From the Sumerians through the Phoenicians and Persians, these are some of the innovations developed by the peoples and empire of this river valley region.

1. Contributions of
Mesopotamia
sections 2.1 & 2.2

2. Timeline of Mesopotamia
Sumerians (5000 – 2370 BC)
Akkadians (2370 – 2230 BC)
Old Babylonians (1792 – 1595 BC)
Hittites (1450 – 1200 BC)
Assyrians (1305 – 609 BC)
New Babylonians (626 – 539 BC)
Persians (559 – 330 BC)

3. A. Law, Government,
and Society
Sumerians
Independent City-States
Distinct Social Hierarchy
Powerful Kings
Public Works
Akkadians
First Empire
united Sumerian city-states into
one empire
Old Babylonians
Hammurabi’s Code

4. A.
Law, Government, and
Society
Assyrians
set rituals, decorum, etiquette, and ceremonies for the royal
household
Persians
1.
Cultural Diffusion & Unity
practiced tolerance of conquered people in order to
make them less likely to rebel
allowed conquered people to practice their own customs
and religion
created a single law code from the laws of the different
people he conquered
hundreds of miles of road were either built or repaired
making communication easier
celebrated important festivals of the different diverse
people in the empire

5. A.
Law, Government, and
Society
Persians
2.
Government
divided the huge empire into satrapies (provinces) each
headed by a satrap (like a governor)
each province had to pay taxes based on its resources and
wealth
each satrap was observed by a special official (“the Eyes
and Ears of the King”)
3. Economy
a common set of weights and measures were established
to standardize trade
used a money economy where coins would be used for
trade (this also helped unite the large empire by making
trade easier)

6. B. Science and
Technology
Sumerians
1.
2.
3.
Writing
cuneiform
Mathematics
developed basic algebra and
geometry
base-6 number system for 60minute hour, and 360-degree circle
Astronomy
closer to astrology, the movement
of the stars and planets gave clues
about the will of the gods

7. B. Science and
Technology
Hittites
Iron Making
Assyrians
First Library (Great Library of
Nineveh)
collected cuneiform tablets
from all around the fertile
crescent
New Babylonians
Astronomy

8. B. Science and Technology
Phoenicians
Tyrian Purple
Glass
Alphabet
made trade easier when
recording business
transactions
Established trading posts
throughout the Mediterranean
Sea

9. B. Science and Technology

10. C. Art & Architecture
Sumerians
mud-brick was the primary
building material
ziggurats were temples
where people prayed and
left offerings
New Babylonians
Hanging Gardens
Ishtar Gate

11. D. Religion
Sumerians
polytheistic
gods with human
characteristics but
immortal & control nature
the afterlife was
considered bleak
regardless of one’s
behavior in life
Persians
Zoroastrianism
people could control
the fate of their soul by
choosing “sides”
between good and evil

12. E. Literature
Sumerians
“Epic of Gilgamesh”
first written epic
includes tales and
legends that may have
basis in true events
used to teach the reader
about the morals and
values of society