Crash Course World History: Mesopotamia

Introduction

• Host: John Green
• Focus: Ancient Mesopotamia
• Contributions: Writing and taxes

Key Themes & Concepts

Early Cities and Socialism

• Location: Between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
• Social Structure: Early socialism
  • Farmers contributed to public storehouses
  • Workers paid uniform "wages" in grain
• Urbanization: Shift from shepherds to diverse professions
• Rural vs. Urban Conflict: Explored in the Epic of Gilgamesh
  • City-state of Uruk: Gilgamesh

City-State of Uruk

• Features: Walled city, canal system, ziggurats
• Religious Power: Priests communicated with gods
• Gods: Moody and capricious, demanding rituals
• Irrigation: Labor-intensive, with unpredictable floods
• Transition: From priest power to military/landowner leaders' power

Writing and Its Impact

• Cuneiform: Used for record-keeping (wheat, goats)
• Importance of Writing:
  1. Created class distinctions (reading/writing skills)
  2. Provided actual history
  3. Allowed occupational specialization
• Trade: Needed for materials (metal, stone, wood)

Territorial Kingdoms

• Decline of City-States: Environmental issues, nomadic invasions
• New Structure: Resembling private enterprise with taxes
• Early Monarchs: Example: Hammurabi of Babylon
  • Hammurabi's Code: Established law and order
  • Presumption of Innocence: Introduced

Assyrians and Empire Building

• Reputation: Brutal, efficient military
• Expansion: Included Mesopotamia, Mediterranean, Egypt
• Military Meritocracy: Based on skill
• Tactics: Deportations, torture, and propaganda

End of the Neo-Assyrian Empire

• Overextension: Difficulty in administration
• Battle Losses: Undermined religious world view
• Conquered: City of Nineveh fell in 612 BCE

Conclusion

• Empire Concept: Continued development throughout history
• Next Episode: Focus on Egypt

Production Credits:

• Director: Stan Muller
• Script Supervisor: Danica Johnson
• Writers: Raoul Meyer, John Green