Mesopotamia mind map

Proof

Mesopotamia had a centralized government. Originally, Mesopotamian villages were a democratic government but changed into a monarchy. Mesopotamian villages named one of their strongest and capable men to lead them in wars to success and called them lugal. According to Newman and DeGeer, authors of Odyssey Through the Ages, “Although the appointment was initially temporary, the frequent recurrence of wars led to the eventual decline of democratic government and the rule of a monarchical system in which the kingship was hereditary and despotic” (2).

2. Garfield Newman and Christine De Geer, Odyssey through the Ages (Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2012).

Continuity and Change

This is continuity because the early government of Mesopotamia was democratic just like some countries now. Villages elected men that they thought were the strongest men to lead them(3). Currently for a democratic government, people still need to vote for someone who they think will best lead the people but this person is based off of skills, intelligence, trustworthy and overall, someone who can lead to the best future.

3.Garfield Newman and Christine De Geer, Odyssey through the Ages (Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2012).

Picture

3.1 "Portrait of an Assyrian King, Ashurnasirpal II, dressed in his ceremonial robe and holding a weapon in each hand. The statue is now in the British Museum," (Franz von Reber, History of Ancient Art [New York: Harper, 1882]).

Proof

Proof

In an ancient Mesopotamia civilization, the first pieces of writing were found that date back to 3500 B.C.E. Their writing originally started off as pictograms then shifted to ideograms which allowed for the advancement of a genuine structure of writing that according to Odyssey Through the Ages by Newman and DeGeer, “conventionalized signs symbolized ideas,” (4). Science was also a huge part of Mesopotamia. The wheel was first made by a Mesopotamian citizen to help the people tranport goods with the help of oxen, along with seeder-plows and pickaxes (5). They also became skilled at being bakers, brewers, weavers, tanners, and builders (6).

4.Garfield Newman and Christine De Geer, Odyssey through the Ages (Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2012).

5.Garfield Newman and Christine De Geer, Odyssey through the Ages (Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2012).

6.Garfield Newman and Christine De Geer, Odyssey through the Ages (Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2012).

Continuity and Change

There is evidence of change because of their writing starting out as pictograms then moving on to ideograms. As stated by Odyssey Through the Ages, “The system of cuneiform writing eventually spread to Persia and Egypt and for centuries was the only international script. It became a great vehicle for the growth and spread of civilization and the exchange of new ideas between cultures,” (7). Science was evident in ancient Mesopotamia when looking at their inventions. One of their most significant and important inventions was the wheel (8). Society now, the wheel is everywhere from cars, trains, bikes to wagons and lawnmowers and so much more! They are apart of everyday life.

Continuity and Change

7. Garfield Newman and Christine De Geer, Odyssey through the Ages (Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2012).

8. Garfield Newman and Christine De Geer, Odyssey through the Ages (Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2012).

Photo

Proof

Religion was highly significant in the lives of the Mesopotamians. Because of the connection the priests have with the gods, they soon took a governmental role (10). Temples were built in ancient Mesopotamia and in the center of all villages was a temple to the patron of that village (11). Odyssey Through the Ages states, “The kings prominent position in society was further enhanced when it was given a religious dimension. Although the king was never deified, the institution of kingship was believed to be one of the basic institutions of human life created by the gods,” (12). Therefore, religion was woven into how the people were governed and impacted their everyday lives.

Proof

10. “Mesopotamia: Overview and Summary,” History, July 2, 2018, https://www.historyonthenet.com/mesopotamia.

11. Joshua J. Mark, “Mesopotamian Religion,” Ancient History Encyclopedia (Ancient History Encyclopedia, September 26, 2019), https://www.ancient.eu/Mesopotamian_Religion/.

12. Garfield Newman and Christine De Geer, Odyssey through the Ages (Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2012).

Continuity and Change

Religion was substantial to the Mesopotamians that they looked to the gods to help them get through hard times (13). The way people look to their gods or God to help them get through difficult points in life has not changed. For some people, going to their gods or god and seeking help from them is a solution for them when they have a crisis or problem in their life and do not know what to do. Going to a person’s gods or god and talking or praying to their divinity is a calming, reassuring way for them to be able to deal with ups and downs going on through life just like what the mesopotamians did according to A History of the Ancient World by Chester G. Starr.

13. Chester G. Starr, A History of the Ancient World (New York: Oxford University Press, 2010).

Photo

The god Marduk

Proof

Trading was big in Mesopotamia. Using small boats, they carried goods up and down the rivers Tigris and Euphrates from one Sumerian city to another and with long boats they travelled to Africa for building stones, to Cyprus for copper, to Egypt for gold, and to Lebanon for cedar. In exchange, they traded wool, cloth, jewellery, oil, and grains (14). According to World Civilizations: A Comparative Study written by Robert J. Walker, “Trading became very important to the economy of major Assyrian cities. A population of craftspeople grew in each centre, taking up residence in their own quarter of the city according to their speciality. They opened stalls on the streets to exchange their bronze, pottery, or woollen goods for imported products,” (15). Therefore, merchants and trade were significant in Mesopotamia civilization.

14. Robert J. Walker, World Civilizations: a Comparative Study (Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1998).

15. Robert J. Walker, World Civilizations: a Comparative Study (Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1998).

Continuity and Change

Trade helped change the development of civilizations within the world when it came to Mesopotamians traveling on land and exchanging cultures with other civilizations. As stated in World Civilizations: A Comparative Study, “Overland, caravans of donkeys set out in search of silver from the Taurus Mountains. Such ventures in trade netted an exchange in culture and ideas that further promoted the development of the civilized world,” (16).

16. Robert J. Walker, World Civilizations: a Comparative Study (Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1998).

Photo

Proof

The Mesopotamia civilization had four main classes; nobility, free clients, commoners, and slaves. The nobility consisted of the king and his family, priests, and high palace officials. Men and women that were employed by the nobility worked for them in exchange for using their land, they were called the free clients. They were also dependent on the nobility for their income. Free client made up a generous amount of society. Commoners were people that did not need to rely on the nobility since they owned their own land. Finally, the last class were the slaves (18). There were two types of slaves, the first type were prisoners that were captured during wars and the second type were slaves that had their families sell them in order to pay of debt. Women in ancient Mesopotamia also had more rights than most in other ancient civilizations but they were still not equal to men (19).

Proof

18. Garfield Newman and Christine De Geer, Odyssey through the Ages (Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2012).

19. Robert J. Walker, World Civilizations: a Comparative Study (Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1998).

Continuity and Change

All the way back in ancient Mesopotamia there were class structures that are still around today but with slight changes. In every society no mater where or when, there willl always be class structure. Women'were almost equal to men in ancient Mesopotmia but they were not smart enough to be able to excel at literacy (20). In modern times, women are more equal to men in some areas of ther world, more so than ever but there are places in the world where women are still not equal to men and struggle with obtaining equal rights.

Continuity and Change

20. Joshua J. Mark, “Daily Life in Ancient Mesopotamia,” Ancient History Encyclopedia (Ancient History Encyclopedia, September 26, 2019), https://www.ancient.eu/article/680/daily-life-in-ancient-mesopotamia/.

Photo

Proof

There were artists in Mesopotamia and their work was usually done so they could be supplied with everyday needs not because of pleasure or self-expression. They were servants of society and tradition, therefore, their work remains anonymous(21). Some other jobs that mesopotamians were talented at were being bakers, brewers, weavers, and tanners, along with builders (22).

Proof

21. Stephen Bertman, Handbook to Life in Ancient Mesopotamia (New York: Oxford University Press, 2005).

22.Garfield Newman and Christine De Geer, Odyssey through the Ages (Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2012).

Continuity and Change

Jobs have changed over the years and there is now more of a variety compared to back in ancient Mesopotamia. Through out the development of humanity and the growth of technology and the new needs humans have today, new jobs have arisen. Society stills needs farmers and bakers and traders but there are occupations now that help people in life that were not around in Mesopotamia. For example, firefighters, therapists, astronauts, and so much more.

Continuity and Change

Photo

Proof

The Mesopotamians had to control flood waters in order to maintain good crops so they built systems of dams and canals that irrigated their fields. Unfortunately, the canals are not able to prevent flood waters every time resulting in it remaining a threat to their crops (23). Stated in Odyssey Through the Ages, it says, “By developing a variety of tools and techniques the Mesopotamians were the first to derive a prosperous life based on large-scale agriculture,” (24). The Mesopotamians also domesticated and harnessed oxen so that they could use the animal to pull their ploughs, they also created a shoulder-yoke for the animal to make steering easier for it (25).

23. Robert J. Walker, World Civilizations: a Comparative Study (Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1998).

24. Garfield Newman and Christine De Geer, Odyssey through the Ages (Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2012).

25. Robert J. Walker, World Civilizations: a Comparative Study (Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1998).

Continuity and Change

Agriculture has widely changed since ancient Mesopotamia from what we grow to how we grow it. The Mesopotamians used oxen to pull their ploughs (26) where in modern times, we have tractors that farmers use. Although in some less developed counties, they are still using animals or doing the farming by hand. For example. according to fao.org, "Approximately, 39.4% of farm labour force is women,"(27).

Continuity and Change

26. Robert J. Walker, World Civilizations: a Comparative Study (Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1998).

27. “FAO.org,” Ghana at a glance FAO in Ghana Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, accessed September 30, 2019, http://www.fao.org/ghana/fao-in-ghana/ghana-at-a-glance/en/.

Photo