Mesopotamia

Do Now Decode the following: U R A GR8

Discussion Questions: What is writing? What are some of the things writing can be used for? How can writing make our lives easier? How can a civilization use writing?

The Fertile Crescent River Valleys supported people in permanent settlements Mesopotamia was a farming village Organized society

The land “between rivers” Mesopotamia is between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Part of the Persian Gulf Rich soil and abundant crops

Tigris and Euphrates The Tigris and Euphrates overflowed, this flooding was unpredictable Both rivers would deposit silt when the rivers overflowed

Three areas Mesopotamia had three general areas: Assyria, Akkad, and Sumer

The Sumerians Creators of the first Mesopotamia civilization Had independent cities: Eridu, Ur, and Uruk City-states

Uruk Had defense towers located every feet along the wall Had a population of 50,000 people in 2700 BC Had city officials, priests, had a purpose Used mud bricks

Religion Polytheistic Had 3,000 gods Obey and serve gods Temple to chief god or goddess- ziggurat

Ziggurat

Theocracy Priests and priestesses who supervised temples were powerful Theocracy- government established by divine authority Citizens believed the government officials got their power by gods

Kings Powers Kings led armies Supervised public works Organized workers for irrigation

Economy Traditional economy Trade and industry Known for metalwork Metals used in jewelry and tools

Trade Mesopotamians traded Transport: wheeled carts

Sumerian Social Structure

Sumerian Inventions Cuneiform (writing) Epic of Gilgamesh- poem that records and exploits the legendary King Gilgamesh Wagon wheel Mathematics and astronomy

Do now: Which landforms protected the cities from invasion?