History begins when people first began to write 5,500 years ago Artifacts and fossils give us clues Archeologists and anthropologists study these clues Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) began 2.5 million years ago and lasted until 8000 BC
Early humans were hunters-gatherers Were nomads Had to adapt to environment (What does that mean?) Last Ice Age began in 100,000 BC until 8,000 BC (How would the discover of fire have helped them during this time?)
Spoken language was developed Used art to express their thoughts and feelings (look on pg 10!) Art may have had religious meaning Mostly used stone like flint and animal bones to make tools like spears, axes, and fishhooks
Lasted from 8000 BC to 4000 BC Began to domesticate animals Farming revolution! (look at map on pg 13!) Villages were developed in Europe, India, Egypt, China, Mexico, and the Middle East Two of the oldest communities are Jericho and Catal Huyuk Began to practice specialization Advances in tool-making, farming, and steady supplies of good contributed to population and cultural growth
Civilizations: complex societies that have cities, organized governments, art, religion, class divisions, and a writing system First ones arose in river valleys (Why do you think so?) As cities grew, organization was needed Mesopotamia, now southern Iraq, is the earliest known civilization
Hot, dry climate with flooding rivers Irrigation came about here Sumer is a city-state in the southern part of Mesopotamia Sumerians believed in many gods and built ziggurats (pyramid-shaped towers) for worship Priests, priestesses, and kings had the power
Palaces and small mud-brick houses Farmers, artisans and traders 3 social classes: upper class-kings, priests, government officials, middle class -artisans, merchants, and fishers, Lower class- slaves Men and women had separate roles
Greatest Sumer invention: WRITING!! (called cuneiform) Only wealthy men knew how to write (scribes) Produced works of literature ex: Epic of Gilgamesh Irrigation systems, wagon wheel, the plow, sailboat Geometry, number system based on 60, 12 month calendar
Sargon, king of the Akkadians, conquered Mesopotamia in 2340 BC and set up world’s first empire Hammurabi, Babylonian king, took over and created the Babylonian Empire Hammurabi’s Law Code (see pgs for more info!) Were his laws cruel or just?
Answer the following questions from the textbook. Be sure to copy the questions as you answer them. Page 15 – What Did You Learn, #1 and #2 Page 17 – Geography Skills #1 and #2 Page 23 – What Did You Learn #1 and #2
Draw an illustrated social class pyramid for the class structure of Sumer as described in your text on page 20. Upper Class Middle Class Lower Class
The Assyrian Empire: possessed a large army and took over Mesopotamia around 900 BC Army was well-organized and well-equipped with weapons and horses 1 st to use iron weapons Fierce warriors Drove people from their lands and moved them into foreign territories…..why do you think they did that??? Well-Organized Government- divided empire into provinces Harsh laws, which led to rebellion Chaldeans rose up and captured capital city of Ninevah in 612 BC
Led by King Nebuchadnezzar Controlled Mesopotamia from BC Descendants of Babylonians and Babylon became the world’s richest city Babylon was a major stop on a trade route b/w the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea Babylon was a center of science (astronomy) The Hanging Gardens of Babylon- one of the 7 Wonders of the World Chaldean Empire fell to the Persians in 539 BC
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Draw and label an illustration of the city of Babylon. Use the description on pgs Label at least 5 items.
Read pages and then answer the following question: Do you think Hammurabi’s Laws were fair or cruel? Give 2 reasons why you think they were fair and 2 reasons they were cruel. Explain in 2 sentences what you think about the laws. Use details from the passage to support your opinion.
Study for Chapter One Test! Answer the following questions on pages …2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 17