1. City-States in Mesopotamia
Main Idea: The earliest civilization in Asia arose in Mesopotamia and organized into city-states.
Why It Matters Now: The development of this civilization reflects a pattern that has occurred repeatedly throughout history.

2. Geography of the Fertile Crescent
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers flow southeastward to the Persian Gulf
Fertile plain between them is known as Mesopotamia (Greek for “land between the rivers”)
Rivers would flood leaving behind silt in which farmers could plant wheat and barley

4. Environmental Challenges Flooding Unpredictable No Natural Protection
Limited Natural Resources
Solutions
Irrigation
City walls of mud brick
Trade

5. City-States
Sumer had a number of cities. Although these cities shared the same culture, they developed their own governments, each with its own rulers. A city-state functioned much as an independent country does today.

6. Sumer’s earliest governments were controlled by the temple priests
Sumer’s earliest governments were controlled by the temple priests. The place of worship or ziggurat was like a city hall. Priests took a portion of the farmers’ crops as taxes. In time of war, military leaders took control. Over time, they became full-time rulers. Then their sons would come into power, starting dynasties.

8. Sumerian Culture
Polytheism: many different gods controlled the various forces in nature
Approximately 3,000 gods
Gods had human traits but were immortal and all powerful
Afterlife

10. Wealthy Merchants, Artisans Regular Farmers and Workers Slaves
Priests and Kings
Wealthy Merchants, Artisans
Regular Farmers and Workers
Slaves
Women were not treated horribly but did not have same rights as men.

11. Sumerian Brain Power Wheel Sail Plow Bronze Cuneiform Maps Base 60
Epic of Gilgamesh

12. First Empire Builders
City-states of Sumer were constantly at war with each other which made them weak. Invaders attacked and adapted Sumerian culture to fit their needs.

13. Sargon of Akkad Semitic
Took control of large area of Mesopotamia, 2300 B.C.E.
Empire lasted 200 years
Epic tales and poems about him

14. Babylon In 2000 B.C.E., Amorites invaded
Capital was at Babylon on Euphrates
King Hammurabi ruled at peak, B.C.E.
First Written Law Code, 282 laws
Retaliation, Inequality, Government Responsibility
Civil and Criminal Law

15. Hittites Arrived about 1400 B.C.E. from Asia Minor
Used iron for their weapons
Horse-drawn chariot

16. Phoenicians
Lived near present day Lebanon
Sailors and Traders
Glass makers
Purple dye
Alphabet

17. Assyrians Cruel, Military People
Conquered Mesopotamia from B.C.E.
Enemies struck back and destroyed Nineveh
Babylon revived under King Nebuchadnezzar (Ishtar Gate, Hanging Gardens)

19. Persians Located in present-day Iran
From B.C.E., King Cyrus conquered Fertile Crescent and Anatolia, ruled kindly with tolerance
Darius, good administrator of huge empire
Royal Road, Coins
Zoroastrianism=Good v. Evil, Day of Judgment