1. Early River Valley Civilization 3300-1900 BCE
Ancient Sumer
Early River Valley Civilization
BCE

2. River Valley Civilization
Rivers provided a regular water supply for both humans and animals.
Rivers were a means of transportation.
Rivers made farming easier.
Floodwaters from rivers spread silt across the valleys which kept the soil fertile.
Rivers allowed farmers to grow a surplus of food to feed growing populations of early cities.

3. Sumer: region in southeastern Mesopotamia
Fertile Crescent
A region of the Middle East named for its rich soil and golden wheat fields
Curves from the Persian Gulf to the East coast of the Mediterranean Sea
Mesopotamia (land between two rivers) lies between the Tigris and Euphrates
Sumer: region in southeastern Mesopotamia

4. Tigris & Euphrates flooded unpredictably
The gods decided to send a great flood. To save Utnapishtim they told him to build a boat. He gave him precise dimensions, and it was sealed with pitch and bitumen. His entire family went aboard together with his craftsmen and "all the animals of the field". A violent storm then arose which caused the terrified gods to retreat to the heavens. The storm lasted six days and nights, after which "all the human beings turned to clay".
Tigris & Euphrates flooded unpredictably
Often led to catastrophic destruction of mud brick villages and cities

5. Controlling the Floodwaters
Levee in Mississippi
Temple priests and royal officials organized villagers to build barriers to hold back the floodwaters.
Irrigation ditches were built to carry water to the farmland.
Mesopotamian style irrigation canal and ditch

6. Sumerians build cities
Built with clay and water
Made bricks out of sun- dried clay
Trade along the rivers brought riches to cities like Ur and Uruk
Also traded with Egypt and India
Ancient City of Ur with Ziggurat Temple

7. Your turn to explore!
At your tables, research a modern-day city along the Tigris OR Euphrates Rivers.
The city can be in Iraq, Syria or Turkey.
Answer the following questions:
1. How does the river affect the daily lives of the people TODAY? Give one (1) solid example.
2. Describe an event in history that relates to the city and its river valley. Give one (1) solid example.

8. Located on the Euphrates River
An Najaf, Iraq
Located on the Euphrates River
RIVER VALLEY: In 2009, farmers and fisherman demonstrated…asking the Iraqi Govt. to demand that foreign countries (Turkey) release more water into the Euphrates. Planting rice was banned in Najaf because it requires too much water. In 2015, production of rice is down by 50%.
HISTORY: Najaf is the holiest site for Shia Arabs in Iraq. It hosts the tomb of Ali, Muhammad’s cousin, and the Valley of Peace, one of the world’s largest cemeteries.

9. Map Quiz Short Answer
Why are river valleys ideal locations for civilizations to develop?
FCAs (Focus Correction Areas)
Explain how and why river valleys would assist in the development of a civilization (3 points).
Choose one (1) characteristic of civilization and explain how it affected the daily lives of the people in a river valley civilization (2 points).

10. Sumerian Civilization
7 Characteristics

11. 1. Complex Government
Rival city-states battled for control of land and water.
Rule by war leaders evolved into hereditary rule.
Rulers of cities were responsible for…
Maintaining city walls and irrigation systems, leading armies, enforcing laws, employing scribes to collect taxes, leading religious ceremonies as a servant of the gods

12. 2. Complex Religions Sumerians were polytheistic
Believed the gods/goddesses controlled the forces of nature
Highest duty was to keep the gods happy to ensure the safety of their city
Built ziggurats, large temples, and dedicated them to the gods with sacrifices of animals, grain and wine
Celebrated holy days with ceremonies and processions
Believed in a grim afterlife

13. 3. Job Specialization 4. Social Classes
Farmers: grew and harvested food for the city and king
Weavers: women wove wool into linen
Scribes: kept accounts of currency, traded goods and contracts
Potters: made pottery out of clay from the riverbanks
Bankers: used clay tokens based on grains, human labor and livestock
Musicians: played the lyre, lute, wind instruments (reed pipe), drums and danced
Astronomers/Mathematicians: studied movements of planets and stars; developed a number system
Each city had a hierarchy (ranking) of groups.
Upper Class: ruling family, leading officials, high priests
Middle Class: lesser priests, scribes, merchants, craftsmen
Lower Class: peasant farmers, slaves
*Women: ran households, managed slaves, could read/write, held temple positions, could inherit property

14. 5. Arts and Architecture
Sumerians used bricks to build palaces and temples.
Built ziggurats to worship the gods/goddesses
Artists depicted scenes from the Epic of Gigamesh
Art was usually religious.
Sculptures were carved from alabaster, gypsum, lapis lazuli, limestone, marble and wood.

15. 6. Public Works (Technology)
Sumerians developed…
Calendars
Grain Storehouses
Potter’s Wheel
Irrigation systems
Walls
Copper
Leather
Beer
Sumerian Star Chart

16. 7. Writing (3200 BCE) Cuneiform: from Latin meaning “wedge”
Tablet showing the allocation of beer
Cuneiform: from Latin meaning “wedge”
Scribes made wedge- shaped marks on clay tablets.
Grew out of pictographs to record transaction of goods brought to temple storehouses
Later used to record myths, prayers, laws and business contracts