Sumer and Babylon

3000 B.C. Around the time that Menes unified Egypt, about a dozen small cities dotted Mesopotamia. This area was known as Sumer.

The Sumerians Valued Independence Fought against being ruled by others Shared a rich cultural heritage Worked to control Tigris and Euphrates Worshiped similar gods Made some of the first wheeled vehicles and sailboats

Cuneiform Invention of writing helped to bring _________ _____________ together. Ancient cities

Cuneiform First developed to record farm surpluses. Used sharp reeds to scratch the records into wet clay tablets 3500 B.C.- oldest tablets 1st symbols looked much like pictures of what they were describing Over time, symbols were simplified 500 signs were used

School in Sumer Few people could write, not even kings It was an honor to go to school and learn to be a scribe Boys and VERY few girls

Steps in School 1.) Learned how to make clay tablets and reed pens 2.) Practiced over and over how to write basic signs of cuneiform 3.) Also had to study mathematics so they could keep accurate records

Trained Scribes Could write most anything Even wrote love letters and sealed them in clay envelopes. Recorded stories, laws, and songs Through cuneiform, we know about an early Sumerian mythical hero named Gilgamesh.

City-States of Sumer City-state: self-governing city that also governs surrounding villages. City-States often went to war to gain control of floodwater Because of this, large walls were built around the city for protection

Sumerian Kings King’s palace could be seen from almost everywhere in the city Kings served as generals, judges, and canal overseers Sumerian kings were not considered to be gods

RELIGION Ziggurat- large building with a temple on its peak Ziggurat stood in the center of town Sumerians believed in polytheism Polytheism-belief in more than one god Ishtar- goddess of love and war Enki-god of water

Uniting the city-states City-states were united under Sargon, king of city-state Kish in 2300 B.C. Sumerians traded with the Phoenicians. Phoenicians sent wine and timber and received Mesopotamian farm products and other goods. Cuneiform was used throughout Sargon’s empire, and he could send instructions and govern over great distances. Sargon’s rule lasted 56 years, until city-states rebelled.

The Rise of Babylon Almost 500 years passed before another empire controlled. A group of people moved into Mesopotamia and created the city of Babylon 1800 B.C. Hammurabi began a drive to gain control over the old Sumer and created a huge empire.

Babylonia Rich and Powerful Still used cuneiform First dictionaries were created so Babylonians could adopt Sumerian culture and language.

Code of Law 1901- Archaeologists found a stone pillar from ancient Babylon Pillar was inscribed with over 200 laws in cuneiform. 4000 years old Known as the Code of Hammurabi

Code of Hammurabi World’s oldest codes of law Code of law- written set of laws that apply to everyone under a government Slavery existed Not everyone was treated equal

The “New” Babylonia After Hammurabi died, about 1750 B.C., Babylon began to fall apart. 689 B.C. Babylon was completely destroyed by powerful rulers from Nineweh. 60 years later, Babylon was rebuilt and soon became the world’s largest city.

New Babylon Great Beauty and Technology Two massive walls and a moat protected the city City was split in two by Euphrates River Connected by moveable bridge and an underwater tunnel Huge ziggurat Grid-style streets, sewer and water systems Three/Four Story Homes Hanging Gardens

SORROW Not everyone thought of Babylon as a wonderful place These newcomers were prisoners from what is today Israel.