Chapter 2 Lesson 1 (con’t) Mesopotamia

Sumerian Culture Life in Sumerian Society Social Classes Kings, landholders priests Wealthy merchants Workers in fields and workshops Slaves *Women – merchants, farmers, artisans, own property, join priesthood, read and write

Sumerian Culture Sumerian Science and Technology Arithmetic and Geometry Base 60 number system (time), 360 degrees of circle Architectural innovations Arches, columns, ramps, pyramid Cuneiform writing

First Empire Builders Sargon of Akkad Hammurabi’s Babylonian Empire 2350 BC, conquered Sumer Spread the culture beyond Tigris-Euphrates Valley Created first Empire; Mediterranean Coast (west) to Iran (east) Hammurabi’s Babylonian Empire 2000 BC, Amorites took control Euphrates River

First Empire Builders Hammurabi’s Code Code of laws to unify the diverse groups 282 laws; family relations, business conduct, crime, property issues. Different punishments for rich and poor; men and women. Government responsible for society.