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Why River Valleys? 1. Offered rich soils for agriculture 2. Tended to be located in places that could offer protection from nomadic invaders

Sumerians

Political Power of the Priests Sumer’s earliest governments were controlled by temple priests –Farmers believed they needed blessings for success of their crops –Priests were the middle man for the Gods –Priests demanded portion of farmer crops as tax

Political Later followed Hereditary rulers: when the power is passed down to family members Sargon

Economy Metal tools and weapons (bronze, iron) Increasing agricultural surplus (better tools, plows, irrigation) Increasing trade along rivers – traded with Egypt Development of the world’s first cities Specialization of labor

7 Sumerian dairy farm Urbanization: People living in cities. Typical Sumerian jobs included:  pottery  textiles  scribe  accountant  dairy farmer  woodworking  leather crafts  brick making  stone cutting  mason  baker  priest With urbanization came the need for more people to do different jobs. There was also a need for more laws and regulations.

Religion Polytheistic: Belief in Many Gods (3,000!!!) Gods could be angered at any moment and to keep them happy Sumerians: –Built impressive ziggurats or temples to sacrifice food, wine and animals –Souls of the dead wandered in the land of no return

MORE ZIGGURATS!!!

Sumerian Society Kings and Priests Wealthy merchants Ordinary Sumerian people Slaves

Women Could hold property Join lower ranks of priesthood There were few women scribes –Scholars think that girls were not allowed to attend schools

Intellectual Epic of Gilgamesh Myths and legends recorded in this long poem One of the earliest works of literature in the world

Gilgamesh was a real man, ruling in the city-state of Uruk. The Epic is a tale about his adventures with his half-brother Ekindu. He searches for answers from the gods about the meaning of life and death. Gilgamesh

“Gilgamesh, whither are you wandering? Life, which you look for, you will never find. For when the gods created man, they let Death be his share, and withheld life In their own hands”

Achievements Science and Technology Invented the wheel, the sail, the plow First to use bronze. Developed system of writing Built irrigation systems, buildings using clay bricks, surveyed flooded fields.

The Fertile Crescent Arc of land between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea in Southwest Asia

One land…Two Rivers Mesopotamia means = “land between the rivers” –Tigris River and Euphrates River Both rivers flooded once a year and left thick bed of silt. –Silt: rich, new soil farmers could plant and harvest enormous quantities of wheat and barley