MesopotamiaResponsible for the first writing system and home to elaborate kingdoms and societies, Mesopotamia has been aptly labeled as the birthplace of the world s first advanced civilizations. Although much remains unknown about the life and structure of Mesopotamia, the writings and artifacts left behind have shed elucidating light on a number of its significant developments and technological advances. This absorbing volume explores Sumer, Babylon, and the other early settlements that flourished in the enchanting land between the Tigris and Euphrates. |
Contents
| 6 | |
| 10 | |
CHAPTER 2 SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION | 31 |
CHAPTER 3 THE FIRST KINGDOM OF BABYLON | 50 |
CHAPTER 4 THE ASSYRIANS AND THE CHALDEANS | 61 |
CONCLUSION | 75 |
Common terms and phrases
6th centuries BC Adapa Akkad Akkadians Anatolia ancient Mesopotamia archaeologists Ashurbanipal Assyrian Assyrian king astronomy Babylon Babylonian Baghdad became built calendar capital city carved century BC Chaldeans city of Babylon city—states clay tablets Code of Hammurabi conquered culture cuneiform cuneiform writing developed earliest Egypt Egyptians empire Enkidu Enlil Euphrates rivers Fertile Crescent fig figure flat flood Getty Images Gilgamesh epic gods Greeks Hanging Gardens Iran Iraq Museum Iraqi irrigation Ishtar King Hammurabi KINGDOM OF BABYLON Kish known land language Marduk myths Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar II Nineveh northern official Oriental Institute palaces and temples Persian Gulf Photos/Getty Images potter’s wheel pottery ramp region rule Sargon Sargon II Sargon of Akkad Semitic silt soil stela stone story stylus Sumer SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION symbols Syria Tammuz temple tower Tiamat Tigris and Euphrates Tigris River tion Ubaidians Uruk Utnapishtim wall writing system ziggurat