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Fertile Crescent

The Fertile Crescent Land Between Two Rivers

Fertile Crescent Is the name given to the area between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea Is the name given to the area between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea The Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers run through the middle of this region The Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers run through the middle of this region This region is in present day Iraq This region is in present day Iraq

Mesopotamia In Greek = land between the rivers In Greek = land between the rivers Location Location Is inside of the Fertile Crescent Is inside of the Fertile Crescent Tigris and the Euphrates Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers Rivers Rivers of life and death Rivers of life and death Flood waters brought topsoil from the mountains in spring Flood waters brought topsoil from the mountains in spring The floods were unpredictable and swept away people and animals The floods were unpredictable and swept away people and animals

Sumer Cities Cities Surplus allowed for the growth of cities Surplus allowed for the growth of cities The first cities had about 10,000 people but as time passed they grew to about 100,000 The first cities had about 10,000 people but as time passed they grew to about 100,000

City-States The amount of farmland controlled by a city-state depended on the size of its military strength. The amount of farmland controlled by a city-state depended on the size of its military strength. Buildings and walled cities began to appear Buildings and walled cities began to appear Large deserts kept the cities of Sumer from uniting under one rule Large deserts kept the cities of Sumer from uniting under one rule They acted as individual countries even thought they were cities They acted as individual countries even thought they were cities

City-States City-states would continually fight over who had controlled the farmland and the rights to trade on the river City-states would continually fight over who had controlled the farmland and the rights to trade on the river 3500 BC the kingdom of Kish was the most powerful 3500 BC the kingdom of Kish was the most powerful Uruk and Ur fought for dominance as well Uruk and Ur fought for dominance as well Uruk’s king Gilgamesh became a legendary figure in Sumerian Literature Uruk’s king Gilgamesh became a legendary figure in Sumerian Literature

Rise of the Akkadian Empire Akkadians lived to the north of Sumer Akkadians lived to the north of Sumer Spoke a different language Spoke a different language The two civilizations lived in peace for many years UNTIL The two civilizations lived in peace for many years UNTIL Sargon king of the Akkadians tried to expand his empire Sargon king of the Akkadians tried to expand his empire

Sargon Built a new capital of Akkad Built a new capital of Akkad Near present day Baghdad Near present day Baghdad 1 st ruler to have a permanent army 1 st ruler to have a permanent army 1 st to use soldiers with arrows 1 st to use soldiers with arrows Defeated all the cities of Sumer and Northern Mesopotamia Defeated all the cities of Sumer and Northern Mesopotamia

Sargon 1 st Empire- land with different territories and peoples under a single rule. 1 st Empire- land with different territories and peoples under a single rule. Ruled for 50 years Ruled for 50 years The Empire fell after his death and the area went into Chaos The Empire fell after his death and the area went into Chaos Ur eventually regains power and reestablishes Sumer as the most powerful civilization in the region Ur eventually regains power and reestablishes Sumer as the most powerful civilization in the region

Sumerian Religion Polytheism Polytheism The belief in many gods The belief in many gods Myths Myths Stories about the gods that explain people’s beliefs, warned that the god’s would punish people who angered them Stories about the gods that explain people’s beliefs, warned that the god’s would punish people who angered them Priests Priests People who performed or led religious ceremonies People who performed or led religious ceremonies

Sumerian Religion Ziggurats Ziggurats Were structures that were built by the Sumerians to act as a ladder for the god’s Were structures that were built by the Sumerians to act as a ladder for the god’s They are terraced with ramps that lead to the top where a temple is located They are terraced with ramps that lead to the top where a temple is located

Sumerian Social Order KING Priests Skilled Craftsmen, Merchants, and traders Farmers and laborers

Sumerian Achievements Invention of Writing Invention of Writing Cuneiform Cuneiform Pictographs or picture symbols Pictographs or picture symbols Scribe Scribe Epic- long poem that tells the story of heros Epic- long poem that tells the story of heros

Sumerian Achievements Technical Advances Technical Advances Wheel- used in carts for trade and transportation Wheel- used in carts for trade and transportation Potters wheel used to make round pottery Potters wheel used to make round pottery Plow- pulled by ox to break up the soil before planting Plow- pulled by ox to break up the soil before planting Water clock Water clock Sewers Sewers Bronze for tools Bronze for tools Makeup and jewelry Makeup and jewelry

Sumerian Achievements Math and Science Math and Science Developed a math system which used a 60 as a base Developed a math system which used a 60 as a base This led to the understanding of 12 months in a year, 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour This led to the understanding of 12 months in a year, 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour Scientists studied the natural world to develop medicine Scientists studied the natural world to develop medicine

The Arts of Sumer Architecture-the science of building Architecture-the science of building In Sumer the buildings were made of clay bricks In Sumer the buildings were made of clay bricks Some of the houses were small and built for single families Some of the houses were small and built for single families While others were large and had many rooms While others were large and had many rooms Palaces were large and multileveled Palaces were large and multileveled Ziggurat- was a pyramid shaped temple Ziggurat- was a pyramid shaped temple

Sumerian Art Many statues of their gods, jewelry, and carvings from wood or ivory are common Many statues of their gods, jewelry, and carvings from wood or ivory are common Cylinder Seals- Carvings on round stones that were rolled onto wet clay and left an imprint Cylinder Seals- Carvings on round stones that were rolled onto wet clay and left an imprint Showed ownership or famous scenes Showed ownership or famous scenes Music was also an important part of religion and life Music was also an important part of religion and life

The Sumerian’s Downfall Constant fighting between city-states weakened them Constant fighting between city-states weakened them Water rights / who owned the rivers Water rights / who owned the rivers Money Money Babylonians eventually took over in 1759 BC Babylonians eventually took over in 1759 BC

Babylonia and Assyria

Empire An empire is an area of many territories and people that are controlled by one government An empire is an area of many territories and people that are controlled by one government

Babylonian Empire

The Babylonian Empire The beautiful city of Babylon was the center The beautiful city of Babylon was the center Valued Valued Conquest: victory in war Conquest: victory in war Wealth Wealth Built cities where learning was valued from the vast wealth they had acquired Built cities where learning was valued from the vast wealth they had acquired

The Babylonian Empire Trade- Trade- Babylon’s location made it a center of trade Babylon’s location made it a center of trade Caravans, or groups of travelers, coming and going from other cities stopped in Caravans, or groups of travelers, coming and going from other cities stopped in Bazaars, or markets, existed in these cities to trade goods from all over the world Bazaars, or markets, existed in these cities to trade goods from all over the world

The Babylonian Empire Hammurabi- Became King Hammurabi- Became King Created Babylon by uniting the cities of Sumer and conquering parts of Asia Minor Created Babylon by uniting the cities of Sumer and conquering parts of Asia Minor One of the most influential leaders in the region One of the most influential leaders in the region Developed laws and conquered territory Developed laws and conquered territory

The Code of Hammurabi

Hammurabi’s Code Existed in Babylonia and told people how to settle problems in all areas of life. Existed in Babylonia and told people how to settle problems in all areas of life. The punishment changed depending on the importance of the victim The punishment changed depending on the importance of the victim Accidents were punished as crimes as well Accidents were punished as crimes as well

The Legacy of Mesopotamia Legal System Legal System Code- organized list, of laws helps make sure laws are applied fairly Code- organized list, of laws helps make sure laws are applied fairly Babylonia was the first civilization to write their laws down so everyone new what was expected Babylonia was the first civilization to write their laws down so everyone new what was expected

The Assyrian Empire Started as a small city on the Tigris River Nineveh Nineveh it had little to no protection from invaders it was out in the open it had little to no protection from invaders it was out in the open Developed a strong military Developed a strong military After defending themselves for years they became strong After defending themselves for years they became strong The best defense is a good offense The best defense is a good offense

The Assyrian Empire Advances Advances Nineveh became a city of great learning Nineveh became a city of great learning Famous library that held tablets from Sumer and Babylonia Famous library that held tablets from Sumer and Babylonia This library provided much of the information that we have on early life in Mesopotamia This library provided much of the information that we have on early life in Mesopotamia Experts in war Experts in war Battering Ram, slinger, helmets, armor, archery Battering Ram, slinger, helmets, armor, archery Armored chariots were their major advantage Armored chariots were their major advantage

The Assyrian Empire Downfall Downfall They had few friends in the area They had few friends in the area Many small rebellions from with in weakened them/ People they had conquered Many small rebellions from with in weakened them/ People they had conquered The Medes and the Chaldeans joined together to crush them in 612 BC The Medes and the Chaldeans joined together to crush them in 612 BC

Babylonia Rises Again Chaldeans reestablished Babylon (New Babylonian Empire) Chaldeans reestablished Babylon (New Babylonian Empire)

Nebuchadnezzar II Rebuilt Babylon Rebuilt Babylon A beautiful city with massive decorations A beautiful city with massive decorations Palace was 350 feet tall Palace was 350 feet tall According to legend he built the “Hanging Gardens of Babylon” for his wife who was from the mountains and hated the dry climate of Mesopotamia According to legend he built the “Hanging Gardens of Babylon” for his wife who was from the mountains and hated the dry climate of Mesopotamia

Babylonia Rises Again Advances Advances Science and learning were very important Science and learning were very important Developed an accurate calendar Developed an accurate calendar Began to raise bees for honey Began to raise bees for honey