Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byWendy Hill Modified over 8 years ago
1
Unit 2, Ancient Civilizations & the 6 Elements of Civilization: M ESOPOTAMIA Mr. Pagliaro Seymour High School
2
Part 1 Main Ideas Geography: The Land between the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers was a good region for agriculture.Geography: The Land between the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers was a good region for agriculture. Geography: The environment of Mesopotamia presented challenges to the people that lived there.Geography: The environment of Mesopotamia presented challenges to the people that lived there. Geography: Mesopotamians changed their environment to improve life.Geography: Mesopotamians changed their environment to improve life.
3
Part 1 Goals Describe how the earliest civilization in Asia arose in Mesopotamia, organized into city- states, and developed into the world's first empire.Describe how the earliest civilization in Asia arose in Mesopotamia, organized into city- states, and developed into the world's first empire.
4
Vocabulary Terms flood-plain silt semi-arid Names Fertile Crescent Mesopotamia Euphrates River Tigris River Sumerians
5
Ancient Fertile Crescent Area The Middle East: “The Cradle of Civilization”
6
The Tigris & Euphrates River Valley Mesopotamia: ”Land Between the Two Rivers” Marsh Arabs, So. Iraq Rivers provided water, transportation
7
Dead Sea: Lowest Point on Earth Highest Salt Content (33%) 2,300’ below sea level
8
How did the region support agriculture? Fertile Soil Irregular floods Flood-plain overflowed Silt deposits Climate Semi-arid Warm Dry
9
How did the geography affect farming? c. 6000 BC – Irrigationc. 6000 BC – Irrigation Controlled floodsControlled floods Diverted water to fieldsDiverted water to fields c. 4000 BC – Many Sumerian farming villages, cities like Urc. 4000 BC – Many Sumerian farming villages, cities like Ur
10
How did Mesopotamians cope with a lack of resources? Mud bricksMud bricks HomesHomes WallsWalls No natural defenses from other peoplesNo natural defenses from other peoples Surplus cropsSurplus crops Traded outside regionTraded outside region
11
Part 1 Summary The floods of the Tigris & Euphrates rivers left rsilt in Mesopotamia for growing crops.The floods of the Tigris & Euphrates rivers left rsilt in Mesopotamia for growing crops. People developed irrigation to control floods and water crops.People developed irrigation to control floods and water crops. With few resources, Mesopotamians traded surplus cropsWith few resources, Mesopotamians traded surplus crops
12
Why it matters now… Mesopotamians 8000 years ago through today have worked to overcome a lack of natural resources and natural barriers.Mesopotamians 8000 years ago through today have worked to overcome a lack of natural resources and natural barriers.
13
SUMERIANS: THE FIRST CIVILIZATION Part 2
14
Part 2 Main Ideas Government: A new type of government developed in Sumer (southern Mesopotamia) that included the city and the surrounding lands. Government: Religion dominated life in Sumer, but eventually men who were not priests became political rulers. Culture: Sumerian society was divided into several classes Science & Technology: Sumerians invented tools and developed special knowledge to improve their lives.
15
Part 2 Goals Describe and analyze Sumerian city-states and how other cultures learned about them.Describe and analyze Sumerian city-states and how other cultures learned about them. Apply the 6 elements of civilization to Sumerian religious beliefs, artistic activity, social classes, writing, and examine the technologyApply the 6 elements of civilization to Sumerian religious beliefs, artistic activity, social classes, writing, and examine the technology
16
Part 2 Key Vocabulary Terms city-state cuneiform scribes ziggurat priest-kings Names Sumer Sumerians The Epic of Gilgamesh
17
Sumerian Civilization World’s 1 st civilization-Sumerians: c. 3300 BCWorld’s 1 st civilization-Sumerians: c. 3300 BC What are the 6 elements of civilization?What are the 6 elements of civilization? 1.Cities 2.Government 3.Written records 4.Artistic activity 5.Religious Activity 6.Social Classes Sumerian farmers
18
Emerging civilization
19
Examples of Cities
20
Features of Cities Places for:Places for: storage & trade of surplus grainstorage & trade of surplus grain specialized jobs & marketsspecialized jobs & markets home to zigguratshome to ziggurats
21
Government City-statesCity-states Who ruled early Sumerian city-states?Who ruled early Sumerian city-states? Why may priests have been able to take power? Priest-kings or Ensi
22
Religion Polytheism (polytheistic)Polytheism (polytheistic) Many godsMany gods anthropomorphicanthropomorphic
23
Other institutions Schools for scribesSchools for scribes militarymilitary
24
Writing CuneiformCuneiform Wedge-shapedWedge-shaped Reed stylusReed stylus Clay tabletsClay tablets
25
Writing as art… Literature- The Epic of GilgameshLiterature- The Epic of Gilgamesh
26
Artistic Achievements Harp: music & art Royal Game of Ur – Try to play?Try to play? Harp: music & art Jewelry: fashion & art
27
Social Classes Complex, unequalComplex, unequal Upper classUpper class Kings, priests, landowners, royal officialsKings, priests, landowners, royal officials Middle classMiddle class soldiers, scribes, merchants, artisans, farmerssoldiers, scribes, merchants, artisans, farmers Lowest classLowest class laborers, slaveslaborers, slaves Why were the kings and priests in the highest class?
28
Sumerian Technology WheelWheel SailboatsSailboats PlowsPlows CalendarCalendar IrrigationIrrigation
29
Why was Sumer a good example of a civilization?
30
Let’s see…
31
Lesson Summary Sumerians were the first civilization to include all 6 elementsSumerians were the first civilization to include all 6 elements Sumerian society had several classes: kings at the top, slaves at the bottomSumerian society had several classes: kings at the top, slaves at the bottom The Sumerians created the first organized religion, governments, and writing systemThe Sumerians created the first organized religion, governments, and writing system
32
Why it matters now… The governments of Mesopotamia set examples for later civilizations.The governments of Mesopotamia set examples for later civilizations. Writing makes it easier to pass knowledge from one generation to the next.Writing makes it easier to pass knowledge from one generation to the next.
33
AKKADIANS & BABYLONIANS Part 3
34
Part 3 Main Ideas Government: Empires emerged in Mesopotamia, combining multiple cultures. Government: Law codes help organize people within a society.
35
Part 3 Goals Identify the contributions of the Akkadians and Babylonians.Identify the contributions of the Akkadians and Babylonians. Identify Sargon I and Hammurabi.Identify Sargon I and Hammurabi. Evaluate Hammurabi’s CodeEvaluate Hammurabi’s Code
36
Part 3 Key Vocabulary Terms empire dynasty retribution Names Akkadians Babylonians Sargon Hammurabi Hammurabi’s Code
37
Sargon of Akkad: The World’s First Empire [Akkadians]
38
The Babylonian Empires
39
Hammurabi Babylonian EmperorBabylonian Emperor Ammorite dynastyAmmorite dynasty Hammurabi’s CodeHammurabi’s Code World’s 1 st uniform law codeWorld’s 1 st uniform law code retributionretribution “An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooh.”“An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooh.” Applied to all classes, all culturesApplied to all classes, all cultures
40
Hammurabi’s [r. 1792-1750 BC] Code
41
Hammurabi, the Judge
42
Babylonian Math Invented Geometry
43
Babylonian Numbers Base 60 number system
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.