Chapter 2: The Fertile Crescent

The Tigris and Euphrates rivers were the source of life for the peoples of Mesopotamia. In the spring, melting snow picked up tons of topsoil as it rushed down from the mountains and flooded the land. The floods left this topsoil on the plan below. Farmers grew crops in this soil. The rivers also supplied fish, clay for building and tall, strong reeds used to make boats.

Describe how geography made the rise of civilization in the Fertile Crescent possible Explain the importance of city-states in these early civilizations List Sumer's first cities

Describe the characteristics of Sumerian religion List and describe the characteristics of Babylonian and Assyrian empires. List the achievements of the Persian Empire Explain the importance of both the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to the Mesopotamian civilizations

Identify the difference between polytheism and monotheism List and explain the importance of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World

Homework for Monday: Students will go to the phschool.com website and in the space provided type in the code lbp-2221 to view the map entitled "Mesopotamia". Student will then type both the question and the answer to the four questions found on the right hand side of the map in google documents and share with Mr. Yost at Homework for Wednesday: Students will go to the phschool.com website and in the space provided type in the code lbp-2232 to view the map entitled "Fertile Crescent Empires" and answer the two questions found on the right hand side of the map in google documents and share with Mr. Yost at 32&area=view&x=-707&y=-393

Students will first complete the Word Find, Word Scramble and write either sentences or story for Unit 5 Vocabulary List. Once this is completed students will work with flash cards for Unit 5 The Fertile Crescent

Students will read pages and complete the guided reading handout

Students will go to Brainpop.com and complete the assignments "Sumerians” and “Seven Wonders”. Students will also complete the map assignments at phschool.com codes lbp-2211, lbp-2221, lbp-2232, lbd Students will also complete the Unit Self Test code lba Student will the results to

Mesopotamia - The Land Between Two Rivers Mesopotamia was a place where many cities began to grow. As its name suggests, Mesopotamia was located between two rivers. The two rivers were the Tigris River and the Euphrates River. Mesopotamia was located in the Middle East, and surrounded by desert. People came to Mesopotamia because the soil between the two rivers was very fertile. When a newborn baby begins life, he or she is placed in a cradle. Mesopotamia is called the cradle of civilization because the first civilizations began there, about 5,500 years ago in 3500 B.C.

Mesopotamia was located in the Middle East. USA

Mesopotamia was located in what is now the country of Iraq.

City-States Formed Along the Rivers Many city-states formed along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Mesopotamia. They each had their own form of government, and the people worshipped different gods and goddesses. Eventually, they each had their own kings. The region where the two rivers meet was called Sumer. The people who lived in the Sumer region were called Sumerians.

Why Did These Cities Develop? Due to the fertile soil in Mesopotamia, farming was very successful. In fact, people were able to create surpluses of food. This meant that some people could stop farming and begin doing other things, like building a city. As cities began to develop, people began to worry about others who might come and invade their city. They wanted to protect themselves from enemies, so people in Mesopotamia built walls around their cities.

Sumerians Remember, Sumer is the region where the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers meet. Writing first began in Sumerian cities. The first schools were set up in Sumer over 4,000 years ago. Sumerian schools taught boys the new invention of writing. Those who graduated became professional writers called scribes. Scribes were the only people who could keep records for the kings and priests. Boys that wanted to be scribes had to attend school from the age of 8 to the age of 20.

Sumer was different from all other earlier civilizations –Advanced cities –Specialized workers –Complex institutions –Record keeping –Advanced technology Developed city-states Food surplus increased population expanded trade expansion of Sumerian society Sumerian Society

Polytheistic Wrote myths (Epic of Gilgamesh) Had social classes –Priests and kings were at the top –Slaves were at the bottom Women probably couldn’t attend school but had many other rights Advances in mathematics –Number system based on 60 (60 seconds = 1 minute) Sumerian Society (cont.)

Wagon wheel Potter’s wheel Number system using base 60 – time and circles 12 month calendar Metal plow Sail Some of the 1 st known maps New architecture: Bricks Arch and ramp Sumerian Inventions

Sumerian Writing Scribes used a sharp point called a stylus to etch words into clay tablets. These tablets have been discovered by archaeologists and looked at by historians.

A Sumerian City Sumerian city streets were so narrow that you could hardly get a cart through them. Sumerian houses faced away from crowded streets. Instead, they faced onto courtyards where families ate and children played. Narrow Streets Courtyard Area

Sumerian Cities On hot nights, people slept outdoors on the top of their house’s flat roof. Sumerians had a form of light at night. They burned oil lamps. Sumerians even had plumbing! Clay pipes that were buried underground carried their waste away. Inventions like plumbing wouldn’t come around for another thousand years in other parts of the world!

Sumerian Religion Sumerians worshipped many gods, not just one. This belief in many gods is called polytheism. “Poly” means many and “Theism” means gods. The picture above shows a ziggurat. Ziggurats were the main temples used to worship the gods of a city. Ziggurats were built in the center of the city. They had steps and ramps, and it was believed that the gods descended to the Earth using the ziggurat as a ladder.

ziggurat Gods Sumerian Mythology Sumerian myths, or stories, explained people’s beliefs. Sumerians believed that a person must keep the gods happy by going to the ziggurat and praying to them. They believed that the gods would reward them for good service. They also believed that the gods would punish the people who made them angry.

The Epic of Gilgamesh Search for immortality by semi- historical King Gilgamesh of Uruk (~2700 BCE) after death of his friend Enkidu. Realizes that only gods enjoy immortality; humans must content themselves with fame derived from performing mighty deeds Story of a devastating flood in later version

The Downfall of the Sumerians Each of the Sumerian city-states had a ruler, and these city-states began fighting each other. They fought over land and the use of river water. Since the Sumerians were constantly at war with each other, they became weak. By 2000 BC, Sumer was a weakened area, and by 1759 BC, Sumer was conquered by another group of people - the Babylonians, who were from the north.

Who Controls Mesopotamia?

From Sumerians to Babylonians The Sumerian city-states eventually fell to foreign invaders (2000s BC) The Akkadians: –Semites- nomadic people from the Arabian Peninsula that migrated to Mesopotamia –Sargon I ( BC) unites all Mesopotamian cities (creates first empire)

The Ancient Babylonians Amorites ( BC) Conquered many parts of old Sumeria (including Babylon) Hammurabi - created a law code with harsh punishments Borrowed heavily from Sumerian culture After Hammurabi’s death Babylon declined

Hammurabi’s Code (~1700 BCE) Hammurabi was the king who united most of Mesopotamia and conquered the Sumerians. He developed a “code” of laws. The laws were numbered from 1 to 282. Law number 196 states: If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out. Some people summarize Hammurabi’s code by saying “an eye for an eye.” Law number 195 states: If a son strike his father, his hands shall be hewn off. There are many, many more laws like this in Hammurabi’s Code. A statue of Hammurabi

On the left is a stela, which has all 282 of Hammurabi’s laws engraved on it. This stela is located in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. The Hammurabi stela was discovered in 1909, in Susa, Elam, which is now Khuzestan. Khuzestan is a province of southern Iran. Susa Stelas containing Hammurabi’s Law Code were erected throughout the Mesopotamia River Valley.

Hittites Began to conquer Asia Minor (2000 BCE) A strong army with chariots Conquered Babylon in 1595 BCE) Borrowed from Mesopotamian and Egyptian culture Had a law code less harsh than Hammurabi’s Lasted until about 1200 BCE

Assyrians Started to gain strength about 900 BCE Powerful army Treated conquered people cruelly Large empire with good roads Collapsed about 612 BCE

Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonians) Defeated the Assyrians in about 612 BCE Descended from Hammarabi’s Babylonians At its height during the rule of Nebuchadnezzar ( BCE) –Spent a lot of money on Babylon –Built Hanging Gardens Empire collapsed in 539 BCE after being defeated by the Persians

Persians Were Indo-Europeans Cyrus (conquered from the Nile to the Indus) Darius I –Administered the empire using satraps (governors) –Tolerant to those who were conquered –Increased trade and built roads –Lost to the Greeks in 480 BCE

A set of symbols that represent the sounds of language

The capital of Babylonia; a city of great wealth and luxury.

A market selling different kinds of goods

A group of travelers journeying together

A city that is also a separate, independent state.

An organized list of laws and rules

A binding agreement or promise

Groups of wedges and lines used to write several language of the Fertile Crescent. Originally developed to keep track of trade agreements.

The scattering of people who have a common background or beliefs

Many territories and peoples controlled by one government

A time when there is so little food that many people starve to death

A region in Southwest Asia; site of the first civilization

The king of Babylon from about 1792 – 1750 B.C. Recorded the first set of written laws

The belief in one god

Traditional story; in some cultures, a legend that explains people’s beliefs

The belief in many gods

A religious teacher who is regarded as someone who speaks for God or a god

A professional writer.

A temple in ancient Mesopotamian societies. Also known as the “Stairway to Heaven”

A religion that developed in ancient Persia