire? Who created it? 10. What was the Code of Hammurabi? What was it based on? 11. Who laid the foundations for our modern alphabet?

31. The characteristic political organization of the Tigris – Euphrates civilization was • Democracy • Large, durable empires • Village-level government • Regional city-states • Hunting bands

34. Geography • Desert • “Redlands” • Natural barriers to invasion • Nile River • “Blacklands” • Unlike Mesopotamia, river serene and predictable • River was everything to Egyptians: life and communication • Mediterranean and Red seas • How did geography influence Egypt’s religion?

35. Political • Egypt separated into two distinct regions: Upper and Lower Egypt • These regions unified by King Menes during the Archaic Period • Pharaoh – “great house” or “palace”

36. Founded by King Zoser • Power virtually unlimited • Pharaoh was considered child of the sun god • Married sister to keep blood lines pure • Pharaoh’s chief subordinates were the priests – pharaoh was the chief priest

37. Egypt eventually divided into 42 provinces administered by a governor • Governors reported to the Pharaoh or his chief bureaucratic official, the Vizier • The Old Kingdom was a period of great peace • Pharaoh had no standing army – each local area had its own militia • There was little to no slavery • Most of the large pyramids were constructed during the Old Kingdom

38. The pyramids at Giza

39. Contrary to popular belief, the pyramids were not built with slave labor but by the Egyptian people. How was it done?

41. The Old Kingdom fell about 2200 BCE • Financial problems due to construction of the pyramids • Crop failures • Provincial nobles usurped power from central government – warred against each other • Civil war allowed development of brigands and invasion by desert nomads • Period of chaos called the First Intermediate Period – ended with rise of Middle Kingdom around 2050 BCE

42. Ruled through an alliance composed of middle class – nobility kept in check Period of expansion – Nubia conquered Construction of public works versus pyramids Religion democratized – hope of salvation of common people

43. Middle Kingdom considered golden age of Egypt • Middle Kingdom possibly fell to revolt by nobles • Period of chaos followed • Weakened Egypt conquered by Hyksos

44. Hyksos gained power through superior weapons: chariots and bronze weapons • Egyptians learned from Hyksos – united as one people to oust them • Ahmose became powerful as power of nobility severely curtailed

45. Egypt became imperialistic – appetite whetted for war and conquest • The large army gathered to destroy the Hyksos used by pharaoh to expand territory • Egypt conquered into Libya and Syria • Prisoners of war = large slave population

46. Hatshepsut • First of four female rulers of Egypt • Became pharaoh as regent for son • Succeeded by son Thutmose III • Son destroyed most records of Hatshepsut

47. Amenhotep IV (Akhenaton) • Established monotheism • Aton- the sun god • Queen Nefertiti • Short reign (~15 years)

48. Polytheism restored by boy-pharaoh Tutankhamen • Ramses II (The Great) • The Treaty of Kadesh - Egypt & Hittites • Conquered by nomadic Sea People • Last real independent kingdom • Libyans, Nubians (Kush), Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Muslims, Europeans Forensic experts have re-created the real Tutankhamen

49. The Treaty of Kadesh

50. Ramses the Great today