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Mesopotamia Essay

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Key Geographical Features Religious Beliefs Political Structures Social and/or Cultural Characteristics Mesopotamia -situated between the Tigris & Euphrates rivers -overflow from rivers left silt behind, creating a fertile area for agricultural boom -rivers made import/export trading easier -polytheistic, believing in more than one god -believed the gods preplanned everything -built temples to honor gods -built ziggurats to be closer to gods -main priority was pleasing gods -kings/rulers, also known as nobles were over entire areas of people and lived in large palaces with their family -priests held above average power because they were viewed as having access to the gods -majorly patriarchal laws that favored the upper class & men by uneven …show more content…

-inventions/contributions to modern day include: the wheel, bronze, sexagesimal number system, solar calendar, chariots, cuneiform writing, and numerous agricultural & weaponry advances Egypt -Nile river provided irrigation for surrounding land/valleys -climate provided reliable weather changes that ensured agricultural success -unlivable deserts on either side ensured security -Mediterranean Sea to the north -polytheistic, believing in more than one god -promotion of local gods within communities -Ma’at was maintained by gods & kings to keep chaos at bay -concepts of “ka” & “ba” refer to the soul & afterlife of a person -kings ruled with a central bureaucracy supported by religion -structure included a king, his vizier for daily operations, & a high priest -politics were intertwined with religion -king owned everything & commandeered “taxes” to pay for public works -rule was passed thru lineage -skilled engineers produced pyramids, canals, & irrigation systems -inventions/contributions include: geometry, medicine, antiquities, hieroglyphics, stylus writing tool, papyrus, and many religious and scientific texts India -Indus river ran thru India & irrigated crops -flooding from monsoons left soil fertile from sediment -proximity of Arabian Sea & Persian Gulf made trade easy -polytheistic, believing in more than one

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