Start Up Answer the following: The Fertile Crescent has been called: “The Crossroads of the World.” Why?

Mesopotamia Land Between 2 Rivers Found along the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers In what is today known as the Middle East Land Between 2 Rivers

Located in the Middle East Fertile Crescent – the area of land between the two rivers has fertile farmland

Sumerian Civilization Broken up into city-states A city-State is the city and surrounding land that governs itself.

Sumerian Civilization Some city-states were allies with each other and some were enemies

Sumerian Civilization The Sumerian city-states had some similarities.

Attention! Achtung! Attenzione! Here is where you want to look for themes!

Sumerian Civilization Government: Had single rulers Dynasties Sound Familiar???

Sumerian Civilization Social Structure: Ruler Nobles & Priests Merchants & Artisans Peasant farmers Sound Familiar??

Sumerian Civilization Religion: Each city-state had its own main god or goddess Sound Familiar???

Sumerian Civilization Religion: Ziggurats - temples Sound Familiar???

Sumerian Civilization Cultural Diffusion: The Sumerians had extensive trade with the Egyptians and India

Contributions 1. Wheeled vehicles

Contributions 2. Irrigation, dikes, canals

Contributions 3. Cuneiform – wedge shaped writing

Contributions 4. Algebra & Geometry

Contributions Literature The Epic of Gilgamesh

More Achievements Babylonians= Hammurabi’s Code REGENTS QUESTIONS!!!

More Achievements Hittites - Learned to extract iron from ore and fashion tools and weapons that were harder than bronze or copper ones.

Exit Ticket How did the accomplishments of Mesopotamia have an effect on our society today?

Examples of good, clear, specific answers to yesterday’s exit ticket question “Mesopotamia came up with the idea of the wheeled vehicle. If it weren’t for Mesopotamia’s invention, we might not have wheeled vehicles such as cars and bikes.” “(Mesopotamia) contributed wheeled vehicles and we use cars which was modified from their wheeled vehicle.”

Get a text book for today’s assignment

Invaders, Traders, and Empire Builders Read through Chapter 2, Sections 3 & 4 to fill in the boxes with the proper information. Your “Who are we?” question should come from the chart, not from any other source (i.e. the internet)

Where they lived- Location

Challenges/Problems Sumerians- Babylonians- Hittites- Assyrians- Persians- Phoenicans-

WHO ARE WE? Choose wisely SUMERIANS BABYLONIANS HITTITES ASSYRIANS PERSIANS PHOENICIANS