Aim: Why was Geography so important to Mesopotamia?

 Assyrian  Akkad  Sumerians

 Although Mesopotamia has little rain, the two rivers surrounding Mesopotamia would flood and leave “silt” (material deposited that made the soil rich for farming)  This led to an “abundance” of food.  This allowed people to…

 The Sumerians were one of the first civilizations to develop “city-states”  Sumerian cities were well fortified with walls and strong defense towers

 The environment around them affected how Mesopotamians viewed the world.  Hey LT, what the heck does that mean??  Were they Polytheistic or Monotheistic??

 Sumerian cities-states had large population  Mud brick houses  Massive religious temples called “ziggurats”  Theocracy – The Sumerians believed that the gods ruled the cities, which meant a government by divine authority  Economy was originally “agricultural”  Trade and Industry became an important part of their economy as well  Three main social groups – nobles, commoners, and slaves

 Sumerians created the form of writing called “Cuneiform  Being a “scribe” was a very prestigious job to have during those times  Technological inventions include the wheel, bronze, the potters wheel, a sundial, mathematics (60), and astronomy.

 From Babylon, Hammurabi was able to gain control of Sumer and Akkad

 What do you think of our justice system today?  The code of Hammurabi was very strict  “An Eye for an Eye”  Society was “patriarchal”

 Case 1 - If a builder builds a house for a man and does not make its construction sound, and the house which he has built collapses and causes the death of the owner of the house, the builder shall be put to death.  Case 2 - If a "sister of god" (nun) who is not living in a convent opens a wine shop or enters a wine shop for a drink, they shall burn that woman.

 Case 3 - If a man be in debt and is unable to pay his creditors, he shall sell his wife, son, or daughter, or bind them over to service. For three years they shall work in the houses of their purchaser or master; in the fourth year they shall be given their freedom.  Case 4 - If the woman has not been careful but has gadded about, neglecting her house and belittling her husband, they shall throw that woman into the water.

 Case 5 - If a man takes in his own home a young boy as a son and rears him, one may not bring claim for that adopted son.  Case 6 - If a son strikes his father, they shall cut off his hand

Aim: How did Egyptians use their Geography to build a large civilization?

Lower Egypt Upper Egypt Western Desert Mediterranean Sea Eastern Desert

 Polytheistic or Monotheistic?  Two groups – Sun gods and Land gods  Myth of Osiris and his evil brother Seth  Movie clip!

 King Menes unites Upper and Lower Egypt into a single kingdom creating the first royal “Dynasty”  Dynasty – a family of rulers whose right to rule is passed on within the family.

 The Old Kingdom  The Middle Kingdom  The New Kingdom

Pharaoh “God-King” NoblesPriests MerchantsScribesArtisansTax Collectors Peasants

Aim: How did the location of the Phoenicians influence the growth of their civilization?

 Lived along the Mediterranean Coast  Being so close to water helps them prosper how??  The Phoenicians built ships and became great sea traders  They even reached areas of Great Britain and along the west coast of Africa  But they were particularly remembered for creating one thing…

 We will look at the culture and impact of the Israelites and a brief overview of their history  The Israelites’ history and religious beliefs was eventually written down in the Hebrew bible (the Old Testament)

 The Israelites tended to rely on grazing animals for food  Due to a drought, they Israelites migrated down to Egypt where they were enslaved by the Egyptians  Pharaoh King Ramses II