Groove Time Nytimes.com headline for September 16, 2013 reads: “Gunman and 12 Victims Killed in Shooting at D.C. Navy Yard.” What happened? What are reasons for and against gun control? What do YOU think?

Ancient Civilizations: Mesopotamia and China

Mesopotamia First civilizations to develop after the Neolithic Revolution Modern day area known as the Middle East “The land between the rivers”  Euphrates and Tigris

Tigris and Euphrates Dry region (very little rain) Rivers flooded in late-spring Developed irrigation systems  Brought water miles away from it’s source  Big boom in agriculture (farming)

Government/Economy Culture City-states run by kings Theocracy – governed by a divine authority Kings were chosen by the gods. Economy mostly agriculture with some trade and industry. 3 social groups: elites, commoners and slaves  90% of population were farmers. Cuneiform – “wedge shaped”, earliest known form of writing Sumerians in Mesopotamia (3000BCE)

Religion Polytheism – belief in multiple gods (3000!) Worshipped in temples atop a massive stepped tower called a ziggurat. Sumerians (3000 BCE)

Peoples Sumerians – 3000 BCE  Epic of Gilgamesh Akkadians – 2340 BCE  Postal service Assyrians – 2000 BCE  Military technology Babylonians – 1800 BCE  Code of Hammurabi

Code of Hammurabi A collection of 282 laws made by Hammurabi (Babylonian king) One of the earliest written pieces of work. “Eye for eye, a tooth for a tooth.” Crimes against upper society were treated much harsher than lower society.

Indus Valley Civilization (3000 BCE) Civilization emerged in the Indus Valley  Modern day India and Pakistan

Peoples Indus civilization – 3000 BCE Aryans – 2000 BCE  Nomadic before arriving  Interacted with descendants of the Indus Valley people  Blended cultures

Government/Economy Culture The region was made up of small kingdoms led by rajas (princes) Large Indian state established in 300 BCE Mostly farming economy but some trade with Sumerians Varnas – system of rank  Brahmins -> Kshatriyas -> Vaisyas -> Sudras Family-oriented society  Patriarchy – papa is in charge  Suttee – ritual where wife throws herself on husband’s funeral pyre Aryans

Hinduism Buddhism Earliest religion Polytheistic Believed in one ultimate force in the Universe (Brahman) 500 BCE Did not worship gods Believed in life without material things. Religion

Sanskrit Written Indo-European language 1000 BCE Used to record legends and religious rituals