Mesopotamia

History of Tourism

1. What was Mesopotamia It was the 1 st civilization in History The world “Mesopotamia” has a Geek origin, and it mean the land between rivers. Those rivers were Tigris and Euphrates. Today in this area we can find the countries of Iraq and Syria, and a little part of Iran and Turkey.

2. Why live in Mesopotamia ? Create a high and safe flood plain Make irrigation and canal construction easy Provide protection The surrounding swamps were full of fish & waterfowl

3. History of Mesopotamia Over the centuries, many different people lived in this area creating a collecting of independent states Sumer- southern part (3,500-2,000 BC) Akkad- northern part (2,340-2,180 BC) Babylonia- these two regions were unified (1,830-1,500 BC and 650-500 BC) Assyria- Assyrian Empire (1,100-612 BC)

4. Sumer ( 3,500-2,000 BCE ) Sumerians settled in Sumer , the southern part of Mesopotamia. They founded a group of city-states-> they were independent, and each one ruled over its surrounding lands. The most important of these cities were Uruk , Ur and Lagash. They shared language and culture (they were part of the same civilization), but they were not part of an empire.

5. Akkadian Empire (2,330 – 2,130 BC) In the 3 rd millennium BC new people settled in Mesopotamia among the Sumerians, such as the Akkadians , which settled in the city of Akkad in central Mesopotamia. In 2,330 BC, the Akkadian king Sargon I, conquered Sumer and established the Akkadian Empire. From that city of Akkad he controlled all Mesopotamia. It was the first time this land was ruled by the same leader. In 2,130 BC the Akkadian Empire was destroyed. Mesopotamia lost its unity.

6. Babylonian Empire(1,800-1,500 BC) In 1,800 BC , king Hammurabi from the city of Babylon, began to dominate over the rest of the territory, and unified Mesopotamia again. Hammurabi became very famous because of his law code(Code of Hammurabi)… it was the first history!!! In 1,500 BC the Babylonian Empire was destroyed (conquered by the Hittites and the Kassites ).Mesopotamia lost its unity again.

7. Assyrian Empire (1,300 – 625 BC) Around 1,300 BC the Assyrians, the inhabitants of the northern part of Mesopotamia, created a great empire. They ruled over a very large territory that went from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea. They were famous because of their ferocity and cruelty. But the Mesopotamia civilization was reaching its end…

8. Political Structures: Sumerians , 5000-1900s BCE Sumer was divided into city-states , meaning that each city had it’s own ruler, laws, and social customs. Each city-state was centered around a temple dedicated to a god or goddess. Each city-state was ruled by a priest-king or a king who was the head of the city government and the temple. Kings had both civic and religious responsibilities.

9. Social Structure There are four main classes in Ancient S umer The priest were the highest then the highest then the upper class, after that the lower class, at the bottom are the slaves. The priests were in charge of making every one behave as the gods would like The slaves came from different towns from were the Sumerian conquered before. Lower Class Slaves Upper Class Priests

10. Economics: Mesopotamia Mesopotamia’s economy was based on agriculture and trade. Mesopotamian’s traded natural resources, like jewels and precious stones. Mesopotamian’s traded their natural resources and excess crops for things that were scarce in Mesopotamia, like wood. Mesopotamian’s also traded art, pottery, jewelry, and slaves.

11. Religion The Mesopotamians religion was the first to be recorded. Mesopotamians believed in gods and goddesses that had their divine natural forces. There were four creator gods Anu sky god, Enlil storms and helping people, Nin- khursag earth goddess, Enki water god and patron of wisdom. Priests in Mesopotamia were responsible for sacrifices and ritual that they thought the gods needed.

12. Thank you!!!