The First River Valley Civilization Mesopotamia The First River Valley Civilization

4 River Civilizations

Mesopotamia (3500 BC- 1600 BC) Mesopotamia = “Land between two rivers” Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Flooding = fertile soil Sumerians arrived and begin irrigation 1A 2A 16AB

16ABC

Geography

The Fertile Crescent

Fertile Crescent 16ABC

Agriculture Irrigation= water diverted to the land Farming and settlement flourished Food supply increased allowed for activates other than farming Potters, weavers, metal workers, warriors, priests 1A

Religion Polytheistic = believing in many gods 2,000 gods World’s oldest faiths Sumerian rulers = priests Theocracy = society governed by religious leaders 2AB

Religion Ziggurats = stepped-pyramid temple Temple to please the gods Center of each city 2AB

16ABC

Achievements Sumerians the wheel and sailboat Tools and weapons of copper and bronze 12-month calendar 2AB 16B 27A

Achievements Cuneiform = world’s earliest writing system Symbol writing on clay tablets The elite could read and write in cuneiform Priests and scribes 2B 16B 27A

Sumerian Society Pyramid Kings and Priests Wealthy merchants Ordinary Sumerian people Slaves

King Hammurabi 1792-1750 BC Babylonian Empire reaches its peak number system based on “60” Code of Hammurabi = a written, uniform code of law Ensure justice and protect the weak stable and predictable Judiciary system as part of govt 1A 2A 20B