Mesopotamian Legacy

I. Religion and cities

A. Sumerian cities

1. Centered around Temples

a. ziggurats (temple mounds)

b. Ziggurat at Ur

2. Ruled by priest-kings

B. Age of Empires

1. Akkadians, Babylonians and Assyrians

a. new peoples retain carry on ancient civilization

b. Religion remains at the core

2. Later Mesopotamian kings are warrior kings, but retain priestly function

II. Mesopotamian religion

A. humans worship anthropomorphic gods of nature

1. gods are dangerous and unpredictable

2. humans are slaves to gods

3 immortality impossible

B. Interacting with gods

1. sacrifice

2. divination

3. magic rites

--example of the "sacred marriage"

III. Mesopotamian achievements

A. Agriculture

1. foundation of Western agriculture to this day

B. Astronomy and mathematics

1. observing and measuring the heavens

a. numbering system based on twelve and sixty

b. months and hours of twelve; weeks of seven

c. astrology

C. Letters and law

1. first phonetic system of writing

2. beginnings of literature (Gilgamesh is an example)

3. First written laws

a. Stele of Hammurabi

b. Hammurabi's law--the principle of equity

c. what can be learned about Mesopotamian society from the laws?