1. Mesopotamian Civilization: Part 1 Begun 8/14/2017
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2. What happened before Mesopotamian Civilization?
* Paleolithic Age=
2.5 million years ago to 8000 BCE
*Neolithic Age= 8000 BCE to 3000 BCE
*Bronze Age began around 3000 BCE
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3. Development of Ancient River Valley Civilizations
aka = “Cradles of Civilization
3500 BCE
Rivers needed for irrigation of crops
•1.Mesopotamia
–1.Tigris R. & Euphrates R.
•2.Egypt
–1.Nile R.
•3.India
–1.Indus R.
•4.China
–1.Huang He
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4. First Four River Valley Civilizations Cradles of Civilization
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5. 9/27/2010
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Nile River

6. Mesopotamia Nile River
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Nile River

7. Mesopotamia Indus River Nile River
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Indus River
Nile River

8. Mesopotamia Huang He Indus River Nile River
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Indus River
Nile River

9. Why are they called ‘Cradles of Civilization?’
Mesopotamia
Huang He
Why are they called ‘Cradles of Civilization?’
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Indus River
Nile River

10. Characteristics of Civilization
Complex Social Institutions
Government
Organized
Complex Religions
Polytheistic
Advanced Technology
Irrigation Systems
Engineering
Palaces/Temples
Division of Labor
Specialization of Labor
Artisans
Calendar
Keep track of flooding & religious ceremonies
Written Language
Keep records of agriculture/taxes
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11. Mesopotamia Fertile Crescent Meso = Middle Po = River Tamia = Land
Part of an area known as the
Fertile Crescent
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12. •Independent city surrounded by farmland •Ruled by individual rulers
What is a city-state?
•Independent city surrounded by farmland
•Ruled by individual rulers
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13. Oldest cities in the World are thought to be Sumer’s.
Farmland
City
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Farmland
Oldest cities in the World are thought to be Sumer’s.

14. What types of governments began during this time?
Dynasties –
* series of rulers from the same family
*usually a Monarchy
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15. Besides rulers, who ranked at the top of social classes?
Priests – people believed they spoke with the gods.
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16. What were the Sumerian temples? •temple & religious center
Ziggurats –
•temple & religious center
• stored grain
• housed priests
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17. Sumerian Ziggurat ca. 3500 B.C.E.
Mayan Pyramid ca. 700 C.E.
Sumerian Ziggurat ca B.C.E.
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18. What inventions can be attributed to the Sumerians?
wheel
plow
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sail
And….

19. The City
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And….

20. 9/27/2010
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The umbrella!

21. The most important invention?....
World’s first form of written language…
Cuneiform
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22. Created using small wedge-shaped stylus on clay tablets
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Examples

23. The Epic of Gilgamesh. Oldest known written story
The Epic of Gilgamesh * Oldest known written story *Follows the adventures of the Sumerian King of Uruk
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24. 9/27/2010
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25. Mesopotamian Civilization: Part 2
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Quiz Friday!

26. Essential Knowledge
13. What were the 1st 4 River Valley Civilizations?
14. What was the name of the earliest known civilization?
15. What is an independent city surrounded by farmland?
16. What is the earliest known written language?
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27. What other civilizations came about during/after the Sumerians?
1.Akkadians
2.Babylonians
3.Phoenicians
4.Assyrians
5.Hebrews
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28. Akkadians Greatest Leader = Sargon 1st to create an Empire
conquered city-states of Sumer
Lasted only 200 years
fighting within empire
famine
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29. Sargon of Akkad – 1st Emperor
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Sargon of Akkad –
1st Emperor

30. The Babylonians •Overtook Sumerians •Capital city = Babylon
•Greatest Ruler = Hammurabi
•Hammurabi’s greatest contribution = World’s first law code.
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32. Hammurabi’s Law Code Specific punishments for specific actions
Property issues
Harsh punishments.
Social classes punished/rewarded differently
Think/raise/speak (30 seconds)- Is this fair? Why or why not?
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33. Eye for an Eye mentality.
Upper classes treated differently from lower classes
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34. Essential Knowledge 17. Who was the World’s 1st Emperor?
18. Which Mesopotamian Civilization had Hammurabi as their greatest ruler?
19. What was Hammurabi’s greatest achievement?
20. True or False: All people were equal under Hammurabi’s Law Code?
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35. Okay, Let’s Review!
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36. What is the term for an independent city which is surrounded by farmland?
A city-state
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37. What was the first civilization to create cities?
Sumer
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38. What were some of the inventions of the Sumerians?1.
Plow 2.
Umbrella 3.
Wheel 4.
Cities 5.
Language
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39. What was their written language called?
Cuneiform
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40. Who was the Akkadian leader who first created an empire?
Sargon
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41. What civilization created a great capital on the banks of the Euphrates?
The Babylonians
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42. What great Babylonian leader created the first law code?
Hammurabi
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