HIST 10  World Civ
Lect. # 2

 Laying Down the Law:  Ancient  Mesopotamia 
(Mesopotamia - Lyrics) 

I. Rise of Mesopotamia

A. Topography of Mesopotamia (map)
        • Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

B. The Rise of City-States (map)
        • Sumeria

II. Achievments of the Mesopotamian City-State
A. City-State: Writing
        • cuneiform  
        • arrow = "ti"/life="ti"

B. City-State: Form & Function
        • City wall
        • Ziggurat (monumental architecture)

C. City-State: Religion
        • State Cults:  Anu, Enlil & Enki
        • Godesses, Demons & Monsters 

D. City-State: Science and Literature
        • Epic of Gilgamesh
        • Base 6

E. City-State: Law & Society
        • Code of Hammurabi
        • lex talionis (law of retaliation)

III. A Search for Order: Law, Philosophy and Legal Codes in China and India

A. India - Indus Valley City States (2600-1700 BCE)
          1. Major City States
              • Harappa [Harrapa Virtual Tour]
              • Mohenjo Daro ("Mound of the Dead")
                        [A Walk through Mohenjo Daro]

          2. Writing
              • Indus (Harappan) Script (debate)

          3. Aspects of Harrapan Culture
              • Social Structure
              • Conservatism
                          - Uniform buildings
                          - Uniform drains
              • Trade and Commerce
                          - Standardized weights
              • Significance of Harrapan Culture


B. China - Warring States Period (771-403 BCE)
         1. Hundred Schools of Thought
         2. Confucianism
              • Kong Fuzi (Confucius)
              • shi (ideal gentlemen)
              • Five Relationships
                    Ruler-subject
                    Father-son
                    Elder brother - Younger Brother
                    Husband - Wife
                    Elder Friend - Younger Friend
         3. Daoism
              • the "Dao"
              • wu-wei (inaction)
              • Laozi and Zhuangzi
                   - Daodejing (Taoteching)
          4. Legalism
              • Han Feizi

For a visually interesting examination of Mesopotamia see British Museum's web-exhibit Mesopotamia.
Or you are my slaves!! Build me a Ziggurat!!! [requires Shockwave]
Or try your hand at cuneiform and helping the gods to their home in The Cities of the Gods.