1. RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS FERTILE CRESCENT MESOPOTAMIA

2. Agricultural surplus led to the emergence of civilization
Rise of cities
Art
&
Architecture
Government
Monarchy
Oligarchy
Democracy
Religion
Polytheism
Monotheism
Animism
Writing
Social Structure
Social Classes

3. This is what we call areas where people settled and built 1st farming communities
Most were in river valleys.
The first was Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

4. Some Vocab (Make a section)
Monarchy- rule by a Queen or King, passed through the family
Oligarchy- rule by a small group people
Democracy- rule by the people
Animism- belief that everything has a spirit
Polytheism- belief in more than one god
Monotheism- belief in a single god

5. Why did they settle there?
Food
Protection
Water
Fertilization
Irrigation
Transportation

7. 5000 BCE the first Civilization The Sumerians
TIGRIS
MESOPOTAMIA
EUPHRATES
5000 BCE the first Civilization The Sumerians
SUMER

8. 1.Unpredictable flooding 1.Irrigation Systems
Sumerian Problems
Sumerian Solutions
1.Unpredictable flooding
1.Irrigation Systems
2.City Walls made of sun-dried bricks
2.Little protection
3.Limited Natural Resources
3.Trade for products they lacked

9. Sumerian Culture
Government
Sumerians invented the city- state
Each one shared language, religion, and customs, but governed independently
Uruk, Kish, Lagash, Umma, Ur
Most were ruled by kings and their family line = Dynasty

10. Religion
Sumerians were Polytheistic = Many gods
Sumerians had large temples dedicated to their gods at the center of each city-state = ziggurats
Sumerians believed their gods were human- like, yet immortal and all powerful
They also believed their gods to be mean and spiteful, and the afterlife to be cold and alone

11. ZIGGURAT

13. TECHNOLOGY
Sumerians invented =
the wheel,
the sail,
the plow,
1st to use Bronze,
1st writing system (cuneiform),
1st book “Epic of Gilgamesh” (2150 BCE)
1st Maps, sun-dial, umbrella, 1st # system, 60 minute hour, 60 second minute.

14. CUNEIFORM

15. CUNEIFORM

16. Cuneiform was created using a small wedge-shaped tools to create these marks
Examples

18. AKKAD
SUMER

19. Around 2334 B.C.E, Sargon, leader of the Akkadians established the first Empire.
Sargon was the first Empire builder.
An EMPIRE is a large political unit, or state
with a single leader.
By 2100 the Akkadian Empire fell after a series of battles Babylonians invade and conquer all of Mesopotamia

20. BABYLON

21. This is called HAMMURABI’S CODE, or the Code of Hammurabi.
1792 BCE a new empire arose in Mesopotamia
The city-state of Babylon rose to power led by king Hammurabi.
His Empire fell shortly after his death in 1750 BCE, but Hammurabi made significant contributions before his death.
Hammurabi codified (collected) the 1st written laws and put them for all to see.
This is called HAMMURABI’S CODE, or the Code of Hammurabi.
“An Eye for an Eye”

22. Hittites (1700-1200 BCE) Lived on Anatolia Peninsula
1st Ironworkers (smelting)
very successful due to use of compound bow, war chariots, and iron weapons

23. Assyrians ( BCE)
Military Supremacy through the use of siege weapons
brutal use of torture

25. Chaldeans ( BCE)
Nebuchadnezzar II- leads Babylon to its greatest period
creates the Hanging Gardens, the Ishtar Gate, and 56 mile long walls around the city wide enough to race chariots on top