Happy Wednesday, Please Do Now: Write in agenda and put it away Take out: “How was Sumer a Civilization” W/S (if you didn’t turn it in already) Page 71 Questions Make sure your name is on it! Make two separate piles Take out a PENCIL Listen for directions

What is a civilization? Religion Social Structure Government Stable Food Supply Written Language Technology Culture (Arts)

How was Sumer an advanced civilization?

Writing Cuneiform: The world’s first system of writing that uses wedge-shaped symbols to represent sounds, ideas and objects. cuneiform tablet

What types of things would people want to write down? Writing What types of things would people want to write down? Uses of cuneiform: Trade Record keeping: taxes, births, deaths, important events. Creative works: stories, wise sayings, songs and poems about the gods or military victories. Think/Pair/Share: What types of things would people find important enough to write down? What would you write down?

Writing Cuneiform symbols could represent syllables. The earliest form of cuneiform was pictographs.

Writing Scribe: A professional writer who kept records and copied records and official documents. Scribes could move up in social class. Top: A stylus made of reed is used to inscribe cuneiform on a clay tablet. Right: A stone carving of a scribe holding a stylus and clay tablet.

Writing The first written story in the world was about a legendary Sumerian king and hero named Gilgamesh. He travels through Mesopotamia on his quests; meeting gods and goddesses, fighting monsters, and searching for immortality. Gilgamesh’s supposed historical reign is believed to have been approximately 2700 BCE

Writing Epic: long poems that tell stories of heroes. Did you know? The Epic of Gilgamesh featured a story about a flood sent by the gods to wipe out mankind. A man was spared and he built an ark to save the animals. Gilgamesh Epic Tablet The earliest Sumerian Gilgamesh poems date from as early as the Third dynasty of Ur (2100–2000 BCE) The Epic of Gilgamesh contains a “flood story” that predates the Hebrew Old Testament story of Noah by at least 2000 years. It was written on 12 clay tablets in cuneiform script.

Text Yourself!!! Skip a line in your notes, then do the following... Write a 3 sentence summary about the previous section as a text. Cuneiform was... Text Yourself!!! Skip a line in your notes, then do the following...

II. Technology Medicine Sumerians invented medicines for healing and wrote down their medical knowledge. They catalogued the names of plants, animals, and minerals

II. Technology Plow A farming tool used to till the earth. The invention of the plow increased farm production.

II. Technology Wheel The wheel was a major Sumerian achievement. The wheel was used for carts, wagons, and the potter’s wheel.

II. Technology Sewers Sumerians built sewers under city streets

II. Technology Mathematics They invented a number system based on the number 60. For fun! Write the date of your birth using this chart.

Please Do Now: Write in agenda and put it away Take out: Notes from yesterday Pen or Pencil Highlighter Listen for directions

Slogan Slingers Pick an invention from the previous section and create a catchy slogan for it. You may design a logo afterwards. The Plow “I’m diggin’ it!”

III. Culture & Religion Engraved cylinder seals are Sumer’s most famous type of art. Used to: Show ownership Decorate clay walls and tablets Show battle scenes

III. Culture & Religion Sumerians had forms of entertainment like music and board games.

III. Culture & Religion Sumerians were skilled in metalworking. They created beautiful pieces of jewelry and apparel out of gold, silver, and gems.

III. Culture & Religion Sumerians created many sculptures. Most sculptures during this time were made for religious reasons. Small statues were placed in the temples to pray for the person who donated them.

III. Culture & Religion Ziggurat: Ziggurats… Were built in the center of a city. Most likely had a religious purpose. May have been where the government stored their surplus of grain Had a shrine to the city’s god or goddess at the very top. Ziggurat: A stepped tower with many levels, shaped like a pyramid. “Mountain of the gods” Ziggurats were built in the center of the city. Judging by its central location and impressive architecture, how important were the gods to the Sumerians?

III. Culture & Religion The largest and best-preserved ziggurat is the Ziggurat of Ur in modern day Iraq. The shrine at the top did not survive. Turn & Talk: Judging by its size and central location, how important were the gods to the ancient Sumerians? “Mountain of the gods” Ziggurats were built in the center of the city. Judging by its central location and impressive architecture, how important were the gods to the Sumerians?

III. Culture & Religion Priest- a person who performs religious ceremonies. They made offerings to the gods and interpreted their wishes. Deity- a god or goddess Polytheism- the belief in many gods There were hundreds of gods who were responsible for everything in the world. Gods have enormous power, sometimes natural occurrences and disasters are attributed to them. Priests interpret wishes of gods Everyone must serve and worship the gods in order to achieve peace and prosperity The people of Mesopotamia believed that their world was controlled by gods and goddesses, demons and monsters. Each city was protected by its own special god or goddess and their family. Large temples were built in the centre of the city for these gods to live in. Priests looked after the gods with special rituals.

III. Culture & Religion King Priests & scribes Craftsmen & merchants Social hierarchy- the division of society by rank or class King Priests & scribes Craftsmen & merchants Farmers & laborers (gods) Kings Priests Skilled caftsmen, merchants, and traders Laborers and farmers Slaves Slaves

How was Sumer an advanced civilization? Today’s Highlights! Read through your notes with a highlighter. Highlight at least 5 things that help you answer the Essential Question: How was Sumer an advanced civilization? Next, write a 4-5 sentence summary that answers the essential question, using 3-4 of the points you highlighted HW: Write a summary of the notes. You should include the information you highlighted and the summary must answer the essential question.