City-States of Mesopotamia World History: Libertyville HS

Geography “Fertile Crescent”: area between Persian Gulf and Eastern Mediterranean shore Tigris & Euphrates Rivers –Flow SE into Persian Gulf –Mesopotamia = “Land between two rivers” –Annual flooding of rivers leaves silt (++ farming)

Human Arrival into Mesopotamia People moved into area after 10,000 BC Why settle in Mesopotamia? River valley had fertile land Access to Persian Gulf for fishing, trade Rivers allowed for easy irrigation –Challenges to settlers Annual flooding was unpredictable Small area with no natural protection Limited natural resources (little stone, wood or metal) Modern Flooding of Tigris R.

Human Arrival into Area Solutions to Challenges –Irrigation projects to control flood waters (levees; channels) –Built walls around cities for protection –Traded for scarce goods with neighboring regions City walls of Jericho Sumerians plowing

City States of Mesopotamia City state = different walled cities of area –Culturally similar –Politically independent –Economically dependent –Militarily competitive, mainly through raiding City state names included Ur, Uruk, Kish, Lagash, Nineveh City plan of Ur

City States of Mesopotamia Political Power –Irrigation projects needed leaders to organize (beginning of government) –Priests served as go between for Gods –Religious basis of political power City state’s gods owned all land King served as agent of gods Priest-kings ruled society

City States of Mesopotamia In times of war, warriors were chosen to lead army After 3000 BC, war became more common and warriors became permanent leaders Fought other City States –Borders –Raiding –Show of strength of their city- gods Dynasties established –Series of monarchs passing power on to sons –Took place from BC Sumerian war chariot, c BC Sumerian soldier with armored cloak

Cultural Diffusion Idea or product spreading from one culture to another Spread mainly by trade Ideas spread included… –Cities –Religious beliefs –Government organization –Technologies

Case Study: Sumerian Culture Religion –Polytheistic (about 3000 in all) Gods were immortal and all powerful Many had human traits –Built ziggurats to please the gods –Afterlife: “Land of no return”: dismal, gloomy place of no joy Sumerian Gods Ziggurat

Sumerian Technology Invented the wheel for both trade and war, around 3500 BC Sail helped trade Plow improved farming Metallurgy –Pre 3000 BC = copper –Post 3000 BC = bronze Sun dried mud bricks allowed for construction of buildings (why use mud?)

Sumerian Technology: Cuneiform and Counting First system of writing Used wedge shaped reed pressed into wet clay tablet Tablet then fired in oven to create permanent record What records kept? –Tracked tax records, payments, debts, etc Number system was base 60 –still used today (time, circle) –Why good for mathematics?

Sumerian Society Social Hierarchy –Priest-King –Priests, scribes –Wealthy (merchants) –Poor (farmers, artisans) –Slaves Women had many rights, but little education