Mesopotamia

What elements of Civilization do you see in this picture?

Geography Promotes Civilization *Note: text in yellow represents a fill-in. Fertile area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers became site of world’s first civilization. Today we call this area Iraq. Fertile Crescent well suited for agriculture Farming in Mesopotamia posed challenges: If water levels too high, crops washed away If water levels too low, crops died People developed methods to control water: Basins, canals, and dikes Organization: assigning jobs, allocating resources

What factors influenced the rise of civilization in Mesopotamia? Answer:

What factors influenced the rise of civilization in Mesopotamia? Answer: fertile land; plentiful food; need to organize people for jobs

Sumer The Cities of Sumer Large cities developed by 4000 BC Structures made of mud bricks Ziggurat: pyramid-shaped temple Massive wall encircled each city Each city and its land formed a city-state, with its own government Religion and Government Polytheism Shaped life in city- states Polytheism: worship of many gods Priests had high status and were the first rulers War chiefs began to rule as kings Dynasty: series of rulers from one family

Sumerian Culture Writing Cuneiform: Sumerian writing Business accounts and records Law, grammar, literature Scribes Math and Sciences System based on number 60 Geometry May have been the first to use the wheel Invented the plow Basic surgery The Arts Arches, ramps, columns Sculpture Cylinder seals Trade and Society Traded for wood and metals Social hierarchy Distinct male/female roles

Why was the Sumerians’ development of cuneiform a major turning point in history? Answer(s):

Why was the Sumerians’ development of cuneiform a major turning point in history? Answer(s): After the development of cuneiform, humankind moved from prehistory into the historical age.

Empires in Mesopotamia Each conquering invader adapted aspects of Sumerian culture. Thus Sumerian civilization continued to influence life in Mesopotamia. Sargon I: – Around 2330 BC, created first permanent army – Conquered Sumer and northern Mesopotamia – Established world’s first empire, which lasted about 100 years Sumerian culture spread far beyond Tigris and Euphrates valleys Sargon’s Empire Hammurabi became king in 1792 BC United all of Mesopotamia Able ruler and administrator Hammurabi’s Code : – 282 laws covering everything from trade to murder – Written for all to see – Babylon became Mesopotamia’s greatest city The Babylonian Empire

Mesopotamian Achievements Sumerians Developed the world’s first Civilization Created cuneiform writing Invented the wheel and the plow Wrote the Epic of Gilgamesh Built cities and ziggurats Sargon I Established the world’s first empire Babylonians Wrote Hammurabi’s Code

end