MESOPOTAMIA AND EGYPTChapters 2-3

Bell Ringer What can you

learn about how the Egyptians viewed their rulers from this tablet?

Mesopotamia The Quest for Order

Mesopotamia “The Land between the Rivers” Little Rain, irrigation is important

Tigiris and Euphrates were unpredictable

Food Supply will increase First Cities Emerge, 4000 BCE

City-States Government sponsored building projects,

irrigation systems, wall building (defense), and military

Hello Taxes! Kingships will evolve

Mesopotamia Quest for Order (cont.)

Empires Hammurabi (1792-1750 BCE)

Centralized the bureaucracy and regulated taxation Capital is Babylon Law Code: law of retribution and importance of social status Empire crumbles as a result of Hittite assaults

Assyrians (1300-612 BCE) Powerful Armies: powerful officers (merit), chariots, archers, iron

weapons Deport people from their families, cut rebels appendages, moved

skilled workers around, raping, murder Rebellions due to unpopular rule brings an end to the empire

New Babylonian (600-550 BCE) Nebuchadnezzar Hanging Gardens of palace display wealth and luxury

Mesopotamia: Hanging Gardens

Mesopotamia Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural

Tradition Economic Specialization and Trade

Bronze: weapons and agricultural tools Iron: (cheaper than bronze) weapons and tools Wheel: carts (trade) Shipbuilding: maritime trade increases

Patriarchal Society Social Classes

Kings (hereditary) and nobles (family/supporters) Priest and Priestesses Free Commoners (pay taxes, laborers) Slaves (domestic servants)

Mesopotamia Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural

Tradition Architecture

Ziggurats: religious buildings The religion of Mesopotamia was unpredictable, much like the

Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Written Cultural Tradition

Cuneiform Trade: Wheat and Goats. YAY!!

Education: vocational to be scribe or government official Literature: astronomy, mathematics, abstract (religious and

literary) Epic of Gilgamesh

Egypt Early Agricultural

Society in Africa Egypt and Nubia: The

Gift of the Nile Egypt – Lower Third of

the Nile Predictable, Safe, and

Rich Cultivated gourds,

watermelons, wheat, and barley

Domesticated donkeys and cattle

Egypt The Unification of Egypt

Large and Prosperous state Menes at Memphis unite Upper and Lower Egypt Pharaoh, absolute ruler and owns all land

Archaic Period and Old Kingdom THE GOLDEN PERIOD Great Pyramids of Giza built

Peasants and Slaves Ra: pharaohs became Gods after death

Pharaoh was seen as a God (calm, cool, benevolent) Very Literate and Rich

Until 2250 BCE poverty, droughts, power struggles

Egypt Turmoil and Empire

Period of upheaval after Old Kingdom Middle Kingdom

Rulers were “outsiders” from Nubia New Gods: Amun (hidden) more successful!!

Amun-Ra: many buildings dedicated to this God Conquerors! Nomadic Horsemen, Hyksos, invade Egypt (assimilated

to the Egyptians than destroyed them and expelled them)

Using bronze weapons, compound bows, and chariots Causes revolts in Upper Egypt

Egypt New Kingdom

Military Expansion Pharaoh gain power, huge army, large

bureaucracy Building projects: temples, palaces, statues Hatshepsut : Expanded Egypt through trade Then Egypt falls into a long period of decline

Egypt Complex Societies and Sophisticated Cultural

Traditions The Emergence of Cities and Stratified Societies

Social Classes Egypt: peasants and slaves (agriculture), pharaoh,

professional military and administrators Nubia: complex and hierarchical society

Patriarchy in both but women have more influence than in Mesopotamia

Women act as regents, like female pharaoh Hatshepsut Nubia: women serve as queens, priestesses, and scribes