1. Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent
Chapter 3
Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent

2. 3.2 The Rise of Sumer

3. An Advanced Society
Southern Mesopotamia – Sumerians developed the world’s first civilization
No one knows where they came from
Settled in Mesopotamia – land they called Sumer

4. The City-States of Sumer
Most people – farmers – lived mainly in rural – or countryside areas
Center of Sumerian society – urban – or city – areas
Basic political unit of Sumer – combined the two parts – city-state –which consisted of a city and all the countryside around it

5. The City-States of Sumer Continued
Amount of countryside controlled by each city-state depended on its military strength
Sumer city-states fought each other for more farmland
Uruk’s king – Gilgamesh – legendary figure in Sumerian literature

6. Rise of the Akkadian Empire
Akkadians created a society along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers– north of Sumer
Not Sumerians/spoke a different language

7. Rise of the Akkadian Empire Continued
Peace was broken between the Akkadians and Sumerians when Sargon wanted to extend the Akkadian territory

8. Rise of the Akkadian Empire Continued
Built a new capital – Akkad on the Euphrates River- near what is now the city of Baghdad

9. Rise of the Akkadian Empire Continued
Sargon – first ruler to have a permanent army
Defeated city-states of Sumer and conquered northern Mesopotamia

10. Rise of the Akkadian Empire Continued
Entire region under Sargon’s rule/establishing the world’s first empire – or land with different territories and people’s under a single rule
Akkadian Empire – stretched from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea

11. Rise of the Akkadian Empire Continued
Sargon was emperor or ruler of his empire for more than 50 years

12. Religion Shapes Society
Religion important in every aspect of life
Religion basis for all of Sumerian society

13. Sumerian Religion
Sumerians practiced polytheism – the worship of many gods
Each city-state considered one god as its special protector

14. Sumerian Religion Continued
Sumerians believed their gods had powers
Believed that success in every area of life depended on pleasing the gods

15. Sumerian Religion Continued
Sumerians had a duty to serve and to worship the gods
Priests – people who performed religious ceremonies

16. Sumerian Social Order
Priests occupied a a high level in Sumer’s social hierarchy – the division of society by rank or class – they were just below kings.

17. Sumerian Social Order Continued
Social hierarchy
Kings – chosen by the gods
Priests
Skilled craftsman, merchants, and traders

18. Sumerian Social Order Continued
Farmers and laborers – made up the large working class
Slaves – bottom of the social order

19. Men and Women in Sumer Men Held political power Made laws
Education reserved for men/and some upper class women

20. Men and Women in Sumer Continued
Took care of the home/children
Some educated women were priestesses in Sumer’s temples

21. Men and Women in Sumer Continued
Enheduanna
Daughter of Sargon
Wrote hymns to the goddess Inanna
First known female writer in history