Contributions of Mesopotamian cultures

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Contributions of Mesopotamian cultures
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Sumerians

• arch, wheel, plow, sail
• ziggurat and cuneiform
• governed by large land owners
• astronomy fortune telling
• number system - 6s 12s
• concept of city-state

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Babylonians

• Hammurabis Law Code
• imperial government
• first to build Babylon

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Hittites

• iron

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Phoenicians

• alphabet writing with phonetic symbols
• commerce shipbuilding
• dyes and other products
• murex

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Hebrews (Israelites, Jews)

• monotheism
• Old Testament
• concept of human dignity
• Judaism

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Assyrians

• warfare weapons, armor, cavalry, tactics,
  catapult and other siege tools
• postal service
• some roads
• built city of Ninevah
• improved writing

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Assyrian Treasures
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Chaldeans

• astrology
• rebuilt city of Babylon
• Hanging Gardens of Babylon
• captivity of the Jews
• planned cities

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HANGING GARDENS
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Lydians

• coins

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Persians

• Zoroasterianism
• separated civilians military
• national highways
• more just government
• spread of coins
• first federal government