MESOPOTAMIA What culture gave this region between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers the name Mesopotamia? What culture gave this region between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers the name Mesopotamia?

Code of Hammurabi “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” Code of Hammurabi “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”

The Fertile Crescent Modern day Iraq Modern day Iraq Meso (Greek) = middle Meso (Greek) = middle Potamos (Greek) = river Potamos (Greek) = river “The land between the rivers” “The land between the rivers”

Civilization What is Civilization? What is Civilization? Society with a developed knowledge of farming, trade, government, art and science. Society with a developed knowledge of farming, trade, government, art and science. “Cradle of Civilization” “Cradle of Civilization” First known civilization in human history First known civilization in human history 5,000 B.C.E. - Earliest evidence of civilization 5,000 B.C.E. - Earliest evidence of civilization

Ancient Sumer Each Sumerian city was considered a state in itself with its own god and government Each Sumerian city was considered a state in itself with its own god and government The Sumerians were the first city builders in Mesopotamia The Sumerians were the first city builders in Mesopotamia Earliest known civilization.Earliest known civilization. Southern MesopotamiaSouthern Mesopotamia

Levees Sumerians where the first people to attempt to control their natural environment: Levees and Irrigation Sumerians where the first people to attempt to control their natural environment: Levees and Irrigation –Wet Season –Control flood waters –Dry Season –Irrigate crops

Vocabulary City-State: A city and surrounding territory which also has it’s own independent government City-State: A city and surrounding territory which also has it’s own independent government Ziggurat: A Sumerian temple which means “mountain of god.” They served as the city center. Ziggurat: A Sumerian temple which means “mountain of god.” They served as the city center.

Ziggurat: Modern Iraq

Recent Events in Ur (Iraq)

Religious and Family Life Ziggurats served as the center of Sumerian cities around them were courts Ziggurats served as the center of Sumerian cities around them were courts The Sumerians believed that the forces of nature such as wind, rain and flood were gods: There were over 3,000 Sumerian Gods The Sumerians believed that the forces of nature such as wind, rain and flood were gods: There were over 3,000 Sumerian Gods Sumerians believed that the gods created humans from the mud of rivers to do their work Sumerians believed that the gods created humans from the mud of rivers to do their work

Sumerian Priests They were very powerful They were very powerful All of a Sumerian city-state’s land was controlled and administered by the city’s priests All of a Sumerian city-state’s land was controlled and administered by the city’s priests Also, priests controlled the schools Also, priests controlled the schools

Tablet Schools Only the sons of the rich could attend school: students sat on stone benches and wrote with sharp edged reeds on clay tablets. Only the sons of the rich could attend school: students sat on stone benches and wrote with sharp edged reeds on clay tablets Only the sons of the rich could attend school: students sat on stone benches and wrote with sharp edged reeds on clay tablets. Only the sons of the rich could attend school: students sat on stone benches and wrote with sharp edged reeds on clay tablets Schools were referred to as tablet houses because students learned how to write Schools were referred to as tablet houses because students learned how to write Sumerian writing was called: Cuneiform: it was made of hundreds of markings shaped like wedges Sumerian writing was called: Cuneiform: it was made of hundreds of markings shaped like wedges

Cuneiform

Writing Writing developed as a result of the development of business Writing developed as a result of the development of business Initially, Sumerians used pictures to represent objects. Then they used pictures to represent ideas. Finally the used pictures to represent syllables. Initially, Sumerians used pictures to represent objects. Then they used pictures to represent ideas. Finally the used pictures to represent syllables. When a student graduated from school he became a scribe: or a writer. When a student graduated from school he became a scribe: or a writer. Scribes worked for the Temple, the palace, the government or the army. Scribes worked for the Temple, the palace, the government or the army. Some scribes set up their own businesses Some scribes set up their own businesses

Priests and Kings At first Sumerian Priests were the Kings of city-states At first Sumerian Priests were the Kings of city-states Priest-Kings received advice from an assembly made of free men Priest-Kings received advice from an assembly made of free men When war broke out with another city-state the assembly would select one of its members to serve as military leader until the war was over. When war broke out with another city-state the assembly would select one of its members to serve as military leader until the war was over. As time went on these leaders stayed in charge even after the war was over: 3000 B.C. the took the place of priests as permanent kings As time went on these leaders stayed in charge even after the war was over: 3000 B.C. the took the place of priests as permanent kings At the same time kingship became hereditary: or passed from parent to child. At the same time kingship became hereditary: or passed from parent to child.

Priest-Kings to Kings Free men took power from the priests during times of war Free men took power from the priests during times of war After the war was over, the newly appointed kings remained in power After the war was over, the newly appointed kings remained in power Their power passed through a hereditary system Their power passed through a hereditary system Parent to child Parent to child