Mesopotamia environment and history

1. MESOPOTAMIA: ENVIRONMENT AND HISTORY RIVER CIVILISATIONS -

Several civilisations developed in the Middle East, along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

This areas was called Mesopotamia, wihich means “between he rivers�.

In some parts of the world, such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China, the flooding of great rivers fertilised the land and agriculture developed.

As a result, small settlements grew into cities.

CITY STATES AND EMPIRES

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People lived in Mesopotamia in independent city states.

Mesopotamia belonged to different empires over a long period of time: 1.

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SUMER: From 500 BC the Sumerians livedin walled city states (Ur, Laggash) AKKAD: King Sargon I created the Akkadina empire (2300 BC) and conquered Sumer.

BABYLON: Initially was a city state, but from 1800 BC its rulers created the Babylonian Empire and conquered the other cities of Mesopotamia.

ASSYRIA: The Assyrians created an empire (1350 BC), taht extended over the Mediteranean coast and Egypt.

PERSIANS: They conquered Mesopotamia and this area became part of the Persian Empire.

GREEKS: Later, Mesopotamia was conquered by the Greeks.

1. MESOPOTAMIA: ENVIRONMENT AND HISTORY SOCIETY AND THE POLITICAL SYSTEM

- City states of Sumer were ruled by high priests.

- In the Mesopotamian empires, the king had political, military and religious authority.

- Here, there was theocracy, a system of goverment where the same person had both religious and political power.

- There was a hierarchical society: 1. Aristocracy ( made up of priests and high officials) was the ruling elite.

2. Scribes and merchants were intermediate groups.

3. Farmers and artisans were the lower level.

4. Finally, there were slaves.

1. MESOPOTAMIA: ENVIRONMENT AND HISTORY THE ECONOMY -

AGRICULTURE: -

The rivers were essential.

Crops were irrigated with water from canals.

Dykes were built to prevent the rivers from flooding.

The main crops were cereals and vegetables.

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LIVESTOCK: Sheep and cows

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CRAFTS: They produced :- wool for cloth - pottery - metal work - jewellery

- TRADE: products were exchanged between the regions.