Early River Civilization Mesopotamia Early River Civilization

Geography of Mesopotamia Hot, arid desert climate- Just like a DESERT! Area between Mediterranean Sea & Persian Gulf Lies between the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers Flood at least once per year—leaves mud & silt deposits, which create rich soil for crops Area known as “Fertile Crescent” Mediterranean Sea Zagros Mtns. Arabian Peninsula Persian Gulf

Mesopotamia was a REGION Mesopotamia was a REGION. Many different cultures lived within Mesopotamia.

Who Ruled When??? Within Mesopotamia different people/ cultures Sargon of Akkad took over all of Sumeria and created the world’s 1st Empire: Akkadian Empire. Sumerians Ruled Mesopotamia from early settlements to 2,350. Babylonians take Over the Akkadian Empire by 2,000 B.C.E. Within Mesopotamia different people/ cultures ruled at different times. 4,500 B.C.E. Settlements Began between the Tigris and Euphrates River Till about 550 B.C.E. Babylonians rule over Mesopotamia.

Sumerians Create the Model Begin establishing settlements and cities around 4,500 B.C.E. Sumeria or Sumer was the first River Civilization within Mesopotamia Sumerians created city- states throughout the Tigris and Euphrates River Valleys

Sumerians Create the Model with: Specialized Workers Kings, landowners, high priests Wealthy Merchants Farmers, Artisans Slaves (Prisoners of War or children sold into slavery) Social Classes

Example of a Specialized Worker Priests Acted as a go-between for the people and the gods Managed Irrigation Systems Collected a portion of farmer’s crops as tax Controlled City-State Governments within the Ziggurat A walled temple at the center of every city-state

Sumerians Create the Model with: Complex Organizations Government Controlled by the Temple Priests Each City-State had their own Ruler or Priest Military Fought for security( protection) Economic Gain= Land and Wealth Taxed conquered people. Took land Took slaves for labor or prisoner’s of war Religion Priests had many jobs that dictated how people lived.

Sumerians Create the Model with: Advanced Cities By 3,000 B.C.E. City-States develop Ur, Umma, Kish, Lagash, Urak By 2,500 B.C.E. many other cities develop within the Fertile Crescent Trade Increases! Trade Increases = Cultural Diffusion

Sumerians Create the Model with: Advanced Technologies Architecture Built city walls with mud bricks 1st to use arches, columns, ramps Sciences Irrigation ditches Wheel, plow, sail, bronze tools Math (Geometry) Idea of 60 seconds= 1 minute 360 degrees in a circle

1st Record Keeping in Mesopotamia Cuneiform Cuneiform was a written language using pictograms (picture symbols) Written on clay tablets using a reed stylus (like a pen) Significant because they recorded their achievements in technology

Why do we group these cultures into one region??? Many different people settled throughout Mesopotamia and created their own cultures, subtle differences grew. These different cultures are grouped together because as this region was taken over by different people and cultures, they continued to advance what they gained from other people that they conquered or traded with. =Cultural Diffusion