City-States of Mesopotamia World History: Libertyville HS

Geography “Fertile Crescent”: area between Persian Gulf and Eastern Mediterranean shore & length of Nile R. 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 (pop. pressure) Why settle in Mesopotamia? River valley had fertile land (silt) 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 Sumerians plowing City walls of Jericho

City States of Mesopotamia City state = different walled cities of area, each with their own leader Culturally similar Politically independent Economically dependent (trade) Militarily competitive, mainly through raiding each other; not conquest City plan of Ur

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

City States of Mesopotamia After 3000 BC, war became more common and warriors became permanent leaders Fought other city-states Border disputes Raiding cattle Show of strength of their city-gods Dynasties established Series of priest-kings passing power on to their own sons Took place from 3000-2500 BC Sumerian war chariot, c. 2500 BC Sumerian soldier with armored cloak

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

Case Study: Sumerian Culture Sumerian Gods Religion Polytheistic About 3000 gods in all Gods were immortal and all powerful Many had human traits Built ziggurats to please the gods Temples were home of gods Tower of Babel from bible a ziggurat 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 is base 60 a good system?

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