Mesopotamia: Writing and City Life

Chapter 1: Writing and City Life

Topic 1: City Life - Mesopotamia

• Mesopotamia, now modern Iraq, saw the rise of Bronze Age civilization

• The name Mesopotamia is Greek, translating to "the land between two rivers" - Tigris and Euphrates

• Mesopotamian civilization prospered with rich literature, city life, astronomy and mathematics

• Mesopotamia has 2 regions, the North (Assyria) and the South, divided into Sumer and Akkad

• The Euphrates river was extremely important for the ancient Mesopotamian civilization

• Sumerian is the earliest identified language

• Akkadian became widespread, replacing Sumerian till Alexander's time (336-323 BCE) after Akkadian speakers arrived

• Buildings, statues, ornaments, graves, tools, and seals have revealed Mesopotamian history and culture

• Religious

• Commercial

• Royal cities were discovered

• The term 'Sumer' referred to the southern plains of Mesopotamia

• Sumerians spoke Sumerian and the first city dwellers

• Sumerian civilization is known as the first developed civilization

• Mesopotamia developed three major civilizations

• Sumerian

• Babylonian

• Assyrian

Topic 2: Urbanization

• Iraq had a diverse environment and green plains emerged in the northeast

• Rainfall was sufficient for crops and animal herding began in the north from 7000-6000 BCE

• The south was a desert where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers deposited silt and the first cities emerged

• Southern Mesopotamia was a highly productive agricultural region

• Plains and mountains produced milk, meat and wool

• Rivers had fish

• Date palms gave good harvests

• Key crops included wheat, barley, peas, and lintel

• Despite its natural fertility, Mesopotamian agriculture had constant threats

• Irrigation canals diverted water by constructing barrages

• Urbanization was driven by trade, manufacturing, and services

• City people became reliant on others for products and services

• Division of labor was key to urban life

• Social organization was crucial with a command structure and written records

• Prominent cities included Ur, Mari, Kish, Lagash, and Uruk

• Mesopotamia lacked mineral resources but had food resources

• The south lacked building material, tools, seals and jewels

• Date palm wood not suitable for carts and boats

• Bronze tools and weapons discovered

• Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin which were imported

• Textiles and agriculture were traded for wood, copper, tin, silver, gold and shell from Turkey, Iran, and the Gulf

• Canals and natural waterways were Mesopotamia's transport network

• The Euphrates was vital for transportation (a 'world route')

• Mari flourished as a trading hub but lacked military strength

• The need to record transactions led to inventing a writing system

• By 2600 BCE letters evolved into cuneiform and the language was Sumerian

• Akkadian gradually replaced Sumerian by 2400 BCE, used up to first century CE

• Writing conveys a language visually

• Not everyone could read/write (a specialized profession)

• Writing maintained records, validated land ownership, and publicized royal actions and legal changes

• The need for expeditions and trade spurred this social organization

• Non-subsistence product manufacturers depended on rulers and temples which accelerated urbanization

• Temples formed the city nucleus, owning the land and representing the community

• They organized irrigation, cities like Eridu, Uqair, Uruk, Ur, and Kish

• Chiefs gave gods' precious booty raising kings status and authority

• War captives and locals earned were paid rations

• Systemized Mesopotamian governance aided urbanization

• Security was essential for commerce to succeed

Cause and Effect of Agriculture in Mesopotamia

• Farming meant people no longer had to move perpetually for food
• Positive effects
• People were healthier
• Population increased
• Permanent settlements arose
• Farmers managed livestock
• Carpenters and merchants appeared
• Bartering emerged within and outside the community
• Cuneiform
• Keeping records of merchandise
• Accounting

Topic 3: Legacy of Writing - Historians, Debate

• Writing was the most significant contribution from Mesopotamia
• Writing was first developed in Mesopotamia
• Small clay tablets shaped by kneading became the medium to write on
• Words/syllables were imprinted with reeds on the surface, then dried
• Cuneiform refers to this script
• Tablets dated 1800 BCE had multiplication/division tables, square root tables, and compound interest indicating math growth
• 'Gilgamesh' is Mesopotamian literature's most important piece
• Uruk ruled Mesopotamia around 2700 BCE, a figure of great importance in math with sixty numerals and used base sixties calculations
• They developed the Pythagorean theorem and created day/night length
• Year is divided into 12 months derived from the moon's revolution, month has four weeks, and day has 24 hours
• Alexander, Roman world, Islam and Medieval Europe all adopted this
• Schools emerged, producing high-quality literature, attaching major significance to a scribe's work
• Scribes had to master numerous symbols because cuneiform signs signified both vowel and consonant sounds
• Most students served as administration record keepers while a few became intellectuals
• Assurbanipal (an Assyrian king from 668-627 BCE) compiled texts on history, epics, omen literature, astrology, hymns, and poems for a library
• Though Sumerian stopped 1800 BCE it remained taught vocabulary through language texts
• Important texts such as Epic of Gilgamesh were reproduced
• Assurbanipal's library had ~1,000 texts, equaling ~30,000 tablets, assorted by topic
• Writing enabled long-distance communication
• Akkadian Cuneiform became used in diplomatic writings with Egypt and Western Asian nations
• Mesopotamia's urban people were versed in modern phenomena and achievements advanced other civilizations during this time

Elements of Writing

• Pictographs allowed people to keep written records using picture symbols
• Cuneiform added syllable representations to enhance writing
• Specialized scribes wrote
• The first written stories were Epics (long narrative poems)

Chapter 2: An Empire across Three Continents

Topic 1: Political Revolution and the Establishment of the Roman Empire

• The Roman Empire covered parts of continents

• Europe, Asia, and Africa, fertile areas of Western Asia as well as North Africa

• As the Roman Republic evolved from 500-27 BCE from city-state to empire, it nourished local cultures/languages

• Dividing the Empire's establishment into phases

• Early

• Late Divided by the third century BCE

• The Roman and Iranian empires were rivals

• 7th Century BCE to the 630s Roman held Mediterrean with Iran dominating Caspian Sea to Eastern Arabia and Afghanistan

• Euphrates river created boundary

• Differences between the Roman and Iranian empires

• Diverse culturally, tied by government, single ruler

• Iranian Empire (Parthians/Sasanians) ruled Iranian population

• Historians can reconstruct Roman history through texts, documents, and tangible evidence.

• Contemporary historians/aristocrats wrote texts on politics and socioeconomics

• Important materials include stone inscriptions and 'papyri'

• Papyri has documents that contracts, letters, etc. and is now published

• Early Rome had a king, assembly, and senate

• Around the 6th century B.C. the king’s rule was overthrown

• Republic established

• Romans then conquered the peninsular

• The 265 BCE controlled all of Italty

• By 1st century BCE Romans had conquered areas

• Greece

• Asia

• Minor Protectorate Established over Egypt

• The empire was set by Augustus in 27 BCE 'Principate'

• Emperor, aristocracy, and army comprised three "pillars" and individual emperors controlled the army

• Few external wars in (1st two centuries, considered expansion unnecessary)

• Known "Augustan age" for ushering peace following decaded of strife and military conquest

• Diverse territories in 2 Century and urbanization made this possible

• Urban centers in the empire brought/ controlled efficiency

• Shore of Mediterranean Sea, Alexandria, Antioch, Carthage, and Constantinople were bedrock

• 3rd century saw major internal strain and battles

• Iranian Sasanian dynasty appeared at 225 CE

• Germanic tribes - Almanni, Franks, and the Goths - moved vs Rhine and Danube

• Romans surrender land across the Danube

• Around 47 yrs, 25 emperors showed turbulence in 3 century

Key Terms

• Republic Power with the senate led by elite
• Conscription Military service is compulsory
• Near East The territories east of the Mediterranean Sea support of Rome

What the dates mean

• Transhumance Recurring movement from mountains/low grounds for livestock's grazing needs
• Civil war Power struggle in that specific nation
• The principate was founded by Octavian
• Forces took Jerusalem
• Roman Empire's greatest influence established
• Inhabitants transformed into Roman citizens
• The Sasanian dynasty was set in Iran

Roman Empire

Topic 2: Economic Expansion

• Strong and robust economic structure characterized prosperity

• Harbours, mines, stone resources, brickyards, olive oil factories, etc

• Large trades/ consumption of grain, wines, Spain, Gallic zones, North Africa, Egypt and a few parts in Italy

• Over 50m containers found and believe (140-160ce) the Spanish olive oil enterprise was at its peak

• Traders had conflicts over getting control of marketing other commodities

• By 5th/6th century, East, Turkey, became key wine/ olive

• • Depending on how effectively the regions produced and transported items

• Campania (Italy), Sicily, Fayum (Egypt), Galilee and Byzantium among the rich regions

• Nomadic people and pastoral regulation tightly watched

• Economy was modern with

• water-power Mediterranean

• Gold and silver help water

• • Money spread, commercial/bank system is important with different regions

• Constantine's Monetary system began

• Silver stocks and metal led to coin

• Gold became available from Constantine

• Terms

• Amphorae Clay containers with wine and oil transported through the form

Topic 3: The Institution of Slavery

• Slavery dominated the Roman economy, not challenged by the church, performing agriculture, mining, handicraft, production

• States managed/controlled slaves and master authority

• Complete deprivation that slaves were sold and work became extensive

• Stringent control took place, Roman agriculture writers paid attention in supervision for slaves

• Teams were often chained by feet making supervision easier for both

• Marked Aprons and were undressed before leaving labor force of agricultural sector

• Poor went into servitude for a period. In which they sell/gave children servitude

• Hierarchy in Rome with upper, aristocrats, senators, the middle and all the lower classes being collective (humillores) and the people did live in misery

• Emperors allowed to protect rights and take check of powers

• Slave Breeding and enhancing slaves by encouraging female slaves to have many children

• These are slaves that are given freedom from their masters

• Through military, rome took over millions over slaves of conquests in 1C

• 1 our of 3 enslaved one

• A slave is regarded, "Enemy what everyone has

Topic 4: Religious-cultural Foundation

• Diverse Culture over roman empire reflected at various levels
• Roman were religious for numbers of dietetics and had traditional culture
• Jews aren't known monolith, Christians in 4-5C were complex
• Bishops in church repeated
• -> Efforts to follow rigid customs and beliefs
• Aramaic language was dominant in the Near East
• Greek Writings over middle ages, monks who were knew latin, and Coptic spread
• Latin then circulated to displacement with fifth century
• Different dressing code was used with different eating styles
• diversities existed for organization and society

Topic 5: Legacy of antiquity

Period from 4C-7C is later and ancient with these aspects

• life and economical developments culture and religion
• (1)Christians were declared official
• Islam took a rise back in the 7th century
• constantine to Christian bishops
• emperors, diocletan to the structure of states
• the structure four rulers and equal parts
• administrative more compact with carving due doubled provinces
• states to be expanded
• taxes more efficient to be collected and governors took duties
• frontiers more autonomy military given

TERMS

Christianations Spread with dominant religion

THE 3rd/4th dynasty with the greatest marks

They

• military and civilian set up
• Greater economy of military commanders
• Introduction introduced and that includes general and petty
• Local trades and middle class had no influence/exclusion

Chapter 3: Nomadic Empires

Topic 1: Mongols

• The Mongols transcended continents (Asia and Europe)
• Literature was limited and historians used chronicles and documents (biased) .
• 18th to 19th century research brought significant information (Mongol's success)
• Multiple languages were involved in event interpretation

Central Asia Groupings

TATARS KHITAN MANCHUS TURKIS

• Ethnic and language united Mongols
• pastoralists, horse care, hunter gatherers warred with each other for little resources Loot and plunder helped with living
• modern day Mongolia was the Steppes and Altai mountains

Dense Hunting and small games available

• Mongols lived where they traveled the region and herded
• trading imperative (agricultural utensils with Chinese) (horses and furs from steppes)
• Trade tensions
• Chinese built the Great Wall to Defend
• The Society nature was male dominated
• rich followed politics and confederacies protected offensive and defensive
• There was also tribalism among these small and short lived unions

Words Associated

Babaross "non green" Taman unit of soliders

Timeline events

• 1167 CE Ganhis Kan birth
• 1160 - 1170 period hardship
• 1190 cordal ONG and temujan relations
• 1206 temujan greatest Kan and given title "Universal Ruler

More

Born: 1167 Common Era

• The cheiftain killed
• His valour and bravery was striking
• 1206 named Ganhins Kahn

Task

• desired conquered, northern defeated (1209CEHSI)
• Then broke down walls
• Then Sacked places (1215CE Peking)
• Took military
• Battles with remaining chinese - 1216CE

1218/ DOMINIONS

Amu Dyno

• cities: Outrar, bukhara, and sumarqand Destroyed and captured russian and circed caspian
• 1227 passed most life (military combat) in life
• Innovation of steppe combat was key

Chapter 4:

The Three Orders

Topic 1: Feudalism

• 1300 --1700 saw several culture changes(agriculture improved, and lives of peasants also got better all around)- trade led to contacts and constant warfare for kingdoms and access was lost
• Christianity survived for central and south Europe.
• there were documents on land and ownership so we learn this
• Bloch argued " History was MORE THAN POLITICS"(geography shapes human history-French social hierarchies and managed power- medieval Europe relationships/German word for "duel", which also saw development France and england and souther Italy
• peasants for labour and lords military.
• feudalizm as well Franks to Gaul for france
• -Strong links church
• Charlemegne took -holy roman

Terms

• Medival--- era (5C--15C) decline of Rome.
• Gaul---province name
• feudal---used for raising the levies and troops

timeline

• 481 Clovis ---king France
• 486 france in France and began for the quest,
• 496 Converted franks

Terms

Clergy: Most Powerful. And that includes the villages and priests---did not rely on the king

Terms

Was divided time medieval western for and times clergy

Bishops

Social process Nobility:

Main because they owned real estate There were times to share customs

Terms

Vassalage - outcome

France • the land owners were vassal and vassals of

• King • Vassals

• Landowners and common people • Vassals to Lords is agreement

• Kings accepted the senior king oath for him

• There were no nobles to privileged

Terms

• They help their own courts and can coins
• Manor-private hands and all soldiers under his command

Needed was

• salt
• mill stones
• metals Wars requires and are
• People and night were called up
• night took Fief to protect with fee to lords for service

There are several in which

• Economy changed that society which limited
• Then the effect
• social to effects
• Time-frames
• Most countries wide then short ####Terms • Abbey - Word called, Abby which menat, there to be father • tithe to tax peasants made for the churches • monastery word is from who live alone in community are • Friars ---moved with monks • Ministresl --- story telling bards •

Taille direct taxes king took