Groups of individuals are usually seen as civilizations But nomadic peoples are not seen this way Unless you are the Mongols Anyone not living in civilizations are often called barbarians Barbarian originally comes from the ancient Greeks because any language that was not theirs sounded like BarBarBarBar to them

If you have 4 or more of these symptoms you might be a civilization Advanced cities Food Surplus Trade Specialized workers Complex institutions (usually religion) Record keeping (writing) Advanced technology (for the time) Food surplus = increased population= expanded trade = expansion of society This causes civilization and ideas to spread

The Ancient Fertile Crescent The Middle East: “The Cradle of Civilization”

Play to Sargon

Mesopotamia – “land between the two rivers” 1 st Civilization developed between the Euphrates and the Tigris Rivers The people are called Sumerians People give some freedoms up for security and grain By the way taxes are invented here. Ur and Ururk are the 1 st city states The beginnings of “The Bronze Age”

Developed city-states A city state is simply a city which acts as its own country. Hence “City” which is a city and “State” which is another name for country.

Sumerian Religion - Polytheistic Enki Innana Belief in multiple gods and priests were at the top of the social ladder

Tigress and Euphrates Rivers Needed much labor which causes slavery b/c of conditions Hard to navigate Floods violently and unpredictably

Because the Tigress and Euphrates are so difficult to deal with the gods of Samaria are also temperamental Anyone who could placate these gods was considered AWESOME (priests) Soon however kings would take top place in the city- states. How?

It is fertile but that is about it. It needed pretty much everything else non- agricultural from outside the area. That =TRADE

Mesopotamian Trade “The Cuneiform World”

Cuneiform: “Wedge-Shaped” Writing

Deciphering Cuneiform

Sumerian Scribes “Tablet House”

Sumerian Cylinder Seals

Mesopotamian Harp

Board Game From Ur

Sophisticated Metallurgy Skills at Ur

Animated story Flood story

Polytheistic – multiple gods Wrote myths (Epic of Gilgamesh) – 1 st literature Women probably couldn’t attend school but had many other rights Advances in mathematics Number system based on 60 (60 seconds=1 minute)

END OF DAY 1- HOORAY!

Writing - Cuneiform Wagon wheel Potter’s wheel (shape containers) Number system 12 month calendar Metal plow Sail Some of the earliest known maps New architecture Taxes

The individual Sumerian city-states eventually fell (2000s BC) These invaders were usually nomadic peoples that took over and then settled in the city as it usually happens in history. Unless you are the Mongols The Akkadians: Sargon I ( BC) unites all Mesopotamian cities (creates first empire) Under Sargon I Akkadians adopted Sumerian religion Akkadians adopted Sumerian farming

to Hammurabi (optional) Hammurabi DBQ after video

Amorites ( BC) Located in modern day Syria Conquered many parts of old Sumeria (including Babylon) Hammurabi--created a law code with harsh punishments Hammurabi Stile Borrowed heavily from Sumerian culture After Hammurabi’s death Babylon declined

Began to conquer Asia Minor (2000 BC) A strong army with chariots Conquered Babylon in 1595 BC) Borrowed from Mesopotamian and Egyptian culture Had a law code less harsh than Hammurabi’s Lasted until about 1200 BC

Started to gain strength about 900 BC Powerful army Treated conquered people cruelly Large empire with good roads Collapsed about 612 BC

Defeated the Assyrians in about 612 BC Descended from Hammurabi's Babylonians Burned Assyrian Capital and destroying the worlds 1 st library At its height during the rule of Nebuchadnezzar ( BC) Empire collapsed in 539 BC after being defeated by the Persians

At its height during the rule of Nebuchadnezzar ( BC) Spent a lot of money on Babylon Built Hanging Gardens Defeated the Jewish people and forced them out of Jerusalem. Empire collapsed in 539 BC after being defeated by the Persians