Cities and Civilizations

GEOGRAPHY influenced the development of river valley civilizations. Click on the map for an interactive website map of the four earliest river valley civilizations.

Early River Valley Civilizations Flooding of Tigris and Euphrates unpredictable No natural barriers Limited natural resources for making tools or buildings Environment Sumer Egypt Flooding of the Nile predictable Nile an easy transportation link between Egypt’s villages Deserts were natural barriers

Mesopotamia – Fertile Crescent Sumer – The Earliest of the River Valley Civilizations Sumer – The Earliest of the River Valley Civilizations Sumerian Civilization grew up along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in what is now Kuwait. Sumerian Civilization grew up along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in what is now Kuwait.

Define “Fertile Crescent.”

Define “Fertile Crescent” A well-watered and fertile area, A well-watered and fertile area, the fertile crescent arcs across the northern part of the Syrian desert. It is bordered on the west by the Mediterranean and on the east by the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, and includes all or parts of Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. This region was the site of sophisticated settlements. the fertile crescent arcs across the northern part of the Syrian desert. It is bordered on the west by the Mediterranean and on the east by the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, and includes all or parts of Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. This region was the site of sophisticated settlements.

Greeks called the northern part of the Fertile Crescent Mesopotamia “Between Two Rivers” (Tigris River and Euphrates River) The southern part of Mesopotamia was called Babylonia, originally Sumer. Which country is Mesopotamia today? (Iraq)

Sumer - Sumerians (Kuwait) ca to 3000 BC. (ca. = circa) Sumer gave us the city-state. Define: city-state Political unit made up of a city and the surrounding lands. Each city state has its own government, even when it shares a culture with neighboring city states.

Sumerian Writing: cuneiform Cuneiform is created by pressing a pointed stylus into a clay tablet. First system of writing from the 34 th century BC to the 1 st century AD. Completely replaced by the Alphabetic Writing.

SumeriansSumerians invented: Sumerians Brick technology Brick technology Wheel Wheel Base 60 – using the circle degrees Base 60 – using the circle degrees Time – 60 minutes in an hour, 60 seconds in a minute Time – 60 minutes in an hour, 60 seconds in a minute 12 month lunar calendar 12 month lunar calendar arch arch ramp ramp ziggurat ziggurat

ZigguratZiggurat – Holy Mountain Ziggurat Ziggurats were built for local religions. Part of a temple complex. Pyramidal structure with a flat top. Made of sun- baked bricks and fired bricks. Not for public worship. Only priests allowed so they could take care of the gods and their needs. Ziggurats were built for local religions. Part of a temple complex. Pyramidal structure with a flat top. Made of sun- baked bricks and fired bricks. Not for public worship. Only priests allowed so they could take care of the gods and their needs.

Babylon Gave us the first know written law code and was the first civilization where the citizens live by the “Rule of Law” Define “rule of law” Government by law. The rule of law implies that government authority may only be exercised in accordance with written laws, which were adopted through an established procedure. All that remains of the original ancient famed city of Babylon today is a mound of broken mud-brick buildings and debris in the fertile Mesopotamian plain between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The city itself was built upon the Euphrates, and divided in equal parts along its left and right banks, with steep embankments to contain the river's seasonal floods.

Hammurabi’s Code BC Hammurabi’s Code was this law code. Hammurabi ruled the Babylonian Empire for 42 years. At the end of his long reign, Hammurabi’s legal decisions were collected and inscribed on a stone tablet in a Babylonian temple. The 282 laws of the Code of Hammurabi represent one of the earliest known legal systems. If anyone brings an accusation of any crime before the elders, and does not prove what he has charged, he shall, if a capital offense is charged, be put to death. Hammurabi ruled from 1792 to 1750 BC. One of the many set of laws in the Ancient East. Example of rule: If anyone brings an accusation of any crime before the elders, and does not prove what he has charged, he shall, if a capital offense is charged, be put to death.

“If a man stole the property of church or state, that man shall be put to death; also the one who received the stolen goods from his hand shall be put to death.” The laws governed such things as lying, stealing, assault, debt, business partnerships, marriage, and divorce. In seeking protection for all members of Babylonian society, Hammurabi relied on the philosophy of equal retaliation, otherwise known as “an eye for an eye.” The laws governed such things as lying, stealing, assault, debt, business partnerships, marriage, and divorce. In seeking protection for all members of Babylonian society, Hammurabi relied on the philosophy of equal retaliation, otherwise known as “an eye for an eye.”

EGYPT “The Gift of the Nile” (Herodotus) EGYPT “The Gift of the Nile” (Herodotus) Look at the map and answer the following question: What did Herodotus mean when he said that Egypt is the “gift of the Nile?” Nile River Sahara Desert Because of the geography of the area, without the Nile River, there would be no Egypt.

Egyptians invented: Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphics Pyramids Pyramids Pyramids Geometry Geometry Geometry Advances in medicine and surgery Advances in medicine and surgery

Hieroglyphics Early Egyptian writing found on tombs was indecipherable. Early Egyptian writing found on tombs was indecipherable. Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphics Sacred Carving No one could read these sacred carvings until Napoleon invaded Egypt and his archaeologists found the Rosetta Stone. Click on the picture to see your name in hieroglyphics. Click on the picture to see your name in hieroglyphics.

Papyrus is one of the first examples of paper. It is created from reeds growing along the Nile River. Papyrus is one of the first examples of paper. It is created from reeds growing along the Nile River. Papyrus