Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia

=Geography= The geographic setting was a very important factor in the development of the civilization of Mesopotamia. The civilization was located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.which are 300 miles long and 150 miles wide. The rivers start in the high mountains and flow down them with torrential force. The geographic setting had a good impact because they were surrounded by water. The land is fertile natural vegetation wildlife and rivers provided water irrigation place to bathe and a good place to settle and good land to grow crops. They used the water for transportation and they used the water to grow their crops. There was little stone and wood to build houses so people used reeds which grew in the marshes. Mesopotamia was also located in between.Mesopotamia is now called Iraq and Iran. Southern Iraq. Mesopotamia is now called Iraq. yes Mesopotamia was In between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Persian gulf, Nile River, Zagros mountain's, Arabian Desert, Caspian river.They were near Tigris river, Euphrates river, Caspian sea, black sea, red sea, Mediterranean sea, Persian gulf. The civilization was located in present day Iran hellow. iLove You

= Time Period =

**Mesopotamia emerged as a civilization in** **3500 BCE.the bronze age 5300 BCE - 539 BCE and existed for about 5000 years. The nation was at it's peak between 3500 - 3000 BCE. Mesopotamia fell around 5000 BCE** despite all of the advancements they had made as a society.

= Government =

** The ruler ship that the civilization had was **

** They had a ruler that could kill you on the spot if he so pleased **  ** Democratic assembly and elected a leader. He was called a lugal and was only appointed at times of crisis but some lugals stayed on as permanent leaders.Hammurabi took control in 1792 BCE **  ** The ruler of Mesopotamia ** ** groups of men called Councils of Elders ruled city states **  ** The citizens met and made decisions ** ** They were organized by Hammurabi's laws ** ** Mesopotamia was organized by the emperor and the rulers ** ** They were organised with a government. ** ** They were organized by the Emperors **

** The laws that they had were under the name of Hammurabi's laws ** ** They had Hammurabi's law E.G. Eye for an eye ** ** They did not have courts. ** ** They had didn't have courts if somebody stole something they would get there hand chopped off **

** They didn't have courts but they would torture people for doing bad things. ** ** Yes they did have courts They were really brutal and it is not fair it is like an eye for and eye **

= Rise and Fall of Mesopotamia = = Economy = = = Mesopotamian's had to trade because Mesopotamia didn't have many natural resources.They traded grain,oil and textiles for timber stone and wine. They used boats to trade grain and donkeys to transport precious stones. Their Geography location affected their ability to trade because they were near the rivers and they had to take boats to get there. Wealthy people were government officials, priests and rich traders. Free citizens were merchants, farmers, laborers. They rented farm land from free citizens and there were also slaves there the slaves did the Mesopotamians work. There economy wasn't based on the social class.
 * Irrigation caused this civilization to rise. The reason of the fall was the over irrigation, causing salt to poison the once fertile land were plants grew.**
 * Trade caused Mesopotamia to Rise and then fall**
 * It fell because they over irrigated in the sunny and warm climate that made the salt rise up to they top and destroy the plants that can not grow in the salt and then they rose because they had the rivers.****Irrigation caused this civilization to rise. The reason of the fall was the over irrigation, causing salt to poison the once fertile land were plants grew.**
 * Trade caused Mesopotamia to Rise and then fall It fell because they over irrigated in the sunny and warm climate that made the salt rise up to they top and destroy the plants that can not grow in the salt and then they rose because they had the rivers.****Mesopotamia was conquered 4 times They were invaded numerous times because they had no mountains to protect them from invasions.Mesopotamia was conquered 4 times** **Mesopotamia did have a golden age wealth, power, art, trade, and abundant food.)**
 * From 2900-2700 was the golden age and during the golden age they had lots of food wealth and power.Mesopotamia had a golden age when they were trading there food and stuff.****I think if Mesopotamia was in a different place they would still have a lot of power they could have slayed in the power that they had if they had a different location**

= Technology = **They invented the wheel The Mesopotamians were the first people to use this wheel,Sailing ships, writing, irrigation they built dams and ditches and dikes.****They did not have a calender** **like the ones we have today. They did not have a calender in Mesopotamia.** ** In Mesopotamia they did have irrigation to water their crops and take care of their and animals. ****They built their roads by using bricks clay and wood we use bricks today and we use wood today so it** **is almost like today.**



= Religion-**Polytheistic they believed in many gods. They were** **Polytheistic in Mesopotamia.** **Their religion was linked in Mesopotamia.** **In Mesopotamia they did not be live in life after death.** =

=Social Classes & Slavery=

The wealthiest people were kings, government officials, There was also professional solders, priests, land owners and rich traders. Other citizens In Mesopotamia were merchants, farmers, and laborers. There were also slaves but they were at the bottom of the social class. if you broke the law by hitting a family member you could be punished by becoming a slave. Workers could volunteer themselves or family members into slavery to repay debt. surtan people could had special rights like if you were a king you could have someone killed on the spot.

The culture that Mesopotamians lived in was built by slaves and builders. A lot of Mesopotamians that were found breaking the law could be put into slavery, if they were they could buy there way out of it but they got little pay. The practice of slavery was permanent in Mesopotamia because merchants came each year with slaves to sell. This pice of a tapisty has slaves that are caring something that is probably for a structure. = Art & Architecture The role that art played in Mesopotamia was representing that war prisoners were treated harshly and it shows the war techniques. Their main forms of art was their artifact's and maps. They are best known for their temples and palaces. A lot of this art was to honor their gods, leaders and historical events. **They had a lot of time for art because they had a good system for farming.**  =