The Story of Civilization: Mesopotamia

Introduction

• Mesopotamia is the cradle of civilization, not Egypt, Greece, or Rome.
• Located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in present-day Iraq, Kuwait, and Syria.
• Exceedingly fertile plain that fostered innovations for over five millennia.

Agricultural Developments

• Inhabited for nearly 12,000 years.
• Stable climate, rich soil, and fresh water supply made it ideal for agriculture.
• Around 6,000 years ago, agricultural settlements evolved into some of the world's first cities.

City-States and Empires

• Between 4,000 and 3,100 BC, Mesopotamia consisted of competing city-states.
• Unified under the Akkadian Empire, later splitting into Assyria and Babylon.
• Despite constant warfare, innovation and development thrived.

Architectural and Cultural Achievements

• Built monumental structures, including palaces and ziggurats.
• Mammoth temples served as ritual locations to commune with gods.

Advances in Mathematics and Astronomy

• Developed advanced mathematics with a base-60 system.
  • Created a 60-second minute, 60-minute hour, and 360-degree angle.
• Babylonians mapped the sky, dividing the year into 12 months named after constellations.
  • This tradition influenced the Greek zodiac.
• Introduced a seven-day week named after their seven gods and observable planets.

The Innovation of Literacy

• Emergence of writing around 3200 BC, evolving from simple pictures on clay.
• Cuneiform developed over 3000 years, adapted for various languages and uses.
  • Included the recording of the law by Babylonian king Hammurabi, establishing a standardized justice system.

Decline of Mesopotamia

• Success led to outside envy and invasion.
• Persian king Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BC, controlling all of Mesopotamia.
• Area became a territory of foreign empires, fading into history.

Legacy

• Despite its decline, Mesopotamia's contributions in literacy, law, math, astronomy, and civilization endure.