The Development of Agriculture - Causes The Last Ice Age ended Meat spoiled quickly In warm weather Large game animals died out Food became scarce People relied on more plant foods for survival Development of Agriculture: People began to plant seeds and to live in permanent settlements to protect their crops People began to domesticate animals

The Development of Agriculture - Effects Farming settlements grew Into villages Villages practiced division of labor, enabling some workers to specialize in useful crafts and develop new technology Productivity rose People acquired more goods; the idea of private property started Life was made more easier and comfortable Demand for goods led to an increase in trade

Warfare from competition for land & water Neolithic Revolution – shift from hunting and gathering to own production of food (agriculture) – 8000 B.C. Domestication of animals and grains Rise of villages dependent on agriculture (Jericho, Israel and Catal Hüyük, Turkey are a few of the earliest) Technological advances – the loom for weaving, bricks for building, & advanced metalwork Warfare from competition for land & water

5 Traits of a Civilization Specialization of labor (from surplus of food) Record keeping with a written language Complex institutions – government, social hierarchy, religion Advanced technology Advanced cities

The Sumerians Unit 1

The Fertile Crescent Parts of Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Syria, and Iraq Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Eastern part was called Mesopotamia (land between the rivers”

Tigris & Euphrates Rivers Did not provide a regular supply of water, but flooded often Caused destruction – swept away villages & fields Mesopotamians cooperated to control floodwaters – built dams, escape channels, canals, & ditches Hardly any rain in summer – led to water shortages Easy to invade (no natural barriers) – led to constant war

Sumerian Civilization Came from Central Asia or Asia Minor (were Indo-Europeans) Settled in the lower part of Fertile Crescent – a.k.a. Sumer Birthplace of cities Created 12 city-states Including Ur, Uruk, & Eridu Science: astronomy, calendar (aided agriculture)

Sumerian City-States Population ranged from 20,000 to 250,000 Shared a common culture Built ziggurats for religious purposes – dedicated to chief deity of the city Trading contacts with the rest of Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley

Sumerian Government Competition for land and water rights with foreign invaders led to the development of a monarchy (king) King was a religious & political leader King enforced law and set penalties (usually a fine)

Sumerian Culture Men and women had different roles Men – could sell wife and children to pay a debt; could divorce easily Women – could buy and sell property; operate own businesses; own slaves Developed cuneiform – 1st writing system in the world Epic poem – Gilgamesh story of a godlike man who performs heroic deeds Invented fertilizer & silver money

Sumerian Culture Practiced polytheism Most were farmers Had one chief god for each city-state Gods were unpredictable, angry, & selfish Invented wagon wheel, arch, ramp, potter’s wheel, sail, & plow Developed a number system based on 10,60, & 360 (for degrees in circles) and 12 month lunar calendar

Famous Leaders Sargon I – built the Akkadian Empire by uniting all of the Mesopotamian city-states (predated Egypt) Hammurabi – completed a law code of 282 sections

Hammurabi’s Law Code Dealt with most aspects of daily life Penalized wrongdoers with an “eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” approach Protected the less powerful & property Laws varied according to class

Problems & Solutions in the City-states of Mesopotamia Unpredictable flooding led to dry summer months; farmers suffer With no natural barriers, villagers couldn’t protect themselves Limited natural resources Conflicts between people, organization needed, & defenseless The gods are angry Irrigation Build city walls w/mud bricks Trade grain, cloth, & tools for products they lacked Give military leaders permanent control; set up dynasties Build ziggurats and offer food & wine to the gods; sacrifices

Examples of Sumerian Culture: polytheism, believed different gods controlled forces of nature The Epic of Gilgamesh Ziggurats, arches, columns, ramps Wheel, sail, plow, cuneiform, number system 1. Religion 2. Literature 3. Architecture 4. Inventions