The Sumerian Civilization Chapter 2 section 3

Review Section 2 What happened to you in the afterlife? What happened to you in the afterlife? Who was the Afterlife for? Who was the Afterlife for? What was special about the Nile flooding? What was special about the Nile flooding?

The land: its Geography and its importance In contrast with Egypt, South West Asia was not geographically isolated In contrast with Egypt, South West Asia was not geographically isolated Invaders were able to cross the land freely and take over the settled civilizations Invaders were able to cross the land freely and take over the settled civilizations This land Known as the {Fertile crescent started at the Isthmus of Suez and arched around to the Persian Gulf} This land Known as the {Fertile crescent started at the Isthmus of Suez and arched around to the Persian Gulf} Around 5,000 BC Neolithic farmers began to build civilizations in the Fertile crescent Around 5,000 BC Neolithic farmers began to build civilizations in the Fertile crescent The original societies were built around cooperation needed to irrigate fields The original societies were built around cooperation needed to irrigate fields

The Geography continued The Fertile Crescent consisted of two major rivers the Tigris and the Euphrates The Fertile Crescent consisted of two major rivers the Tigris and the Euphrates These two rivers started in the mountains of Turkey and flowed into the Persian Gulf These two rivers started in the mountains of Turkey and flowed into the Persian Gulf This area between the two rivers has also been known as Mesopotamia and the southern part known as Babylonia This area between the two rivers has also been known as Mesopotamia and the southern part known as Babylonia Both rivers flood the valley often but {unlike the Nile the rivers floods were unpredictable} Both rivers flood the valley often but {unlike the Nile the rivers floods were unpredictable} Thus the gods of these civilizations were also seen as harsh and unpredictable Thus the gods of these civilizations were also seen as harsh and unpredictable

People of the Fertile Crescent Tribes of wondering herders lived off of the plant life found in this river valley Tribes of wondering herders lived off of the plant life found in this river valley They often would invade, conquer, and establish empires. They often would invade, conquer, and establish empires. Over time these invaders would weaken and new invaders would take over Over time these invaders would weaken and new invaders would take over This pattern would repeat itself as nomadic tribes came in and conquered This pattern would repeat itself as nomadic tribes came in and conquered The Sumerians were the first civilization known to live in this area The Sumerians were the first civilization known to live in this area

Sumerians

Sumer Neolithic people settled in the fertile land between the Tigris and Euphrates Neolithic people settled in the fertile land between the Tigris and Euphrates Not much is known about the origins of the Sumerians Not much is known about the origins of the Sumerians They had mingled with another group of people that lived there around 3,000 BC They had mingled with another group of people that lived there around 3,000 BC This new civilization used metal and had developed a way of writing This new civilization used metal and had developed a way of writing This writing using pictures was the earliest known form of writing This writing using pictures was the earliest known form of writing

Sumerian writing This Sumerian writing was different from the Egyptian hieroglyphics This Sumerian writing was different from the Egyptian hieroglyphics Instead of symbols carved in stone or on paper Instead of symbols carved in stone or on paper {Sumerian writers used a stylus to carve wedge shapes into clay tablets that they let dry in the sun} {Sumerian writers used a stylus to carve wedge shapes into clay tablets that they let dry in the sun} {This wedge shaped writing came to be known as cuneiform} and included 600 signs {This wedge shaped writing came to be known as cuneiform} and included 600 signs

Architecture and science The Sumerians had developed several important architectural designs The Sumerians had developed several important architectural designs The Arch or the curved shape over an opening, this is one of the strongest forms in building The Arch or the curved shape over an opening, this is one of the strongest forms in building {The Sumerian temples were known as Ziggurats which were made of baked bricks} {The Sumerian temples were known as Ziggurats which were made of baked bricks} These Ziggurats were layered and shaped something like wedding cakes These Ziggurats were layered and shaped something like wedding cakes The top was a shrine for a Sumerian god The top was a shrine for a Sumerian god

Ziggurat

Continued The Sumerians might have been one of the first to use the wheel The Sumerians might have been one of the first to use the wheel {They used a number system based on 60} using a circle and dividing it into 360 degrees and dividing by 6 {They used a number system based on 60} using a circle and dividing it into 360 degrees and dividing by 6 This is where we got the system we use for watches and the compass used today This is where we got the system we use for watches and the compass used today They also developed a calendar that was based on the moon They also developed a calendar that was based on the moon To be accurate they added a month every few years To be accurate they added a month every few years

Government and Society Priests were important in the Sumerian society because they thought the land belonged to the gods Priests were important in the Sumerian society because they thought the land belonged to the gods {The Sumerians created City-states} that competed for water and land war became more important and the rulers began to rule as kings {The Sumerians created City-states} that competed for water and land war became more important and the rulers began to rule as kings Kings, high priests, and nobles were at the top of society followed by lower priests merchants and scholars Kings, high priests, and nobles were at the top of society followed by lower priests merchants and scholars The lowest class were the farmers and peasants that had been kidnapped from other regions The lowest class were the farmers and peasants that had been kidnapped from other regions

Sumerian Kings

Farming and trade Most of the Sumerian people farmed Most of the Sumerian people farmed They grew dates, grains, vegetables, and raised domesticated animals They grew dates, grains, vegetables, and raised domesticated animals The Sumerian farmers grew enough surplus to allow other people be artisans and traders The Sumerian farmers grew enough surplus to allow other people be artisans and traders Before 3,000 BC they had begun to trade with other people in Southwest Asia Before 3,000 BC they had begun to trade with other people in Southwest Asia The traders would travel by land or boats to far away places in order to sell Sumerian goods The traders would travel by land or boats to far away places in order to sell Sumerian goods

Education and Religion Education was considered important in the Sumerian culture Education was considered important in the Sumerian culture The right to education however was reserved to the upper class boys The right to education however was reserved to the upper class boys Students learned to write and spell and also learned drawing and arithmetic Students learned to write and spell and also learned drawing and arithmetic They were Polytheistic and their gods were identified with the sun and moon They were Polytheistic and their gods were identified with the sun and moon The Sumerians buried food and tools with the dead {but did not believe in rewards and punishment in the afterlife, they believed in a shadowy afterlife} The Sumerians buried food and tools with the dead {but did not believe in rewards and punishment in the afterlife, they believed in a shadowy afterlife}

Gilgamesh the Sumerian King

?’s What is the name of the symbol based writing? What is the name of the symbol based writing? What was used to create this form of writing? What was used to create this form of writing? What was different about the rivers in this area? What was different about the rivers in this area?

The End