Unit 2, Ancient Civilizations & the 6 Elements of Civilization: M ESOPOTAMIA Mr. Pagliaro Seymour High School

Part 1 Main Ideas Geography: The Land between the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers was a good region for agriculture.Geography: The Land between the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers was a good region for agriculture. Geography: The environment of Mesopotamia presented challenges to the people that lived there.Geography: The environment of Mesopotamia presented challenges to the people that lived there. Geography: Mesopotamians changed their environment to improve life.Geography: Mesopotamians changed their environment to improve life.

Part 1 Goals Describe how the earliest civilization in Asia arose in Mesopotamia, organized into city- states, and developed into the world's first empire.Describe how the earliest civilization in Asia arose in Mesopotamia, organized into city- states, and developed into the world's first empire.

Vocabulary Terms flood-plain silt semi-arid Names Fertile Crescent Mesopotamia Euphrates River Tigris River Sumerians

Ancient Fertile Crescent Area The Middle East: “The Cradle of Civilization”

The Tigris & Euphrates River Valley Mesopotamia: ”Land Between the Two Rivers” Marsh Arabs, So. Iraq Rivers provided water, transportation

Dead Sea: Lowest Point on Earth Highest Salt Content (33%) 2,300’ below sea level

How did the region support agriculture? Fertile Soil Irregular floods Flood-plain overflowed Silt deposits Climate Semi-arid Warm Dry

How did the geography affect farming? c BC – Irrigationc BC – Irrigation Controlled floodsControlled floods Diverted water to fieldsDiverted water to fields c BC – Many Sumerian farming villages, cities like Urc BC – Many Sumerian farming villages, cities like Ur

How did Mesopotamians cope with a lack of resources? Mud bricksMud bricks HomesHomes WallsWalls No natural defenses from other peoplesNo natural defenses from other peoples Surplus cropsSurplus crops Traded outside regionTraded outside region

Part 1 Summary The floods of the Tigris & Euphrates rivers left rsilt in Mesopotamia for growing crops.The floods of the Tigris & Euphrates rivers left rsilt in Mesopotamia for growing crops. People developed irrigation to control floods and water crops.People developed irrigation to control floods and water crops. With few resources, Mesopotamians traded surplus cropsWith few resources, Mesopotamians traded surplus crops

Why it matters now… Mesopotamians 8000 years ago through today have worked to overcome a lack of natural resources and natural barriers.Mesopotamians 8000 years ago through today have worked to overcome a lack of natural resources and natural barriers.

SUMERIANS: THE FIRST CIVILIZATION Part 2

Part 2 Main Ideas Government: A new type of government developed in Sumer (southern Mesopotamia) that included the city and the surrounding lands. Government: Religion dominated life in Sumer, but eventually men who were not priests became political rulers. Culture: Sumerian society was divided into several classes Science & Technology: Sumerians invented tools and developed special knowledge to improve their lives.

Part 2 Goals Describe and analyze Sumerian city-states and how other cultures learned about them.Describe and analyze Sumerian city-states and how other cultures learned about them. Apply the 6 elements of civilization to Sumerian religious beliefs, artistic activity, social classes, writing, and examine the technologyApply the 6 elements of civilization to Sumerian religious beliefs, artistic activity, social classes, writing, and examine the technology

Part 2 Key Vocabulary Terms city-state cuneiform scribes ziggurat priest-kings Names Sumer Sumerians The Epic of Gilgamesh

Sumerian Civilization World’s 1 st civilization-Sumerians: c BCWorld’s 1 st civilization-Sumerians: c BC What are the 6 elements of civilization?What are the 6 elements of civilization? 1.Cities 2.Government 3.Written records 4.Artistic activity 5.Religious Activity 6.Social Classes Sumerian farmers

Emerging civilization

Examples of Cities

Features of Cities Places for:Places for: storage & trade of surplus grainstorage & trade of surplus grain specialized jobs & marketsspecialized jobs & markets home to zigguratshome to ziggurats

Government City-statesCity-states Who ruled early Sumerian city-states?Who ruled early Sumerian city-states? Why may priests have been able to take power? Priest-kings or Ensi

Religion Polytheism (polytheistic)Polytheism (polytheistic) Many godsMany gods anthropomorphicanthropomorphic

Other institutions Schools for scribesSchools for scribes militarymilitary

Writing CuneiformCuneiform Wedge-shapedWedge-shaped Reed stylusReed stylus Clay tabletsClay tablets

Writing as art… Literature- The Epic of GilgameshLiterature- The Epic of Gilgamesh

Artistic Achievements Harp: music & art Royal Game of Ur – Try to play?Try to play? Harp: music & art Jewelry: fashion & art

Social Classes Complex, unequalComplex, unequal Upper classUpper class Kings, priests, landowners, royal officialsKings, priests, landowners, royal officials Middle classMiddle class soldiers, scribes, merchants, artisans, farmerssoldiers, scribes, merchants, artisans, farmers Lowest classLowest class laborers, slaveslaborers, slaves Why were the kings and priests in the highest class?

Sumerian Technology WheelWheel SailboatsSailboats PlowsPlows CalendarCalendar IrrigationIrrigation

Why was Sumer a good example of a civilization?

Let’s see…

Lesson Summary Sumerians were the first civilization to include all 6 elementsSumerians were the first civilization to include all 6 elements Sumerian society had several classes: kings at the top, slaves at the bottomSumerian society had several classes: kings at the top, slaves at the bottom The Sumerians created the first organized religion, governments, and writing systemThe Sumerians created the first organized religion, governments, and writing system

Why it matters now… The governments of Mesopotamia set examples for later civilizations.The governments of Mesopotamia set examples for later civilizations. Writing makes it easier to pass knowledge from one generation to the next.Writing makes it easier to pass knowledge from one generation to the next.

AKKADIANS & BABYLONIANS Part 3

Part 3 Main Ideas Government: Empires emerged in Mesopotamia, combining multiple cultures. Government: Law codes help organize people within a society.

Part 3 Goals Identify the contributions of the Akkadians and Babylonians.Identify the contributions of the Akkadians and Babylonians. Identify Sargon I and Hammurabi.Identify Sargon I and Hammurabi. Evaluate Hammurabi’s CodeEvaluate Hammurabi’s Code

Part 3 Key Vocabulary Terms empire dynasty retribution Names Akkadians Babylonians Sargon Hammurabi Hammurabi’s Code

Sargon of Akkad: The World’s First Empire [Akkadians]

The Babylonian Empires

Hammurabi Babylonian EmperorBabylonian Emperor Ammorite dynastyAmmorite dynasty Hammurabi’s CodeHammurabi’s Code World’s 1 st uniform law codeWorld’s 1 st uniform law code retributionretribution “An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooh.”“An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooh.” Applied to all classes, all culturesApplied to all classes, all cultures

Hammurabi’s [r BC] Code

Hammurabi, the Judge

Babylonian Math Invented Geometry

Babylonian Numbers Base 60 number system