Mesopotamia P.S.R.
- 1. Politics • Mesopotamia was made up of many small independent city-states. • Each city-state had its own government, laws, army, and more. • Each city-state had a monarchy for a government. Kings were believed to be chosen by the gods.
- 2. Politics • All the city-states in southern Mesopotamia are part of Sumeria; common culture. • City-states often would fight with each other to control natural resources and trade routes.
- 3. Politics • Akkadians lived in northern part of Mesopotamia. They were very similar to the Sumerians, but they spoke a different language. • The Akkadian king, Sargon I, conquered Sumeria. When one group of people (culture) conquers another, then they create an empire. Sargon I created the world’s first empire.
- 4. Hammurabi’s Code • A government keeps the peace, creates order in a community (just like a teacher in a classroom). • Hammurabi was the king of Babylon (a city in Sumeria). • Hammurabi created a set of laws that were written down.
- 5. Social Order • Specialization can refer to different jobs people become experts in (specialize). • Because people specialize in different jobs, some jobs are considered more important than others. This is how social classes are formed.
- 7. Religion • Mesopotamians were polytheistic, meaning they believed in more than one god. • They built massive temples called ziggurats to please their gods and goddesses. • Since the king was chosen by the gods, he also served as a priest in the ziggurat to offer sacrifices.
- 8. Religion • The gods often reflected the natural world in some way. - Anu: god of the heavens (stars) -Enlil: god of the wind -Enki: god of water -Ninhursag: mother of the gods • If the gods were pleased then the natural world worked correctly and people were happy and safe.