Mesopotamia


 * == Mesopotamia ==

Political
-City States -Monarchy -Kings in all cities by 3000 B.C.E. -Government ordered erecting of palaces/temples -Projects -Armies formed to protect citizens
 * Ur
 * Kish
 * Control over public life
 * Control over neighboring territories
 * Nobles assistted with governing
 * Irrigation systems
 * Canals
 * Reservoirs

Economic:
-Large cities created more opportunities to earn money -Stratified patriarchal society formed -People in lower social classes pay taxes to higher members of society -Use of the wheel and ships increase trade and expand trade routes -Bronze and iron weapons and tools are traded
 * Kings and nobles - rich; highest class
 * Priests and priestesses
 * Free commoners (peasants) and dependent clients - provide labor to upper classes
 * Slaves - POWs, criminals, debt servitude

Religion:
-Held a polytheistic view (many gods) -Literature like the "Epic of Gilgamesh" explored the Mesopotamian's relationship with the gods *** also exemplified their beilief in the afterlife and the inevitability of death that should not be dwelled upon*** -Viewed the afterlife as "The Land of No Return" -Gods regularly interacted with humans and humans did as well with gods, seen as a cooperative relationship (sacrifices for good fortune) - Also important to note the influence of the Hebrews, Israelites and Jews on Mesopotamian society, ex Abraham came from the Summerian city of Ur, Hebrew law (lex talionis) is borrowed from Hammurabi's code, the flood story in the bible is also present in the Epic of Gilgamesh

Social:
-With increase of specialized labor and long-distance trade, accumulation of wealth caused sharply defined social distinctions -(Levels represented highest to lowest) -Built patriarchal society that gave authority over public and private affairs to men; men decided work that family performed and made marriage arrangements; men dominated public life and controls decisions about policies and public affairs -Hammurabi's law recognized men as heads of households, entrusting them with major family decisions; laws made generally for the accommodation of men -Women had subordinate legal status; women could advise kings/governments; some could act as high priestesses in temple communities; others worked as scribes, receiving formal education; could have a series of other careers (midwives, shopkeepers, brewers, bakers, tavern keepers, and textile manufacturers) =Innovations:=
 * Ruling Class: -consisted of kings/nobles who won positions due to valor/success as warriors; once elected to position, but became hereditary status; portrayed as offspring of the gods (i.e. Gilgamesh of Uruk);
 * Priests/Priestesses: -allied closely with ruling elites; typically younger relatives of rulers; role was to intervene with gods to ensure good fortune for communities; lived in temple communities, receiving offerings of food, drink, clothing from inhabitants; produced income, allowing for comfortable living
 * Free commoners: -worked as peasant cultivators in countryside on land owned by their families; some worked in cities as builders, craftsman, or professionals
 * Dependent clients: -fewer options; possessed no property; worked on estates owned by owned by elites; owed a portion of production to landowners
 * Slaves: -three main sources: POWs, convicted criminals, heavily indebted individuals (sold themselves into slavery to satisfy obligations); worked as agricultural laborers of elites; domestic servants in wealthy households
 * Bronze Metallurgy**-Built upon existing copper metallurgy, which, when combined with tin, could be formed into weapons or farming tools
 * Iron Metallurgy**-Introduced to Mesopotamia by the Hittites, iron served to be stronger and more readily available than either copper or tin ores
 * The Wheel**-Invented in Sumer, the wheel allowed long distance travel over land to become quicker. The wheel eventually evolved to become spoked, and was used as a weapon of war
 * Shipbuilding**-Also invented in Sumer, the ship allowed long distance trade to take place. Indeed, the Sumerians traded with the Indians, and during the time of the Babylonians, trade with other neighboring nations became quite common by ship.
 * Cuneiform**-Perhaps the earliest known wrinting came from Mesopotamia. Invented by the Sumerians, Cuneiform was a flexible writing system that allowed for the communication of abstract ideas with relative ease.

Artistic:
Jewelry from metallurgy carvings statues paintings