1	Mesopotamia A Case Study in Civilization
2	Requirements for Civilization Urban revolution New Political and Military Structures Social Structure based on economic power The development of complex technology Development of Writing Distinct religious structure New forms of artistic and cultural activity
3	The Geography The land “between the rivers”. Arid yet, fertile. Silt, irrigation, and civilization.
4	The Mesopotamian City Towns gradually outgrew themselves and became walled cities. City states, large population groups ruled by all powerful kings grew in the place of the town. Famous sites such as Ur, Uruk, and Eridu are examples.
5	The City Center: The Ziggurat While the walls provided protection from without, the temple protected the people within.
6	Ziggurat
7	Religion Gods and Goddesses owned the cities and as a result much wealth was devoted to temple construction. The temples played a significant role in the daily life of Mesopotamians.
8	Significant Deities Anu: God of the Sky Enlil: God of the Wind Enki: God of the Earth Ninhursaga: God of Soil and Vegetation
9	Mesopotamian Outlook Many felt helpless with “Anthromophorbic” gods who “meddled” in the lives of people. Life filled with strife, discomfort, and war. “The rampant flood which no man can oppose, which shakes the heavens and casuses the earth to tremble, In an appalling blanket folds mother and child, beats down the meadows full luxuriant greenery, and drowns the harvest in time of ripeness.” Epic of Gilgamesh
10	Relationships with the divine Mesopotamians believed they were placed on earth to “serve”. They felt they could never be secure of the gods actions.
11	Economy Largely agricultural Small industries: pottery, metallurgy, textiles, and crafts brought them fame and foreign trade.
12	Innovation Foreign trade led to, and facilitated “cultural diffusion”. As economies grew in scale, innovations such as writing and the wheel facilitated these innovations.
13	Social Class in Sumeria The Elite: Nobles The Labor: Commoners The Slaves
14	Empires in Ancient Mesopotamia A kingdom to which rulers have added areas belonging to other rulers. Warfare nearly constant…as men like Senacharib of Assyria sought conquest “Ur is destroyed bitter in its lament. The country’s blood now fills its holes like hot bronze in a mold. Bodies dissolve like fat in the sun. Our temple is destroyed,d the gods have abandoned us, like migrating birds. Smoke lies on our city like a shroud.”
15	Akkadians Led by the legendary Sargon. Semitic language speaking peoples. Overran the Sumerian city states and established an empire.
16	Hammurabi Organized the Amorites (Old Babylonians) into an empire, built the legendary city of Babylon. Known for incredible military discipline. “The Sun of Babylon”.
17	The Great Lawgiver “An Eye For An Eye” Complex societies required codified legal systems. Examples:
18	The Cultivation of New Arts and Sciences Cuneiform Schools for the elite, scribes. The Epic of Gilgamesh Time, calendar, mathematics, etc…
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20	The World’s Oldest Story? The Meaning of Life and the Epic of Gilgamesh
21	The Epic The Epic of Gilgamesh is probably the oldest written story in the world. The story was written down on 12 clay tablets somewhere in ancient Sumer. It is the first heroic epos that we know of, predating the greek by at least 1500 years.
22	Piecing Together History? Problems? Epic: incomplete, as you can see portions of the original are in tatters. Persia destroyed the great library of Nineveh in 612 BCE. However, we do have it in multiple ancient languages.
23	Gilgamesh? Fabled king of Uruk, the true, legendary city in Sumer.
24	The Story The King: Gilgamesh is a flawed figure, the worlds first tragic hero. In his story we find bits and pieces of all that makes us human. The desire for compassion, greatness, sympathy, and friendship…while displaying ignorance, greed, and intolerance.
25	Elements of an Epic Within Gilgamesh we find: Flood myth Eden Discussion of life and death Cornerstone philosophies of modern religion.