Chapter Four Lesson 1 The Sumerians

The First Civilizations in Mesopotamia PG 76 The Two Rives People settled near water for drinking and crops- they created social classes, set up governments, and developed beliefs and values. Mesopotamia (now southern Iraq) Means land between 2 rivers- between the Tigris and Euphrates

PG 77 Early Valley Dwellers Mesopotamia is located in the eastern part of the Fertile Crescent Fertile Crescent- curved fertile land from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. Archaeologist dug up ruins that told a lot about early Mesopotamia Mesopotamia was first settled about 7000BC- by hunters and herders. 4000BC groups moved to the Tigris-Euphrates valley and built farming villages along both rivers (Pg 77 continued on next slide)

PG 77 Taming the Rivers Farmers used the rivers to water crops- but many summers it was too low for fall’s needs In the spring the banks overflowed and flooded the plains. The floods were both helpful and deadly- brought silt for fertile soil and flooding caused drowning deaths. Overtime people learned to build dams to control the floods, and dug canals to create an irrigation system

PG 78 Sumer’s Civilization Taming the Rivers (cont.) Irrigation allowed for a surplus of food, to be stored for later Since food was plentiful people became artisans/skilled workers People lived together, favored trade, farming villages turned to cities 3000BC Sumer developed in southern Mesopotamia Sumerians built cities in southwest Asia (Ur, Uruk and Eridu)- these became the centers of civilization. Taming the Rivers (cont.) Sumer’s Civilization

PG 79 People could not travel by land because of mudflats and deserts- leaving them cut off from their neighbors Cities became independent- raised their own crops- made their own goods- formed into city- states Populations ranged from 5,000 to 20,000 people City-States were surrounded by walls Mud was the main building material Rulers palaces, large temples, and public buildings were at the center of the cities City-states went to wars over political boundaries In peaceful times city-states traded (pg 79 continued on next slide) City-States Arise

PG 79 Gods, Priests, and kings Sumerians were polytheistic- and worshipped many gods They honored whatever god would help their activities Each city claimed its own god

PG 80 Social Groups City-states built ziggurats to honor its god The top of the ziggurat was a holy place- only for special priests In early days priests from the ziggurats ruled the city-states- later they became monarchies Sumerian kings claimed they had power from the gods First kings- were war heroes- then it became heredity People generally remained in the social class they were born in Upper class- kings, priests, warriors, and government officials (pg 80 continued on next slide) PG 80 Social Groups

PG 80 Social Groups (Cont.) Middle class- merchants, farmers, fishers, and artisans (largest social class) Lowest class- enslaved people- usually captures in war (also criminals) Men were the head of the household Boys went to school for specific jobs Women ran the home and cared for the children- taught daughters to do the same Laws required parents to care for children and then for children to care for aging parents

Sumerian Contributions PG 81 Most people were farmers with a plot of land and irrigation Trade was another important factor- trade routes linked Sumer to places like India and Egypt Sumerians traded wheat, barley, and tools for timber, metals and minerals. Later civilizations copied the Sumerians- called the “cradle of civilization”-beginning of the organized human society Writing was possibly the greatest contribution from the Sumerians Farmers and Traders Writing Sumerian Contributions

PG 82 Writing (cont.) Writing began to record their history for later generations Sumerians created cuneiform- 1,200 characters – wedge like symbols Wrote cuneiform on clay tablets Boys from wealthy families became scribes to record Sumerian events and records Sumerians also told oral stories- writing meant they could record these stories The worlds oldest known story is from Sumer

PG 83 Technology and Mathematics This was the Epic of Gilgamesh written 4000 years ago Other inventions included the wheel (used to improve the transportation of things), developed a sailboat, wooden plow, potters wheel, they made bronze from copper and tin which was a stronger metal They used geometry to measure and plan, created a place-value system, made tables for multiplication and division, created the 60 minute hour, the 60 minute second, and the 360 degree circle They also studied the starts and created the 12 month calendar.