Chapter 4: Mesopotamia Lesson 1: The Sumerians Bell Ringer What are 3 reasons early civilizations would need to invent a written form of language?

The First Civilizations in Mesopotamia Civilizations first developed around 3,000 BC in river valleys Located in Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China Very similar to each other Had social classes Depended on your occupation Had governments Set up laws, defended the people, and built large projects Had values and beliefs These gave meaning to life

Two Rivers Mesopotamia- “the land between the rivers” Was the earliest known civilization Located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers The Fertile Crescent A curving strip of good farm land

Early Valley Dwellers Taming the Rivers People first settled Mesopotamia around 7,000 BC These people were hunters and herders By 4,000 BC they began to build farming villages Taming the Rivers Water from the rivers was used to water their fields Floods left behind silt – small particles of soil great for farming Created a system of irrigation – system that supplies water to dry lands Dug canals from the water source to their fields Led to a surplus - extra amounts of food Led to more trade and development of cities like Sumer

Sumer’s Civilization People living here were known as Sumerians Built cities which became centers of civilization City-States Arise City-state – a city that governs itself and its surround territory Were cut off from their neighbors due to harsh landscape Had their own government Populations were between 5,000 – 20,000 people Used mud to make bricks for building Often fought and traded with each other

Gods, Priests, and Kings Polytheism – worshipped many gods had powers over different parts of life Each city-state picked a god to represent them Built ziggurats – pyramid-shaped structures with a temple at the top to honor them The top was considered a holy place Priests were the first rulers of city-states Monarchies developed and were run by Kings and Queens First Kings were war heroes

Social Groups People were divided into social classes Upper class – Kings, Priests and Warriors Middle Class – merchants, farmers, fishers, and artisans Largest social class Lower class – slaves Captured in war, criminals, or people in debt Worked for the upper class Roles of Men and Women Men went to school and trained for a specific job Women took care of the home and children

Farmers and Traders Most people living in Sumer were farmers Grew wheat, barley, and dates Raised sheep, goats, and pigs Sumerians needed to trade for goods they did not have Trade routes linked up as far away as India and Egypt Traded for timber, minerals, and metals

Document Based Question “To bring about the rule of righteousness in the land, to destroy the wicked and evil-doers; so that the strong should not harm the weak; so that I should rule over and enlighten the land, to further the well being of mankind.” - Code of Hammurabi Hammurabi was known for being a fair ruler. What does this code reveal about how he will rule the people in his kingdom? Why does Hammurabi refer to “wicked and evil-doers”? Who are they?

Turn to Page 74 in your text books: Look at the map and answer questions 1, 3, and 4. Look at the timeline and place these events in order, starting with the earliest Assyrians control Mesopotamia Settlements develop along the Indus River Sumerians invent cuneiform The first Olympic Games

Sumerian Contributions Mesopotamia is considered the “Cradle of Civilization” Beginning of organized human society Sumer influenced many future civilizations They copied an improved on what Sumer did Writing Most important contribution Earliest known system in the world Called Cuneiform – wedge shaped marks in soft clay Did not have paper Mostly wealthy men learned how to write Became scribes – people who copy or write information for record keeping Wrote stories like the “Epic of Gilgamesh”

Technology and Mathematics First people to use the wheel Built carts which were pulled by donkeys Used carts for military called Chariots Developed the first sailboats Traveled along the rivers Made the first wooden plow Used for farming First people to develop Bronze Made from copper and tin Developed time measurement 60 seconds in a minute 60 minutes in an hour 12 month calendar based on the moon

Reflection Choose which invention you think is the most significant and explain why you made this choice. Write AT LEAST 5 sentences to answer this question.

Chapter 4 Lesson 2 Bell Ringer Why do you think Hammurabi wanted to display his code of laws for his people to see?

The First Empires Empire – a group of many different lands under one ruler By 2400 BC, Sumer had faded and powerful empires arose King Sargon Ruled the Kingdom of Akkad Conquered what was left of Sumer’ Created the first empire in 2340 BC Lasted for 200 years Hammurabi Ruled the Kingdom of Babylon Stretched from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea Known for creating laws called Hammurabi’s Code “eye for an eye” Considered a just and fair ruler

The Assyrian Empire Existed 1,000 years after Hammurabi Built a large and powerful military numbered around 50,000 Had cavalry, infantry, and charioteers Robbed and destroyed villages Took tribute – forced payments from conquered people Used IRON weapons Kings and Government Extended from Persian Gulf to Nile River Capital city was Nineveh Divided into provinces – territories belonging to an empire Connected by guarded roads Paid taxes to the king

Life in Assyria Based on other Mesopotamian cultures Similar laws, harsher punishments Worshipped same gods King Ashurbanipal built one of the first libraries Located in Nineveh Held 25,000 tablets of stories and songs

The Chaldean Empire Took control of Babylonia by 612 BC Rebelled against Assyrians Led by King Nabopolassar Burned Assyrian capital, Nineveh, to the ground Made Babylon their new capital Greatness of Babylon Rebuilt by King Nebuchadnezzar (Son of Nabopolassar) Surrounded by huge brick walls 300 ft. tall ziggurat with a golden roof Hanging Gardens of Babylon One of the 7 Ancient Wonders Had a complex irrigation system Located along a major trade route Caravans – group of merchants traveling together for safety

Fall of the Empire After Nebuchadnezzar Conquered by Persia Series of weak kings Poor harvests/trade Conquered by Persia Allowed to keep their culture Reflection: Why do you think ancient cities had at least one magnificent building? Write AT LEAST 5 sentences to answer this question.

Use this example of a diagram to brainstorm types of evidence archaeologists might look for in order to learn about life in ancient Mesopotamia.

Use this example of a diagram to list the effects of 3 major inventions during the time of these early Mesopotamian civilizations.