Mesopotamia: the rise of civilization

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Welcome to Western Civilization
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• How did humans advance during the Paleolithic era?

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• Why are the discoveries of Jarmo, Jericho and
  Catal Huyuk of interest to historians?

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Neolithic Jarmo, circa 7000 BCE
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Ancient Jericho, circa 9000 BCE
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Çatal Hüyük, circa 6000 BCE
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What makes a way of life a civilization?

• Writing system
• Organized economy
• Specialization of labor
• Social classes
• Legal code
• Advanced art
• Central government
• Several cities with monumental architecture
• Religion the central force in primary
  civilizations

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Marshland

and
swamps
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• The Assyrian capital at Nineveh

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• Shalamaneser I boasted of blinding 14,000
  captives

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• One of the ancient monuments discovered in the
  ruins of ancient Assyria has this inscription by
  King Asshurizirpal (reign began in 883 BC.) of a
  conquered city "Their men, young and old, I
  took as prisoners. Of some I cut off the feet and
  hands of others I cut off the noses, ears, and
  lips of the young men's ears I made a heap of
  the old men's heads I built a minaret." 

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• Ashurbanipal King of Assyria (669-631 BCE)

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The Library at Nineveh, as envisioned in 1980's
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• Cuneiform tablet wedge-shaped -writing on
  clay tablets with a reed stylus

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Sir Henry Rawlinson, circa 1840's
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• The Behistun Rock

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The Library at Nineveh, as envisioned in 1980's
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Tablets of the Gilgamesh Epic
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Mesopotamian Sumeria the rise of civilization
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The ancient Sumerians were very smart people

• Cuneiform
• Law codes
• Literature
• Schools
• Numbering system
• Kiln-dried bricks pottery
• Lunar calendar
• Potters wheel
• The wheel

• The wheelbarrow
• Sailboats
• Bronze tools and weapons
• The plow
• Frying pans
• Razors
• Cosmetic sets
• Shepherds pipes
• harps