1. Mesopotamia
The Sumerians

2. Mesopotamia Cities began in 3000 B.C
Located in Egypt, China, and India
WATER INFLUNCED WHERE PEOPLE SETTLED!!!!

3. “thE LAND BETWEEN THE RIVERS”
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Fertile Crescent- Rich fertile farmland
Ran from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf

4. Farming No Rain in the Summer =No crops in the Fall
Spring Floods brought SILT to the land.
Over time DAMS were built to save farmland
CANALS built to handle overflow to the fields(IRRIGATION)

5. Surplus of Food For the first time farmers had a surplus of food
Surplus of food meant less farmers are needed creating job opening of Artisans
Weavers, Pottery tools, weapons, metal work.

6. The Summarians

7. Sumer’s Civilizations
Major Cities UR
Uruk
Eridu
Each city is governed as a city-state.
Grow own crops
Used Mud Bricks to create buildings

8. Sumerian Religion Polytheism Beliefs Each city had different gods.
Large Temples called
Ziggurat
Top level was the home of the god and special priest.

9. Sumerian Government Governing Body Monarchy
Kings claimed they were selected by the gods to rule (Divine right of the King)

10. Social Classes King, Gov. Officials, Priest, Warriors UPPER CLASS
Merchants, Farmers, Fishers, Artisans
MIDDLE CLASS
LOW CLASS
Criminals and Enslaved people

11. Gender Roles in Sumerian Cities
Men- Head of households
Workers
Boys went to school
Women – Ran homes and raised children

12. Farmers and Merchants Farmers domesticated Farmers grew:
Sheep, Goats, and Pigs
Farmers grew:
Wheat, Barely, Dates
Merchants Traded:
Food and pottery for metals

13. Contributions to society
Writings- CUNEIFORM
1200 different characters
Earliest writing in history
Kept records of daily lives
Scribe began recording using CUNEIFORM

14. Technology 1st people to invent the wheel Built Sailboat to trade
Wooden Plow
Potter’s Wheel

15. Math Used Geometry to measure size of fields and plan buildings
Set 60 sec for 1 minute
60 Min for 1 hour
Set a 12 month calendar