Mesopotamia – The Fertile Crescent “Land Between the Rivers – “Tigris and Euphrates”

BUT FIRST, in order for there to be a society at all… The Agricultural Revolution had to take place Transition from hunting and gathering to farming and domesticating animals. What happens to people in terms of location? What about population wise?

Geography Life for all humans is a battle of resources. In ancient times, resources were more basic. Today resources are mostly based around $$$.

Where do people gather? (Write the underlined parts across from Neolithic Rev. and Civilization). People settle in RIVER VALLEYS Why? Flooding = silt = food

Geography Geography always affects where and how people lived in history. What does this structure tell us about the geography of Mesopotamia?

Label: Use Page 38 Tigris River Euphrates River Fertile Crescent Sumer The city of Ur

What happens when people group together? Civilizations form. Cities, governments, economies, religion, social structure (upper class + lower class), writing and intellectual knowledge, and artistic activity.

Mesopotamian Civilization Starts in Sumer (Mesopotamia = Sumer) Achievements: Wheel Irrigation Library Why would books be important to a culture or civilization?

Who ruled? Monarchs, or rule by one person.

Warfare Constant war brought many cultures into contact. Cultural diffusion – spreading of ideas and cultures between groups of people.

Mesopotamian City-States Starts in Sumer (Mesopotamia = Sumer) Walled Cities Traded with Egypt and others

Religion Ziggurats built – people devoted much of their wealth to building these temples. Why? Priests and priestesses held power, monarchs ruled as gods – Theocracy Also, Mesopotamians were polytheistic, with the lone exception of the Hebrews.

Draw a simple ziggurat in your notes.

Empires Empires were created by rulers wanting more resources or land. Sargon = first empire in history in 2340 BC.

Society/Writing Society was patriarchal – Men are rulers. Women are below men in the social order. King Priest Common people Common People Priestesses

Writing Cuneiform

Writing Intellectual and artistic achievements: Wheel Chariots Irrigation systems Library Why would books be important to a culture?

Check for understanding Who created the first empire in world history? What type religion was found in Mesopotamia? Name one example of cultural diffusion in Mesopotamia. What is the most interesting part of Mesopotamian culture to you? Why?

Current Events? Good ideas?

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