Mesopotamia is a land between rivers "Tigris-Euphrates", both of it have their headwaters in mountains of Armenia in modern-day Turkey.Mesopotamia
existed from about 5000 BC, believed to be the first evidence of human
culture and ends with the rise of Achaemenid Persians around 1500 BC. A
diverse, richly cultural civilization grew up over several thousand
years and was shaped by many ethnic groups.
SUMERAINS
The Sumerians were the first group of people who settled and built City-states in Mesopotamia. The Sumerians established the first city-states, the oldest of which was known as the city-state of Ur.
The Sumerians were farmers and they also raise domesticated animals. They also wove textiles and were more enterprising.
The Sumerians were actually POLYTHEIST or believers of many gods.The Sumerians believed that the world was created out of an ancient sea from whence the universe , gods, and people were created . They believed that the universe was ruled by these gods who ere anthropomorphic and who represented various natural phenimenon. Each Sumerian sity-state had its own patron deity to whom the citizens paid homage. Temples, known as Ziggurats , were often erected in the cities to honor and house each city's god.
The Sumerians invented the form of writing called Cuneiform found scripted on the Behistun Rock. Cuneiform is a wedge-shaped writing . The Sumerians used a system of record-keeping that is used baked clay. These tablets are invaluable record of history of the Sumerian and of the peoples of Mesopotamia.
The Sumerians also invented several important architectural elements such as rounded roofs in the shape of domes or vaults.
The most striking Sumerian structure were the temples or Ziggurat , built in layers. The Ziggurat was built by King Ur-Nammu who dedicated the great Ziggurat of Ur in honour of Nanna. The Ziggurat was a piece in a temple complex that served as an administrative center for the city, and which wa a shrine of th moon god Nanna, the patron deity of Ur
The Sumerians also developed some of the principles of algebra. In mathematics, they used the sexagesimal system based on the number 60:60 second in a minute , 60 minutes in an hour and so on. They also developed a lunar calendar with twelve months then added a thirteenth month to line it with the season.
AKKADIANS
The Akkadian under the leadership of Sargon I made war among
the Sumerian city-states. Unlike the Sumerians, Akkadians were Semitic people.
That is, they are a group of people who spoke a language related to that of the
Hebrew and Arabic.
The Akkadians adopted most aspect of the Sumerian culture.
Sargon created the world’s first empire. An empire brings
together several peoples, nations, or previously independent states under the
control of one ruler.
Bronze bust of Sargon II and built the first known empire in
history.
BABYLONIAN
The Babylonians were lead by an Amorite ruler named
Hammurabi. His most important gift to civilization was his written code of laws
which included laws that controlled all aspects of Babylonian life. Hammurabi was the king of the Amorites and his code written
on the Black stone.
His code of law was found at Susa, was inscribed in a stone
with legal details of his decision. It showed advanced and high standard procedures
that existed 15 centuries before that of the Romans. Hammurabi’s code expressed
an important idea in Mesopotamian civilization. It emphasized the
responsibility of the government towards its society.
The Babylonians worshiped Marduk as their supreme god.
Religion was also the center of the Babylonian life.
The social organization of Babylonians was made up of the
nobility, merchants, peasants, and slaves.
HITTITES
The Hittites were an ancient people who spoke an Indo-European language,
and established a kingdom centered at Hattusa in north-central Anatolia.
The Hittites were the first group of people who used iron
for weapons. They were armed with their iron weapons and war chariots.
Hittites
greatest contribution to civilization was their more humane legal system.
The Hittites may have been among the first to work meteoric iron for use
as a precious metal in such things as thrones and ceremonial daggers.
ASSYRIANS
The Assyrians came from the northern part of Mesopotamia and
built the city-state of Assur. The Assyrians developed their warlike behavior
in response to outsiders. They fought
invaders by developing a strong army.
Their superior iron weapons, warfare skill, and strong
leadership made them more than a match to many of their weak neighbors. They
were known as one of the fiercest, cruelest, most aggressive, and most warlike
of all ancient people. The Assyrians developed an effective governing an
extended empire.
they collected heavy taxes to maintain their army which was usually composed of paid soldiers or mercenaries. At the era of it's greatness, the Assyrians made the city of Nineveh their capital. Nineveh became the Assyrian symbol of pride and cruelty.
CHALDEANS
The Chaldeans defeated the Assyrians and rebuilt Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar,
the ruler of Chaldeans, made Babylon a city of wonders.
He built beautiful structures, the most striking of which
was the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
The Chaldeans were known to be “Stargazers of Babylon.” They
kept records of the movement of the stars , the planets, and constellations
giving the idea and belief that stars influence the lives of many. From them
came the belt of 12 constellations called Zodiac.
The amazing Ishtar Gate built by Nebuchadnezzar, was one of
the gate entrances to the city of Babylon.
PERSIANS
The Persians were the most able administrators of the
empire, under their rule , the empire reached its largest extent until it fell
into the hands of Alexander the great.
An excellent Road System known as Royal Road of the Persian
Empire.
Darius introduced COINAGE to the empire. It was the first
time when coins of standard value circulated throughout an empire. People no
longer weigh or measure odds pieces of gold or silver to pay for what they
bought.
Zoroastrianism was introduced by Zoroaster. His idea was
about heaven and hell were believed to be more hopeful, giving a person the
choice to control his fate. AHURA MAZDA was taught to be the god of truth and
light and AHRIMAN is the god of evil and darkness.
PHOENICIANS
They were the first people who ventured beyond the strait of
Gibraltar. The Phoenicians most important city-states were Sidon and Tyre,both
known for their purple dye product.
The Phoenicians traded goods they got from other lands like
wine, glass, ivory, and weapons. Their famous purple dye was produced from
murex , a kind of snail found off the waters of Sidon and Tyre. Phoenicians
were given the name “the greatest traders of antiquity”.
This group of people also gave the world MONOTHEISM or the
belief in one god. They believe that this universal god is just kind, merciful,
loving, forgiving, righteous, and
demands that man should also be righteous. Monotheism also sets a higher
value on human life thereby making life easier. This idea spread and influenced
the whole world.
