Crash Course World History: Mesopotamia

Introduction

• Presenter: John Green
• Topic: Mesopotamia
• Key Interests: Writing, Taxes

Origins of Mesopotamia

• Located between Tigris and Euphrates rivers
• Early cities began 5000 years ago
• Form of socialism: public storehouses for grain

Social Structure

• People moved to the city, escaping typical shepherd roles
• Conflict between rural and urban life (e.g., Epic of Gilgamesh)

City States and Governance

• Example: Uruk
  • Walled city with canal system and ziggurats
  • Priests initially had power
  • Mesopotamian gods were moody and harsh
• Transition from religious to secular power
  • Emergence of palaces and kings
  • Kings often held quasi-religious roles (e.g., sacred marriage)

Writing and Records

• Cuneiform writing developed
  • Used for record-keeping (e.g., wheat and goats)
• Writing led to class distinctions
• Enabled actual history and maintenance of records

Trade and Economy

• Fertile Crescent lacked metals, stone, and wood
• Trade was essential for materials
• Developed first territorial kingdoms

Changes in Governance

• Proto-socialism replaced by private enterprise
• Rise of powerful kings like Hammurabi
  • Famous for Hammurabi's law code (e.g., an eye for an eye)
  • Law code harsh but introduced presumption of innocence

Periods of Conquest

• Territorial kingdoms frequently overthrown by nomadic invaders
• Neo-Assyrian Empire expansion begins around 911 BCE
  • Notable for brutal and efficient military
  • Conquered much of Mesopotamia, coastal Mediterranean, and Egypt

Decline of Empires

• Neo-Assyrians fell due to overextension and loss of battles
• Empires faced issues with unification due to diversity

Conclusion

• Mesopotamia gave foundational concepts: writing, laws, and empire establishment
• Next episode: Egypt

Extra Information

• Written and produced by Raoul Meyer and John Green
• Graphics by Thought Bubble
• Last week's phrase: "Better Boyfriend"