Empires of Mesopotamia Part I

The Rise of Sumer In southern Mesopotamia, a people known as the Sumerians developed the world’s first civilization. No one knows where they came from or when they moved into the region. All we know is that by 3000 BC, several hundred thousand Sumerians had settled in a land they called Sumer. The first cities had about 10,000 residents. Over time, some of these cities grew to have more than 100,000 residents.

Rise of the Akkadian Empire Just north of Sumer, the Akkadians built another society developed along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Although they were very different from the Sumerians and even had a different language, they lived in peace for many years. Eventually, that peace was broken in 2300 BCE when Sargon, the Akkadian ruler, sought to extend Akkadian territory.

Sargon (ruled 2334-2279 BC) According to legend, a gardener found a baby floating in a basket on a river and raised him as his own child. As a young man, Sargon served the king of Kish. Later he rebelled, took over the city, and built a military power. He was among the first military leaders to use soldiers armed with bows and arrows. Sargon gained loyalty from his soldiers by eating with them every day.

Sargon’s Empire Sargon and his soldiers conquered all the city states in northern Mesopotamia and established the world’s first empire, or land with different territories and peoples under a single rule. Don’t let the fact that it was the first empire fool you. He had a very impressive palace at Khorsabad, parts of which can now be seen in some of the world’s most famous museums.

The Sumerians Return Sargon ruled as emperor for more than 50 years. However, his empire lasted only a century after his death. Later rulers couldn’t defend against invaders. A century of chaos followed. In the meantime, the Sumerians rebuilt, gained strength, and conquered the rest of Mesopotamia. Ur was their capital city.

Sumerian Achievements - Cuneiform The Sumerians made one of the greatest cultural advances in history. They developed cuneiform, the world’s first system of writing. They used sharp tools called styluses to make wedge-shaped symbols on clay tablets.

Sumerian Achievements - Cuneiform Earlier written communication had used pictographs, or picture symbols. In cuneiform, symbols could also represent syllables or basic parts of words. Not everyone knew how to write. A scribe could be hired to keep track of items people traded. Government officials and temples hired scribes to keep their records. Becoming a scribe was a way to move up in social class.

Sumerian Achievements - Cuneiform Sumerian students went to school to learn to read and write. Like today, though, some students did not want to study. A Sumerian story tells of a father who urged his son to do his schoolwork: “Go to school, stand before your ‘school-father,’recite your assignment, open your schoolbag, write your tablet. . .After you have finished your assignment and reported to your monitor [teacher], come to me, and do not wander about in the street.” -Sumerian essay quoted in History Begins at Sumer, by Samuel Noah Kramer

Sumerian Achievements - Cuneiform So, are you ready to “write your tablet”?

Sumerian Achievements - Cuneiform

Sumerian Achievements - Cuneiform

Sumerian Religion The Sumerians practice polytheism, the worship of many gods. They believed their gods had enormous power and could bring good harvests or disastrous floods, illness or good health, wealth or poverty. Success depended on pleasing the gods.

Sumerian Religion They built pyramid-shaped temples called ziggurats. Priests, people who performed or led religious ceremonies, had great status.

Sumerian Achievements – Daily Life Wheel – resulted in carts Potter’s wheel – spins the clay Plow – greatly increased farm production Bronze – tools and weapons Sewers under city streets

Sumerian Achievements – Science & Math Made lists of thousands of animals, plants, and minerals. Produced medicines using ingredients such as milk, turtle shells, figs, and salt. Developed math system Based on number 60 Circle = 360 degrees Divided year into 12 months Areas of rectangles and triangles

Sumerian Achievements – Math Let’s try some Mesopotamian math!

Sumerian Achievements - Arts Makeup Jewelry – gold, silver, glass Cylinder seals Musical instruments – reed pipes, drums, tambourines, lyres

Sumerian Achievements - Epics Sumerians wrote stories, proverbs, songs, and epics. Epics are long poems that tell stories of heroes. The Epic of Gilgamesh King Gilgamesh of Uruk Enkidu – wild man tamed by a woman Enemies who became close friends and go on a big adventure