In the first Instruction in this Lesson, we told you about the earliest civilization in Mesopotamia. Sumeria. As you remember, Mesopotamia means "land between two rivers." The rivers were The Tigris and the Euphrates. Mesopotamian cities became centers of trade because they were on these rivers. Which provided easy transportation. And water was the key to life in other ways, too. As it still is throughout the world. Sumeria as Sumeria didn't last. But it left a brilliant legacy. Including the earliest known form of writing. Cuneiform. In about 2400 BC, Sumeria was invaded -- and conquered -- by King Sargon of Akkad. The Richest City in the World Akkad was just north of Sumeria. Sargon and his people were Semites. A desert people who had migrated to Mesopotamia from the Arabian Peninsula. They adopted -- and improved on -- many aspects of Mesopotamian culture. But they continued to speak their own Semitic language, Akkadian. Eventually, the Sumerians began to speak it too. Sargon founded a new capital, Agade, in the north of Sumer. He made it the richest and most powerful city in the world. He established an empire that extended from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea. Sargon was a tireless leader. Who encouraged industry, free enterprise and trade. 1 of 5 California Content Standards 6 6.2.3, 6.2.4, 6.2.9
The Sumerian/Akkadians were expert at making bronze tools and weapons. So merchants went out in overland caravans or in ships. To exchange these products for wood, stone and metals. Which they didn't have. They traded with most of the known world. There is evidence that Akkadian ships even got as far as Indus River valley in India. In spite of its economic success, the Akkadian empire did not last. Unable to keep the powerful Sumerian priests under control, The House of Sargon collapsed in about 2150 BC. After a brief period of anarchy, order was restored. The capital city was moved to Ur. And the priests became government employees. During this time, laws were passed protecting the rights of citizens -- even orphans and the poor. Laws that predate The Code of Hammurabi. Which we'll tell you about in a minute. But this society, too, was destroyed by invaders. The Old Babylonian Kingdom / Hammurabi Around 2000 BC, another powerful Semitic-speaking people conquered Mesopotamia. They were known as Amorites (which means "from the West"). Babylon became their capital city. The best-known Old Babylonian king was Hammurabi, who ruled from 1792 to 1750 BC. He created a code of almost three hundred laws designed to: " cause justice to prevail in the land, to destroy the wicked and evil, to prevent the strong from oppressing the weak, and 2 of 5 California Content Standards 6 6.2.3, 6.2.4, 6.2.9
to further the welfare of the people." This Code is the first known written set of laws. Hammurabi also established a state-controlled economy. He limited interest rates to 20%. He set prices for basic commodities. And for the fees charged by physicians, veterinarians and builders. He also established a minimum wage. Great advancements were made in mathematics and astronomy. And a new calendar was devised. Which divided the year into 12 months. The week into 7 days. And the day into 24 hours. The Old Babylonian civilization flourished until it was conquered in 1595 BC by the Hittites (from Asia Minor). The Assyrians At about the same time the Amorites came to power, a related group took over the eastern part of northern Mesopotamia. They were called Assyrians. Their land came to be known as Assyria. It included parts of today's Iraq and Turkey. The Assyrians spoke a Semitic language called Aramaic. Which you have heard if you saw the Mel Gibson film, "The Passion of the Christ." Or saw ads for it on TV. Both the Babylonian and the Assyrian societies pretty much disappeared from world view between 1550 and 1100 BC. As invaders from the north dominated their respective territories. But these invaders were eventually subdued. And both cultures reached the heights again. 3 of 5 California Content Standards 6 6.2.3, 6.2.4, 6.2.9
Between 745 and 612 BC the Assyrians built -- and lost -- an empire that encompassed Mesopotamia (Iraq), Syria, Palestine, Egypt and part of what is now Iran. Their culture -- based on Mesopotamian culture -- was the wonder of the age. They were accomplished soldiers. Of the "take no prisoners" variety. They took great pride in their military success. According to their own written records. They also excelled in medicine and healing. Including dentistry. One document from the time lists 120 medicinal minerals. And 250 plant-based drugs with healing powers. Including castor, crocus and myrrh. After Assyria fell, Babylonia flourished until the Persian conquest in 539 BC. One of the greatest kings of this period was Nebachadnezzar II. Who reigned from 605 to 561 BC. He supposedly created the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Which, like the pyramids, were among the 7 Wonders of the ancient world. Although some historians think the Gardens didn't really exist. Except in stories brought back from the wars by the soldiers of Alexander the Great. Up To Today Eventually, Mesopotamia was incorporated into number of different empires. Including the Persian and the Seleucid (Greek) Empires. As well as the Parthian, Sassanian, Arab and Ottoman Empires. Islam came to the area when Arab tribes conquered Sassanian Persia in 641 AD. In 1921, after World War 1, Mesopotamia (Iraq) was mandated to Great Britain by The League of Nations. Iraq achieved its independence in 1932. 4 of 5 California Content Standards 6 6.2.3, 6.2.4, 6.2.9
A Brilliant Legacy Ancient Mesopotamia left the Western world a brilliant legacy. We still use Assyrian words for many plants and minerals. The Babylonians created our calendar, our algebra and our astronomy. The Sumerians gave us Cuneiform writing. As well as our system of dividing time -- 60 seconds to a minute / 60 minutes to an hour. And of course the Code of Hammurabi gave the world a model for just, uniformly applied laws. 5 of 5 California Content Standards 6 6.2.3, 6.2.4, 6.2.9