The Rise and Fall of Mesopotamia: A Journey through History

Introduction

The time of the Mesopotamians started around 5000 BC and ended around 2000 BC. In that time period, a lot happened. Even if it was the building of the Ziggurat or the wheel being created. This is all about Mesopotamia from start to finish.

Geography

The climate in Mesopotamia is very dry and it almost never rains there. Mesopotamia has no mountains, but they do have a current wind and that creates sand dunes, some of the sand dunes are very big because Mesopotamia is mostly a desert. The only real place that does not have sand flying around is near the river, and trees grow there and they block the sand. In a picture of the Ziggurat it has a sandy color because sand flying around gets inside the cracks and coats the Ziggurat.

Government

Mesopotamia was ruled by kings and sometimes queens, some are better then others and some are on the throne longer. When the king or queen dies or is killed, the oldest son or daughter takes his or her place. There have only been a few queens. In Mesopotamia people had no say at all and if they had a valid idea the owner or the slave keeper took it as their own.

Economics

Babylonians, Akkadians, and Sumerians all Mesopotamian tribes liked to trade with each other even if sometimes it did not end in the greatest terms. They had a give-and-take trading method, it was if you gave me a fish I will give you some grain. Most Mesopotamians traded things like wool, steel, grain, and other resources.

Beliefs

The Mesopotamians had many beliefs, one of beliefs is gods they believed in hundreds if not thousands of gods. They had gods from Enlil who was believed to be the god of wind, air, earth, and storms to Utu god of the sun, morality, justice, and truth. They practiced their religion in the church which is a lot different then what we have now.

Inventions

The Mesopotamians had made lots of inventions from the wheel to the plow. Some of the inventions that are still in use and most well know is the wheel and the sailboat. And of course, from the wheel Mesopotamia made the chariot, and that was good use in battle. They also made the plow and maps but also they were creators of mathematics.

Architecture

The most well-known piece of architecture in Mesopotamia is the Ziggurat a huge building meant for the king. They made there buildings and houses where made out of mud bricks also wet sand blocks. They made lots of the buildings out of mud blocks and not many houses where made from rocks because they lived in a desert where there are not lots of rocks.

Famous people

Hammurabi is probably the most well know and famous person in Mesopotamia, he was established the old Babylonian state. He was also important in making there laws, he had a code it consisted of 282 laws and he wrote them down so that his people could remember them. A different famous person was Akkad he was the creator and establisher of the Akkadian civilization.

Code of Hammurabi

As I already said the code consisted of 282 laws. The code most very harsh, an eye for an eye actually meant that if you poked out someone's eye in a fight they were loud to take your eye out. Another rule was if you built a house and fell on someone and killed him, you would be killed. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, Mesopotamia was a civilization that flourished from 5000 BC to 2000 BC. Despite the harsh climate and lack of resources, the Mesopotamians made significant advancements in various fields, including architecture, economics, inventions, and beliefs. Their religion was polytheistic, and they believed in multiple gods, each with a unique role. They were ruled by kings and queens who had absolute power, and their society was based on a strict hierarchy. Their inventions, such as the wheel and plow, revolutionized the way people lived and worked. The most famous person in Mesopotamia was Hammurabi, who established the Old Babylonian state and created the harsh and strict code of laws that bears his name. Overall, Mesopotamia left a lasting impact on human civilization and remains an important part of our history.