Ancient Near East (Mesopotamia) LESSON 2 PDF

LESSON 2: ANCIENT NEAR EAST (MESOPOTAMIA) HOW DID GEOGRAPHIC CHALLENGES LEAD Mesopotamia TO THE RISE OF CITY-STATES IN ✓ often considered one of the cradles of civilization, MESOPOTAMIA??...

LESSON 2: ANCIENT NEAR EAST (MESOPOTAMIA) HOW DID GEOGRAPHIC CHALLENGES LEAD Mesopotamia TO THE RISE OF CITY-STATES IN ✓ often considered one of the cradles of civilization, MESOPOTAMIA?? and its architectural achievements are significant in - It was not easy to live in the part of the fertile the history of architecture. crescent ✓ the ancient civilizations that thrived in the region Faced four major problems as they tried to survive in this known as Mesopotamia, located in present-day Iraq environment and parts of Iran, Syria, and Turkey. 1. Food shortages in the hills SUMERIAN 2. An uncontrolled water supply on the plains AKKADIAN 3. Difficulties in building and maintaining systems that ASSYRIAN provided water across village boundaries BABYLONIAN 4. Attacks by neighboring communities PERSIAN Mesopotamians found solutions to these problems leading The following are the people of Mesopotamia. them to build the first cities in the world Each civilization and period has greatly SOLUTIONS: contributed to the historical condition of 1.) They had scarce natural resources due to Mesopotamia. geographical and environmental conditions of the Assyrian (NORTHERN IRAQ AND SOUTHEASTERN region which is a dry and desert climate. TURKEY) 2.) Which resulted to uncontrollable and unpredictable Babylonian, Sumerian and Akkadian (Iraq) flooding. And because of uncontrolled water supply, Persian (Iran) they dug irrigation ditches to control their water supply. 3.) And also since they lack of natural resources, it made construction and infrastructure development challenging. Builders had to rely on mudbrick as a primary building material due to the scarcity of wood and stone, which had limitations in terms of structural stability and durability. Due to floods and heavy rains, it resulted in the conversion of its earthen into clay to produce bricks. SUMERIANS City-states First settled in 3300 BC Priests were Rulers Warriors become King Ruled by Dynasty (series of rulers from one single family) MESOPOTAMIA Why considered as City-state? City State - Independent cities that were each under Southwest Asia the protection of a different deity, represented by the Iraq & Syria rulers. Rulers and priests directed all communal Fertile Crescent activities, which were institutionalized. (curve shape Priest of Rulers - Priests acted as go between for the area) people and the Gods Land Between People believed that the Gods were responsible for all Rivers things in their lives (crops, rich soil, rain, etc.) Tigris & Warriors become King - In time of crisis Priests were Euphrates not the rulers; A strong leader was needed in time of In present Iraq and Syria crisis (ex. War); Wars were for extended periods of Covered by the time that is why warriors would continue to rule Fertile Crescent Dynasty (pass on to sons) (Cradle of Civilization) Why “Cradle of Civilization”? because it is widely recognized as one of the primary regions where human civilization first began to emerge. - it was a region where many fundamental aspects of human civilization, such as agriculture, urbanization, writing, governance, and culture, first emerged and developed. MESOPOTAMIA – Greek translated as “Land between two rivers” Tigris & Euphrates - Flow southeast to Persian Gulf and floods annually, leaving rich soil ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERISTICS Architecture was arcuated Cities were raised on huge platforms made of bricks & clay fillings Roofs were flat supported by arcs or domes SUMERIAN CUNIEFORM Palaces are stepped battlement outline & are - Sumerians have writing system on clay tablets approached through two huge human headed winged bull statue - The cuneiform Walls were finished with glazed bricks & decorated script underwent with hieroglyphics considerable changes Chief building type was the ziggurat over a period of more than Arcuated two millennia. The image - Structure erected using arches, rather than columns shows the development of and lintels the sign SAG "head“. - In short terms, their architecture is described as massiveness, monumentality and grandeur  SUMERIAN GOVERNMENT - City states had dual governments Monarchies – headed by hereditary kings Stage 1 shows the pictogram as it was drawn around Theocracies – headed by priest king called patesi 3000 BC. - Sumer had no central government thus was weak Stage 2 shows the rotated pictogram as written against outside invasion around 2800 BC. SUMERIAN KINGS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR Stage 3 shows the abstracted glyph in archaic A. LEADING AND TRAINING THE ARMIES monumental inscriptions, from ca. 2600 BC - The king lead the army into battle; constructed the Stage 4 is the sign as written in clay, contemporary battle plans; planned the training schedule for the to stage 3. army Stage 5 represents the late 3rd millennium B. SUPERVISED CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC WORKS Stage 6 represents Old Assyrian ductus of the early - A king was responsible for ensuring that public 2nd millennium, as adopted into Hittite. works such as irrigation canals, city water supplies Stage 7 is the simplified sign as written by Assyrian storage facilities were constructed correctly and scribes in the early 1st millennium, and until the were properly maintained script's extinction. GOVERNMENT OF SUMER SUMERIAN RELIGION - Sumer’s earliest government was controlled by the - The sumerians were polytheistic temple priests POLYTHEISTIC - The ziggurat was the equivalent of city hall from - Believed in many gods which the priests managed the major industries of - These gods had human traits and some were strong Sumerian cities and other were weak - Sumer’s gov’t also taxed their people - Each major city developed its own gods - In time of war, the priests were no longer in charge. - The gods were cruel toward humans and were highly Instead a commander chosen by the people was put unpredictable in charge - No trace of ethics in Mesopotamian religion - Later on after 3000 B.C, Sumer’s commander - Sumerians feared the power of their Gods which remained in power, like a king, along with the priests blamed natural disasters, poor crops, and illness on Ziggurat a persons social actions. - Temple at the center of each city-state CULTURAL INTERACTION/ ECONOMICS/EMPIRE BUILDING TRADING SURPLUS Allowed Sumerians to increase long distance trade & develop new city-states CULTURAL DIFFUSION New idea or product spreads from one culture to another GOD AND GODDESS IN SUMERIAN Trading surplus allowed for cultural - Anu - Chief deity of sky and the city-state of Uruk diffusion - Enlil - God of storms and air EMPIRE Mesopotamians actually believed in “Afterlife” - Souls of Bringing together of different nations under dead went to “Land of No Return” which they believe is a one ruler dark and gloomy place the trading surplus in Sumer allowed the civilization to THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH engage in extensive long-distance trade, develop new - One earliest known works of literature in human city-states, and foster cultural exchange. history during the Sumerian Period is the Epic of SUMERIAN ARCHITECTURE Gilgamesh Sumerian City of Ur - It is a Long heroic poem and gives us an idea about - Cities were enclosed in walls with ziggurat temples Sumerian life and palace as centers of the city - Fabric of the city is made up of residences mixed commercial and industrial buildings - One of the most important and prominent city-states in ancient Mesopotamia is the Sumerian City of Ur. - It was located in the southern part of Mesopotamia, in what is now modern-day Iraq, near the junction of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. - Considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. - Ur played a central role in the development of Sumerian civilization and was a major political, economic, and cultural hub. WHITE TEMPLE URUK - one of the most famous archaeological sites in Mesopotamia, located in the ancient city of Uruk (modern-day Warka, Iraq). - actually a small temple located on top of a ziggurat, which is a stepped pyramid-like structure commonly used for religious and administrative purposes in Mesopotamian architecture. - Originally written down in Sumerian - Gets adapted and modified - Modern text based on collection of 12 hardened clay tablets written in semetic language of Akkadian - 12 tablets – Gilgamesh and the underworld – usually treated as appendix  - The capital of Mesopotamian dynasties starting with the dynasty of king Hammurabi between the 18th and 6th centuries BC - It was built along the left and right banks of the Euphrates river with steep embankments to contain the river’s seasonal floods - With 100 Bronze gates and towers - The people living in Babylon are called Amorites/Babylonians meaning Nomadic Warriors ISHTAR GATE - The Babylonians practised all the Mesopotamian arts and excelled in brightly coloured glazed tiles, used to create relief sculptures. - (Mudbricks) However, they were coated with a layer of whitewash, giving them their distinctive white appearance, and hence the name "White Temple.“ - The White Temple was dedicated to the Sumerian god Anu, the god of the heavens and the supreme deity in the Sumerian pantheon. - Built about 575 bc by nebuchadnezzar ii for the goddess ishtar - One of the eight gates of the inner city of babylon (iraq) - The ishtar gate is more than 38 ft. High & was made of brick glazed with copper turquoise alternating with unglazed brick covered with gold leaf - served as one of the main entrances to the city of Babylon. It was dedicated to the Babylonian goddess Ishtar, the goddess of love, beauty, fertility, war, and sexuality. The gate was intended to honor and invoke the protection of the goddess. - is renowned for its stunning blue-glazed brickwork - One of the most iconic and well-preserved ziggurats with intricate designs of dragons, bulls, and floral in ancient Mesopotamia. It is located near the ancient patterns. The vibrant blue color, along with the use of city of Ur in modern-day Dhi Qar Province, southern molded bricks for the decorative reliefs, made it a Iraq. remarkable piece of ancient architecture. - A ziggurat is a massive stepped pyramid-like structure, often made of mudbrick, that was used in Mesopotamia for religious and administrative purposes. - The Great Ziggurat at Ur is a prime example of this architectural form, consisting of a series of terraces or platforms stacked on top of each other. - The Great Ziggurat at Ur is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is recognized as an important cultural and historical landmark. - Babylon was built of mud bricks, but the important buildings were faced with glazed bricks One of the structures also built during the Babylonian Period are the Ziggurats ZIGGURATS OR HOLY MOUNTAINS - Chief building structure, square or rectangle in plan with steeply battered sides and an open flatforms on top containing “fire altar” - Built on sun-dried brick - Symbolic representation of the union of heaven and earth - 32 ziggurats, most in Iraq and Iran THE BABYLONIAN EMPIRE THREE TYPES OF ZIGGURATS - Also known as the Babylonian Dynasty, was a A. ARCHAIC ZIGGURAT powerful ancient Mesopotamian civilization centered - Usually have on flat top rectangular mound carrying in the city of Babylon, which is located in modern-day the upper temple Iraq. - The empire had several prominent phases in its history, but the two most notable periods are the Old Babylonian Empire and the Neo-Babylonian Empire. THE CITY OF BABYLON - The most famous ancient city in the world - One of the Example is the White Temple of Uruk - Code of 282 laws inscribed on a stone pillar placed in B. TWO OR MORE STAGES ZIGGURAT the public hall for all to see - Rectangular in plan design with several ties or - Hammurabi stone depicts Hammurabi as receiving stages his authority from god Shamash - Set of divinely inspired laws; as well as societal laws - Punishments were designed to fit the crimes as people must be responsible for own actions - Origin to the concept of eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth - Consequences for crimes depended on rank in society Nimrod Tower of Babel - The Tower of Babel is a biblical story found in the Book of Genesis, which is a part of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) in the Christian Bible. According to the biblical narrative, the Tower of Babel is associated with the city of Babylon, and it tells the story of the construction of a great tower by the descendants of Noah's sons. - Examples of his law codes are: * If any man puts out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out * If he kills a man’s slave he shall pay one-third of a mina. * If someone steals property from a temple, he will be put to death, as will the recipient of the stolen goods. * If a man’s wife is caught in bed with another man, both will be tied up and thrown in the water. - Another example of Two or more stages of Ziggurat - The Marduk Ziggurat was dedicated to the chief god of Babylon, Marduk. It is believed to have been a massive stepped tower made of mudbrick and possibly had seven stories or tiers, although the exact details of its construction and appearance are not fully known due to the limited archaeological evidence. ASSYRIAN ARCHITECTURE C. SEVEN STAGES SQUARE BASE ZIGGURAT - Assyria is the name for a part of ancient - An example is the Hanging Gardens of Babylon Mesopotamia located on the upper tigris - indicate that the - Principal cities of Assyria were Nineveh, Dun, garden was built Khorsabad, Nimrud and Assur by King - Assyrians were great warriors and hunters, and this Nebuchadnezzar was reflected in their art II, who ruled the - They produced violent sculptures and relief carving in city for 43 years stone that was used to decorate their houses starting in 605 - So if Assyria is located somewhere part of the upper BCE, and that he tigris, what civilization flourished somewhere part of built them to cheer up his homesick wife, Amyitis. the Euphrates river? – City of Babylon (Babylonian - Medes, the land she came from was green, rugged Empire) and mountainous, and she found the flat, sun-baked ASSYRIAN terrain of Mesopotamia depressing, so the king 2284 BC decided to recreate her homeland by building an Introduced the polychrome ornamental brickwork & artificial mountain with rooftop gardens. corbel arch - The Hanging Gardens weren't actually "hanging", but Used of high plinth or dado instead were "overhanging" as in the case of a This is when the arcuated architecture started terrace or balcony. Polychrome Brickwork HAMMURABI’S CODE is a style of architectural or decorative masonry that - During the reign of King Hammurabi, he wrote a involves the use of multiple colors of bricks to create comprehensive law code for his subjects intricate patterns, designs, or decorative effects in a - Was the law code of ancient Babylon building's façade or interior walls. - Established a single uniform code of law for the High Plinth & Dado entire empire are architectural elements that can enhance the - The first example of fundamental law unchangeable visual appeal of a structure. A high plinth or dado can even by a king  create a base for the Restored & enlarged by Ashurnasirpal II building, adding a was the second capital of the Assyrian sense of proportion empire and balance to its Nimrud served as the capital of the Neo- design. Assyrian Empire during the reign of King They can be used to Ashurnasirpal II convey social status, hierarchy, or symbolism. For It was an important political, administrative, example, in some historical buildings, the height and and military center for the empire. ornamentation of the plinth may indicate the importance THE CITY OF KHORSABAD Built by Sargon II & contained the palace of Sargon was an ancient Assyrian city that served as the capital of the Assyrian Empire during the reign of King Sargon II The most prominent structure in Khorsabad was the palace of King Sargon II, a magnificent architectural and artistic of the structure or the occupants. masterpiece. Corbel Arch The palace featured grand halls, courtyards, - Masonry built over an and intricate reliefs that depicted scenes of opening by advancing royal life, hunting, religious rituals, and courses until they warfare. It was adorned with sculptures of meet at the midpoint protective deities, human-headed winged - also known as a bulls (lamassu), and other ornate corbeled arch or false decorations. arch, is a primitive THE CITY OF NINEVEH and ancient Built by the son of Sargon, architectural Sennacherib, contained the construction palace without a rival technique used to create an arch-like structure the oldest and most- - it relies on a series of horizontally projecting stones populous city of the ancient or bricks that gradually step inward until they meet Assyrian empire at the apex, forming an arched opening. The phrase "Palace - constructed by layering stones or bricks horizontally, without a rival" is sometimes used to each layer projecting slightly farther inward than the describe the grandeur and opulence of the one beneath it. This layered arrangement creates a palaces built by the Assyrian kings in the stepped or corbelled effect, which eventually forms city of Nineveh, particularly during the reign the shape of an arch. of Sennacherib. One of Sennacherib's most famous achievements was the construction of a magnificent palace in Nineveh, known as the Southwest Palace. This palace was adorned with intricate stone reliefs and sculptures that depicted scenes of royal life, military campaigns, and mythological subjects. - Entrances of their palaces are approached by two huge human headed winged bull statue Lamassu - is a mythical creature from ancient Mesopotamian mythology and art. It is a protective deity often depicted as a large, winged bull or lion with a human head. - - The term "Lamassu" comes from the - The Assyrian conquest of Israel refers to the military Akkadian language campaigns and eventual destruction of the northern - - are considered protective guardian Kingdom of Israel by the Neo-Assyrian Empire during spirits. They were typically placed at entrances to the 8th century BCE. This event had a significant important buildings, city gates, and palaces in ancient impact on the history of the ancient Near East and Mesopotamia to ward off evil spirits and protect the led to the exile of many Israelites. inhabitants. - After the Assyrian civilization comes in the Neo- ARCHITECTURAL EXAMPLES Babylonian Empire THE CITY OF AZHUR - So during the reign of the Babylonian empire, they Ancient religious had the conquest of Judaea (In 597 BCE, King center of Assyria Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon captured Jerusalem, Ancient religious the capital of Judah. This event marked the beginning center of Assyria, of the Babylonian conquest of Judaea.) located on the west - After the Neo-Babylonian period comes the Persian bank of the Tigris River Empire in northern Iraq. THE CITY OF NIMRUD  We have learned that from the Assyrians civilization up to the Neo-Babylonians, their architecture was arcuated – constructed through arches So during the Persian Empire, their construction system was different ARCHITECTURAL EXAMPLES THE PALACE OF PERSEPOLIS Began by Darius I, executed by Xerxes I finished by Artaxerxes I Contained the Apadana or grand audience hall and the hall of hundred columns Founded by Darius I in 518 B.C., Persepolis was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire. It was built on an immense half-artificial, half-natural terrace, where the king of kings created an impressive palace complex inspired by Mesopotamian models. GEOGRAPHY OF PERSIAN The palace served as the ceremonial capital of the WATER MASSES Achaemenid Persian kings and thrived for nearly 200 Touching upon the arabian sea, the aral sea, the black years. sea, the Caspian sea, the mediterranean sea, the persian gulf and the red sea -Ruins of the RIVERS palace of the Euphrates, Tigris, Indus surrounded by the Arabian Persepolis desert, Caucasus Mountains CLIMATE Middle Eastern climate is generally hot and dry, with the exception of the fertile crescent river-valley with fairly mild winters lesser in the more mountainous -Plan of the terrain Palace of RISE OF PERSIAN EMPIRE Persepolis 550 B.C.E – cyrus overthrew median king and began -THRONE HALL persian empire (HALL OF Persian Empire built by 3 kings HUNDRED CYRUS COLUMNS) CAMBYSES DARIUS I The empire was founded by Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II) in the mid-6th century BCE. Cyrus, through a series - The column of military campaigns, established the foundations of capitals assumed the Persian Empire by conquering the Median Empire the form of and the Neo-Babylonian Empire. either twin-headed PERSIA bulls (above), A. Cyrus the great founded the persian empire eagles or lions, all B. Darius divides the empire into provinces that are animals parallel to the homelands of the different people represented royal within the empire – these people live by their own authority and kingship. laws within the persian empire - (BULL CAPITAL) C. People lived by their own laws within the persian APADANA empire -The Apādana palace is a ACHAEMENID DYNASTY large ceremonial building, (553-330 BCE) likely an audience hall with - The Achaemenid dynasty, also known as the First an associated portico. The Persian Empire audience hall itself is - The Achaemenid Dynasty was ruled by the 3 kings hypostyle in its plan, - Darius and Xerxes also tried to conquer the Greeks meaning that the roof of Cyrus the Great (r. 557-530 BCE) the structure is supported by columns. Overthrew other middle eastern empires - The footprint of the Apādana is c. 1,000 square Expanded persian people and influence throughout meters; originally 72 columns, each standing to a the middle east height of 24 meters, supported the roof (only 14 Adopted some customs of conquered peoples columns remain standing today). Darius I (r. 522-485 BCE) HALL OF HUNDRED COLUMNS Xerxes (r. 485-465 BCE) - The Hall construction was started by the Xerxes and Both Darius and Xerxes battled the greeks to expand finished by his son and successor, Artaxerxes. It was the empire the second largest building in the city, measuring PERSIAN ARCHITECTURE more than 4500 metre square. Architecture was columnar - It was built as a throne room, but at some point its Flat timber roofs were used instead of arches & function changed. vaults - The entrance pointed towards the north, with the Columns were plenty in their buildings & were porch of the entrance decorated by two large bulls. slender & graceful Rooms were larger & squarish in plan Used of double bull & double unicorn capitals Cities were still elevated in huge platforms or on natural hills  HALL OF HUNDRED COLUMNS - This is what the Hall of Hundred Columns in present looks like THE TOMB OF DARIUS One of the four rock-hewn sepulchers of the archaemenian kings It is one of the most significant and well-preserved tombs from the Achaemenid period, and it is associated with Darius I (Darius the Great), one of the most notable kings of the Achaemenid Empire. The tomb's façade is decorated with intricate reliefs and inscriptions. These carvings are representative of Achaemenid art and often include royal symbols and motifs. - The DNa inscription on the upper-left corner of the façade of Darius I's tomb. The tomb is inscribed with Old Persian cuneiform inscriptions that provide information about Darius I and his accomplishments. HALL OF XERXES - The Hypostyle Hall of Xerxes (Palace of Xerxes), King of Persia who reigned from 485 to 465 B.C., served as a throne-room or audience hall. The columns which were 65 feet in height were were crowned with double bull's head capital. It was open to the air but the spaces between the columns could be closed with hangings on the sunny side. - hypostyle in its plan, meaning that the roof of the structure is supported by columns. Hypostyle of hall of Xerxes THE PERSIAN EMPIRE FALLS - AFTER Xerxes I’s assassination the persian empire began to fall - This was largely due to the fact the defeat in Greece damaged the persian spirit to rule - Xerxes was succeeded by a series of incompetent rulers who only reigned for short periods at a time - The successors were almost too determined to succeed and make their imprint on persian history - This obsession resulted in poor leadership, which in turn, resulted in the end to the empire.