Do Now- page 59 IAN Review: What is an archaeologist? What is a social class? What does social hierarchy mean?

The First Civilization

Let’s discuss some negatives about living in a River Valley first… What are the negatives for living in a River Valley?

Lack of protection – Easy to invade b/c no mountains or natural barriers – How did they cope? They built brick walls & moats

Possibility of drought

Lack of resources- no forests for woods, little stone and minerals – How did they cope? TRADE! – What did they trade?

Welcome to Sumer & meet the Sumerians

A city-what??!? City State: a community that included a city and its surrounding lands. Sumerian City State: – Trade – Learning – Religion By 3,000BCE Sumer had atleast 12 city states – Famous ones were: Babylon Kish Nippur Ur

Where are they located? Most city states are located near the mouth of the Tigris and Euphrates The land was fertile Farmers can grow more food More food = bigger population

3,300 BCE - SUMER What is a civilization? A civilization is advance form of culture that developed in cities. – For example: as we became better farmers, population increased – City leaders organized workers – Culture grew much more complex

The Sumerian City State m?guidAssetId=c97e b1f f5e1333b m?guidAssetId=c97e b1f f5e1333b

The Sumerian city – Built homes out of reeds, brick and mud – Rooms around a court yard

The Ziggurat 2220 BCE- largest most important structure in the city It functioned as a city hall Middle of a temple complex – This is b/c priests ran the agriculture and other things of importance

Class zone!

Brief Sumerian Religion Priests = very important – Politically – Religious Went to them for help from gods

What is a social class?

Sumerian Social Classes Top: kings/Priests Upper: landowners, government officials and rich merchants Middle: farmers & artisans Lower: slaves

Kings

Upper class- land owners, rich merchants, government officials

Priests

Middle Class- Farmers, artisans

Lowest class - slaves

Priests/Kings Landowners, government officials and rich merchants Farmers/Artisans Slaves

Social Hierarchy m?guidAssetId= E-9BB7-40D5-93E2- EFFBDCA2AFFE m?guidAssetId= E-9BB7-40D5-93E2- EFFBDCA2AFFE

What was the role of Women? Women in Sumer had more rights than they did in later Mesopotamia Upper class women became priestesses = role of honor – Could own land – Work as merchants/weavers – Main role was still raising children

HW- page 59 IAN Answer the following in complete sentences- at least 5 to 7 sentences: What is something you would expect to find as an archaeologist digging in Mesopotamia? What would be surprising about working as an archaeologist in an ancient city?