MESOPOTAMIE

Mésopotamie

Mésopotamie is  a historical area of the Middle East. It extends between two rivers,  the Tiger  and Euphrate  —it is besides from there that the area draws its name, which means "between two rivers" in Greek.

Mésopotamie corresponds overall to Iraq, and part of Syria and Iran current. Several significant civilizations of Antiquity lived there. 

CIVILIZATION SUMÉRIENNE

Sumériens live in  the south of Mésopotamie  to the IV ^E thousand-year-old before our era. Towards 3300 before J-C, they invent  the first written form: the wedge-shaped writing. This discovery is a revolutionist in the evolution of the man; it marks  the passage of prehistory to the history.

Civilization sumérienne is very technically advanced: invention and use of  the wheel, the irrigation,  the potter's wheel,  the plough  and  mathematics. It is as within civilization sumérienne as the first  cities appeared, with imposing architecture. Each city is controlled by a king who would hold his capacity of the gods. Most known are those of Kish, Lagash, Uruk and Ur. One of the most famous sovereigns of this period is legendary Gilgamesh, king d' Uruk to  the xxvii ^E century before J-C.

Each city seeking to dominate the others, Sumériens are made the war perpetually. Towards 2370 before J-C, a king manages to dominate the other cities and constitutes the first  kingdom of Sumer.

The KINGDOM OF SUMER AND AKKAD

At the same period, more in north in Mésopotamie, people live which adopted the written form of Sumériens. For a long time, the technical richnesses of Sumériens attract their covetousness. And towards 2325 before J-C, king  Sargon the Old one  seizes Sumer. After having founded its capital (Akkad), it  unifies Mésopotamie  and creates the kingdom of Sumer and Akkad. The kingdom declines however, after having fallen to the hands from wandering people.

Two centuries later, king d' Ur creates the prestigious  kingdom of Ur. It is at this period that the ziggourat  of  Ur is built (a pyramidal tower with several degrees). But towards 2004 before J-C, the kingdom of Ur breaks down in its turn under the blow of invasions of Élamites. To  the xx ^E century before our era, Mésopotamie becomes again a multitude of small rival States which are made the war perpetually.

the door of Ishtar in Babylon

Controlled by king Hammourabi, the city of Babylon benefits from these ceaseless wars. After having overcome the other kings, Hammourabi becomes the sovereign of  the kingdom of Babylon  into 1760 before J-C Babylon, the capital of Mésopotamie reunified, is more in north than the old cities sumériennes. Powerful monarch, Hammourabi makes thrive his kingdom; in particular, he is the author of  the first code of laws  of the history: the code of Hammourabi.

Under the successors of Hammourabi, the invasions begin again; this time, they are Kassites which penetrates in Mésopotamie. In the medium of  the xvi ^E century before our era, they seize Babylonia and restore the power with their profit of it. The dynasty kassite reign on Babylonia during 400 years. The kings of this civilization thrives are regarded as equal Pharaons of Egypt.

sumptuous court of Assyrie

To the xvi ^E century before J-C,  the north of Mésopotamie  is with the hands of Assyriens. The principal towns of Assyrie are Assur and Ninive. To  the xiii ^E century before J-C, under the pressure of migratory movements, Assyriens develop a genuine machine of war. The raids then then the conquest of the close territories, in particular Babylonia begin.

Two centuries later, a new dynasty controls the kingdom of Assyrie: one defines it as the dynasty néo-assyrienne.  Sargon II, whose reign extends from 721 to 705 before J-C, allows the Empire néo-assyrien its greater expansion. The empire is then very vast, in particular including Egypt, placed under protectorate. Sargon II controls from the city of Hard Sharrukin (today Khorsabad, in Iraq). Its successors, Sennachérib then  Assurbanipal, choose Ninive like capital.

THE SECOND KINGDOM OF BABYLON

To the vii ^E century before J-C, Babyloniens take again the top on Assyriens and supplant them. They melt a new kingdom in Mésopotamie, which one calls the kingdom néo-babylonien. The city of  Babylon, devastated at the time assyrienne, is rebuilt and equipped with an imposing architecture: hanging gardens of the palate of  Nabuchodonosor II  (one of the Seven wonders of the world), large ziggourat high of seven stages (probably at the origin of the myth of the tower of Babel), etc. The dynasty néo-babylonienne lasts approximately one century.

In 539 before J-C, the kingdom néo-babylonien is subjected by the king perse Cyrus the Large one. All Mésopotamie from now on is integrated into the Empire perse.

TO GO FURTHER

? the old Middle East
? Hebrews
? old Egypt
? characters:  Cyrus the Large one –Nabuchodonosor II
? interactivity:  chronology of Antiquity

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