The Civilization of Sumer

Agriculture in Mesopotamia Local people of southern Mesopotamia began to solve the issues of the two rivers with new technologies Used technology to irrigate (supply water to) their crops – The people dug many miles of irrigation canals to bring water from the rivers to the fields They also developed a new way of planting crops by attaching a funnel to a plow

City States of Sumer Better agricultural techniques helped the people produce more food With a dependable food supply the population began to grow Around 3400 B.C.E the first cities began to emerge in Southern Mesopotamia The first civilization in the world became known as Sumer

Cities emerge – Uruk, the first Sumerian city Sumerian cities emerge as city-states – City-state= an independent state that includes a city and its surrounding territory – Each city-state had its own government, laws and main god – Sumerians and later Mesopotamians bulit walls around their cities

Trade – Mesopotamia had little wood or stone or metal – Had barley, wheat, dates, and cloth Trade was done by barter – Barter= people exchange goods directly without money Early traders used the rivers to transport their goods

Social Classes Sumerians developed a social order People of each class had a distinct role Ruling Family/Priests Merchants and Scribes Farmers  Majority Slaves The government and religion were firmly connected in the city-states and helped support the social order

Religion and Afterlife Sumerians practiced polytheism Their gods were thought to control every aspect of life. Sumerians believed that only priests knew how to communicated with the gods In larger Sumerian cities temples were pyramid shaped brick towers known as ziggurats

Sumerian Writing Sumerian priests needed a system to keep record of their gods Sumerians invented the earliest known form of writing called cuneiform. – using a reed pen to make wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets – Triangular shaped symbols – Thousands of symbols were created

Sumerian Government As city-states grew people in different cities began to argue with one another of the control of land and water In times of war priests helped choose the best person to lead the city-state into battle After the war the leader was expected to give up his power and return to normal life But some kept control over the city-states even after the war ended Military leaders became the first kings

Written laws – The earliest known law code was issued around 2100 B.C.E. – The earliest laws included laws about marriage, slavery, and causing harm to other people

Achievements – Plow – Irrigation – Wheel – Sail – One of the first cultures to make bronze

The First Empires

As city-states began to fight one another they began to take control of more land Empire= a state containing several countries or territories

Frequent fighting among each other made the Sumerian city-states weak

Akkadians Sargon, King of Akkad, conquered the city-states (2300 B.C.E.). – This is the first known empire After his death, other invaders swept into the wide valley tumbling his empire into ruin Akkad were Semitic people, like the Hebrews

The Babylonians A Semitic people who spoke Akkadian, conquered Mesopotamia in about 2000 B.C. Its capital, Babylon, was on the Euphrates River. About 1790 B.C.E., the king of Babylon, Hammurabi, brought the empire (much of Mesopotamia) under his control.

Hammurabi ’ s Code *First written laws Hammurabi was not the author of the code. Most of the laws had been around since Sumerian Times, but Hammurabi wanted everyone in his empire to know the legal principles his government would follow. He had artisans carve nearly 300 laws on a stone pillar for all to see. This was the first time a ruler attempted to solidify all of the laws that would govern a state.

Hammurabi ’ s Code Criminal laws dealt with offenses against others. Civil Law dealt with private rights and matters.

Law #196: “If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out.” Does this sound familiar?

Hittites The Babylonian empire fell to Hittite invaders Hittites were war- like people Invaded sometime in the 1600 B.C.E.

The Assyrians Warlike people from northern Mesopotamia, the Assyrians began to consolidate a great empire For 500 years, they earned a reputation for being among the most feared warriors in history After Assurbanipal ’ s death, people joined forces to destroy the Assyrian armies.

The Assyrians They were fierce, effective warriors Used chariots, and were the first to use cavalry, soldiers on horseback. In 700 B.C.E. the Assyrians captured Babylon, looted it, and destroyed it