4.1 From Old Babylon to the Medes

The Ancient Near East was a cradle of civilization, with the Fertile Crescent fostering early agricultural societies. Rivers like the Tigris and Euphrates enabled irrigation, leading to the rise of city-states and empires in Mesopotamia. Natural barriers and waterways shaped regional development and trade.

Mesopotamian city-states were complex societies with hierarchies, advanced technologies, and cultural achievements. From Sumer's invention of writing to Babylon's legal codes, these civilizations laid the groundwork for future empires. Regional interactions through diplomacy, trade, and warfare further shaped the ancient world.

Geography and Civilizations of the Ancient Near East

Geographical features of Ancient Near East

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• Fertile Crescent stretched from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea, including the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys, supporting the development of agriculture and early civilizations
• Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Mesopotamia provided water for irrigation and agriculture, allowing for the growth of city-states and empires
• Mesopotamia, meaning "land between the rivers" (Tigris and Euphrates), was the cradle of civilization where early city-states and empires developed
• Zagros Mountains to the east of Mesopotamia acted as a natural barrier and source of resources such as timber, stone, and metals
• Persian Gulf to the south of Mesopotamia facilitated trade and cultural exchange with other regions, including the Indus Valley and Arabian Peninsula

Mesopotamian city-states: Key characteristics

• Sumer, one of the earliest civilizations in Mesopotamia (4th millennium BCE), had city-states ruled by kings and councils of elders, developed cuneiform script (first writing system), invented the wheel, the plow, and irrigation techniques, and had a social hierarchy consisting of rulers, priests, scribes, merchants, farmers, and slaves
  • Cuneiform was used to record religious texts, laws, and administrative documents
• Akkadian Empire, the first empire in Mesopotamia (24th-22nd centuries BCE), had a centralized government under a powerful ruler (Sargon the Great), adopted and spread Sumerian culture and technology, and had a social structure similar to Sumer with the addition of a strong military class
• Babylonian Empire, which emerged in the 18th century BCE and reached its peak under Hammurabi, had a centralized government with a strong monarchy, was known for the Code of Hammurabi (one of the earliest written legal codes), made advancements in astronomy, mathematics, and architecture (ziggurats), and had a social hierarchy consisting of the king, nobles, priests, merchants, artisans, farmers, and slaves

Ancient Near East: Regional interactions

• Diplomacy between city-states involved forming alliances to counter threats from powerful neighbors, using royal marriages to establish diplomatic ties and alliances, and exchanging gifts and tribute to accompany diplomatic relations
• Trade in the Ancient Near East involved Mesopotamian city-states trading with neighboring regions (Anatolia, Persia, Indus Valley), exchanging goods such as agricultural products, textiles, metals, and luxury items, and using trade routes like the Persian Gulf and the Silk Road to facilitate long-distance commerce
• Military interactions between city-states and empires involved engaging in conquests to expand territories and resources, using military force to control trade routes and subdue rivals (Akkadian and Babylonian Empires), and exchanging technology, culture, and ideas between regions as a result of military campaigns

Cultural and Technological Developments

• Bronze Age: Marked a significant period of technological advancement in the Ancient Near East
  • Characterized by the widespread use of bronze tools and weapons
  • Led to improvements in agriculture, construction, and warfare
• Polytheism: The dominant religious belief system in Mesopotamian civilizations
  • Each city-state had its own patron deity
  • Temples were central to religious and economic life
• City-states: The primary political and social organization in early Mesopotamia
  • Consisted of a central urban area surrounded by agricultural land
  • Often competed for resources and political dominance