Mesopotamia The Sumerians

Mesopotamia Cities began in 3000 B.C Located in Egypt, China, and India WATER INFLUNCED WHERE PEOPLE SETTLED!!!!

“thE LAND BETWEEN THE RIVERS” Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Fertile Crescent- Rich fertile farmland Ran from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf

Farming No Rain in the Summer =No crops in the Fall Spring Floods brought SILT to the land. Over time DAMS were built to save farmland CANALS built to handle overflow to the fields(IRRIGATION)

Surplus of Food For the first time farmers had a surplus of food Surplus of food meant less farmers are needed creating job opening of Artisans Weavers, Pottery tools, weapons, metal work.

The Summarians

Sumer’s Civilizations Major Cities UR Uruk Eridu Each city is governed as a city-state. Grow own crops Used Mud Bricks to create buildings

Sumerian Religion Polytheism Beliefs Each city had different gods. Large Temples called Ziggurat Top level was the home of the god and special priest.

Sumerian Government Governing Body Monarchy Kings claimed they were selected by the gods to rule (Divine right of the King)

Social Classes King, Gov. Officials, Priest, Warriors UPPER CLASS Merchants, Farmers, Fishers, Artisans MIDDLE CLASS LOW CLASS Criminals and Enslaved people

Gender Roles in Sumerian Cities Men- Head of households Workers Boys went to school Women – Ran homes and raised children

Farmers and Merchants Farmers domesticated Farmers grew: Sheep, Goats, and Pigs Farmers grew: Wheat, Barely, Dates Merchants Traded: Food and pottery for metals

Contributions to society Writings- CUNEIFORM 1200 different characters Earliest writing in history Kept records of daily lives Scribe began recording using CUNEIFORM

Technology 1st people to invent the wheel Built Sailboat to trade Wooden Plow Potter’s Wheel

Math Used Geometry to measure size of fields and plan buildings Set 60 sec for 1 minute 60 Min for 1 hour Set a 12 month calendar