The Cradle of Civilization Mesopotamia The Cradle of Civilization

Objectives Objectives 1.Students will be able to identify: What “Mesopotamia” means. The location of Mesopotamia. The names of the two rivers. Sumerians as the first civilization. 2.Identify key terms: city-state, ziggurat, polytheism, theocracy, cuneiform and scribe. 3.Be able to read and understand a social structure chart. 4.Identify the accomplishments of the Sumerians. A WOMAN’S ROYAL HEADDRESS FROM THE ROYAL CXEMETERY AT Ur in lower Iraq. The sophisticated craftsmanship shown here demonstrates the technical accomplishments of the ancient Sumerian civilization, centered in the Tig. And Eup.

Archaeologist Sir Leonard Woolley. Mesopotamia Mesopotamia The Cradle of Civilization Archaeologist Sir Leonard Woolley. Mesopotamia – Called the “Fertile Crescent,” this was the first agrarian civilization in the world.

“The land between two rivers.” Mesopotamia Mesopotamia Mesopotamia – the “Land between two rivers.” The land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. (Modern day Iraq). “The land between two rivers.”

The Fertile Crescent The Fertile Crescent

How many civilizations controlled the Mesopotamian region? Timeline - Mesopotamia Timeline - Mesopotamia Sumer Akkad Babylon Assyria Chaldean Babylon Persia 3000 BC 2340 – 2100 BC 1792-1750 BC 900 BC – 600 BC 600 – 539 BC 559 – 330 BC How many civilizations controlled the Mesopotamian region?

Empires in Mesopotamia fought for control over the land and water. Civilizations in Mesopotamia Civilizations in Mesopotamia Empires in Mesopotamia fought for control over the land and water. Civilizations in the region - Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and Persians. (Sumerian army pictured above). Sumerian Army above No natural barriers means that they are in a constant state of warfare.

Sumer - the 1st Civilization Sumer - the 1st Civilization 826

Above: Archaeologists Sir Charles Leonard Woolley Sumer - the 1st Civilization Sumer - the 1st Civilization Dates back to 3,000 BC. Oldest of the civilizations. Key cities were Ur, Eridu, and Uruk. Cities formed city-states that acted like an independent nation. Above: Archaeologists Sir Charles Leonard Woolley

Sumer - the 1st Civilization Sumer - the 1st Civilization 837

Capital city in the East and sun-dried bricks. Sumer - City of Eridu Sumer - City of Eridu Each City-state -surrounded by walls. Defense towers posted every 30-35 ft. Sun-dried bricks used to form buildings and houses. There were no natural barriers to protect the people in this region from invasion. Cultural diffusion was huge, especially in a large city like Babylon. Many times as one area was conquered, they simply assimilated the culture and added to it. Capital city in the East and sun-dried bricks.

Floods of the Tigris and Euphrates were unpredictable. Geographic Factors Geographic Factors Vicious weather patterns- floods, heavy rain, scorching winds, famine and drought. Floods of the Tigris and Euphrates were unpredictable. Sites from Ancient Ur

Sumerian farmers irrigate and work the fields. Technology and a Farming Revolution Technology and a Farming Revolution Early civilizations will create irrigation and drainage ditches. Serious efforts to control the flow of the rivers. Enables them to grow crops regularly. These photos are from the British Museum’s web page. http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/menu.html Sumerian farmers irrigate and work the fields.

Sumerian farmer and tradesman on a raft. Sumer's Economy Sumer's Economy Economy was primarily based on farming. Trade and Industry – imported copper, tin, and timber. Exported fish, wool, barley and wheat. Traded by land and sea. Sumerian farmer and tradesman on a raft.

Statues of worshippers. Sumerian Religions Sumerian Religions Polytheistic – the belief in many gods. Priests and priestesses were powerful and may have been the 1st rulers. Gods owned the cities. Over 3,000 gods. Gods were capricious. The world was controlled by the gods, while people were made to obey and serve the gods. Humans were inferior. The gods and goddesses were all powerful. The Underworld was gloomy and considered the “Land of no return.” Statues of worshippers.

Sumerian Religions Sumerian Religions In Sumerian religions, the gods created man to serve him and work the fields.

Believed the gods ruled the cities. Sumerian Religions Sumerian Religions Believed the gods ruled the cities. Theocracy – a government by divine authority. (Rule by god). Left-Marduk, the god of the city of Babylon.

Sumerian Religions Sumerian Religions Their religion was very gloomy. The gods were unpredictable, like their weather. Upon death, they would go to a terrible underworld or “land of no return.” Image of Lilitu or the first wife of Adam. Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.

Sumerian Ziggurats Sumerian Ziggurats Ziggurat – temple set atop a stepped tower. Temple was the center of the city and its economic and political life. This was the most important building in the city. The Ziggurat or Temple of Ur in Ancient Sumer. This temple was the central focus of life in the city of Ur.

Sumerian Ziggurats Sumerian Ziggurats Above: Artist’s rendering of the city of Ur. In the background, you can see the temple or ziggurat. Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.

Check for Understanding Check for Understanding What does Mesopotamia mean? Name the two rivers that encircle Mesopotamia. How did most men earn a living in Sumer? Where did the people of Sumer worship? What is polytheism?

Slaves – work on buildings, grind grain, weave cloth. Sumerian Social Structure Sumerian Social Structure Nobles and Slaves make up less than 10% of the total pop. Royals and Priests – Officials and Families. King Nobles 90% - Temple officials, Farmers, merchants, craftsmen and fishermen. Commoners Slaves – work on buildings, grind grain, weave cloth. Slaves

Sumerian Kings Sumerian Kings Kings were divine. Led armies. Oversaw the building of public works and structures. Organized irrigation projects. Picture: Standard of Ur Chariots. Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons Lived in the palace with their wives and children. This social group represented less than 10% of the entire population.

Statue of a priest of Sumer. Sumerian Priests Sumerian Priests Priests kept calendars, time, and reported on harvesting and planting. Scribes wrote careful records of natural events on the earth and in the skies. Statue of a priest of Sumer.

Sumerian Scribes Sumerian Scribes Men who recorded all aspects of Sumerian life. Educated, copyists, teachers and jurists. Upper class, successful, leaders of cities, temples and armies. Scribes held the most important positions in society. They were used mostly for record keeping. They also trained and schooled other men who wished to become scribes. They were to keep records and pass on knowledge to future generations. This was a very tough assignment. If scribes made mistakes, they were caned or beaten by their masters. Their ability to memorize and duplicate must have been tremendous. Sumerian scribe above.

Wedge-shaped Sumerian writing or cuneiform above. 1st written language was the wedge-shaped writing of the Sumerians called cuneiform. Scribes wrote on clay tablets with a reed stylus. This tablet contains calculations of the area of fields from the town of Lagash. Wedge-shaped Sumerian writing or cuneiform above.

Shelves of a tablet library in Babylon. Sumerian Writings Sumerian Writings Shelves of a tablet library in Babylon.

Sumerian Writings Sumerian Writings Epic of Gilgamesh – 1st Epic poem. Oldest poem in the history of the world. Sumerian tales about a hero named Gilgamesh.

Sumerian Achievements Sumerian Achievements 836

Sumerian Achievements Sumerian Achievements 1st system of writing – cuneiform. Invented the wagon wheel. Invented the potter’s wheel. 1st to make copper tools. The plow and complex forms of irrigation are also considered firsts. They were also the first to create a city-state.

Sumerian Achievements Sumerian Achievements Sundial to keep time. Astronomy –chart constellations. Math – number system based on 60. (60 minute hour).

Geometry – measure fields and plan buildings. Sumerian Achievements Sumerian Achievements Geometry – measure fields and plan buildings. Designed the arch and the dome. Ishtar Gate

Check for Understanding Check for Understanding What was the writing style of the Sumerians called? What is the oldest Epic poem in the history of the world? Who invented the wheel? What was a scribe? The Sumerians were the first to accomplish many things. Name two.