The Emergence of The Emergence of civilizations civilizations

(@ 4000-3000 BCE)(@ 4000-3000 BCE)

EARLY RIVER EARLY RIVER VALLEY VALLEY

CIVILIZATIONSCIVILIZATIONS

OriginsOrigins• Why Mesopotamia?Why Mesopotamia?• Fertile Crescent/Tigris/Euphrates (pg 30)Fertile Crescent/Tigris/Euphrates (pg 30)• Where? Modern day Kuwait and Iraq.Where? Modern day Kuwait and Iraq.• Who were first to arrive? SumeriansWho were first to arrive? Sumerians

Disadvantages: Disadvantages:

1.1.unpredictable flooding (unlike Egypt)unpredictable flooding (unlike Egypt)

2.2.No natural protectionNo natural protection

3.3.Limited natural resourcesLimited natural resources• How where these problems solved?How where these problems solved?• City-statesCity-states

The Standard of UrThe Standard of Ur

Clearly defined social classes Clearly defined social classes

Emergence of organized formalized Emergence of organized formalized religionsreligions

SUMER (p. 29-33)SUMER (p. 29-33)• Cuneiform- knife carves wedges into a tabletCuneiform- knife carves wedges into a tablet• Scribes worked with over 580 letters. Few could use Scribes worked with over 580 letters. Few could use

cuneiformcuneiform• Epic of GilgameshEpic of Gilgamesh• Cultural diffusionCultural diffusion• ZigguratsZiggurats• Conquered by Sargon and the AkkadiansConquered by Sargon and the Akkadians• World’s first________.World’s first________.

cuneiform cuneiform writing writing

Sumerian farmers plowingSumerian farmers plowing

Bronze Age tools and Bronze Age tools and weaponsweapons

sailboatsailboat

limestone bowls Urlimestone bowls Ur

Sumerian statues of Gods and Goddesses

Standard of Ur Standard of Ur

Scenes of PeaceScenes of Peace

Scenes of warScenes of war

Sumerian necklace Sumerian necklace

Sumerian Bull's Head,

Lyre from Tomb of

Paubi, c. 2600 B.C.

Early Sumerian writing—pictographs

Later Sumerian writing—represent sounds down from 3000 to 300

The Behistun Rock: the key to deciphering cuneiform

BABYLON (p.33)BABYLON (p.33)• Amorites invade Mesopotamia around 2000 BCAmorites invade Mesopotamia around 2000 BC• Establish capital at Babylon on the EuphratesEstablish capital at Babylon on the Euphrates• Hammurabi and his code (“eye for an eye”)Hammurabi and his code (“eye for an eye”)• Concept of “codification”Concept of “codification”• Rights to women?Rights to women?

ASSYRIANS (p.95-97)ASSYRIANS (p.95-97)• Capital is NinevahCapital is Ninevah• Known for being nasty, violent, and vile (often Known for being nasty, violent, and vile (often

massacred conquered cities)massacred conquered cities)• Militaristic people with advanced weaponsMilitaristic people with advanced weapons• Eventually conquered by neo-Babylonians Eventually conquered by neo-Babylonians

(Chaldeans)and Medes(Chaldeans)and Medes• 2 important kings= Sennacharib and Ashurbanipal2 important kings= Sennacharib and Ashurbanipal

Relief: Assyrian conquest of Israel

CHALDEANS (p.97-98)CHALDEANS (p.97-98)• ““New” or “Neo” BabyloniansNew” or “Neo” Babylonians• NebuchadnezzarNebuchadnezzar• Legends about Babylon: Hanging Gardens, Legends about Babylon: Hanging Gardens,

11 mile long wall, walls were supposedly 11 mile long wall, walls were supposedly thick enough for a 4 horse chariot to ride onthick enough for a 4 horse chariot to ride on

Solomon’s Temple

Wailing Wall

Lion Hunt