The Fertile Crescent CHW 3MR Lesson 4

The Fertile Crescent Learning Goal: recognize the factors necessary for the development of early societies Discuss Canada’s ‘civilization’ Fertile Crescent note and discussion Textbook work (hand in)

The Fertile Crescent A rich, food growing region of the Middle East Surrounded by desert and other poor quality soil From the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf The area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers was called “Mesopotamia” by the Greeks

Mesopotamia Land between two rivers present day Iraq severe flooding every spring however, levees along the river provided fertile pockets that encouraged settlement (text p 40)

several distinct peoples settled independent states emerged needed irrigation several distinct peoples settled independent states emerged democratic built and maintained roads and canals laws were made and enforced became prosperous rivalries developed and wars happened

1)Sumer possibly nomads who found their way to the fertile land learned to farm, herd, and irrigate Sumer was made of several city-states surrounded by walls Farms were outside the city The people were polytheistic (believed in many gods) Built temples called ‘ziggurats’ to honour the city’s god

2) Babylon reunited Mesopotamia King Hammurabi came to the throne in 1750 BCE Conquered Akkad and Assyria First written laws “Hammurabi’s Code” On a stone pillar in public This code gives us a real glimpse of society Punishment fit the crime Ex. If a son hit his father, the son’s hand would be cut off By 1550 BCE, Babylon was in decline

Hammurabi’s Empire

3) Assyria Were illiterate but powerful… they conquered all of Mesopotamia Had iron weapons and large armies, chariots and battering rams Dammed the rivers above Babylon… so Babylon was weakened Over extended themselves and terrorized the conquered states The states revolted and this led to the ultimate collapse Eventually conquered by the Persians

Mesopotamia’s Legacy Writing Development of Tools and Techniques The wheel Religion Written law Textbook pages 43-49

Hammurabi Activity