1. Civilization begins in Mesopotamia

2. Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia - land “between the rivers”
Tigris and Euphrates
The fertile crescent - Rich soil and abundant crops
3 Major groups of people living there
Assyria
Akkad
Sumerians - (creators of the 1st Mesopotamian civilization, Sumer).

3. Mesopotamia/Fertile Crescent

4. Growth of Religion
People looked to religion to answer their questions about life.
3000 gods and goddesses
Polytheistic – belief in many gods.

5. City-States of Ancient Mesopotamia: Sumerian Cities
City-states – independently controlled cities within a larger area.
City with political & economic control over the surrounding countryside
Ur - example
Surrounded by walls
Defense
Mud bricks
Built some of the largest brick buildings in the world

6. City of Ur

7. City-states of Ancient Mesopotamia: Gods, Goddesses, and Rulers
Temples
Ziggurat - stepped tower.
Believed gods and goddesses owned the cities
Theocracy: government ruled by divine authority
Priests & priestesses had a ton of power
Believed kings were granted their power from the gods

8. City-states of Ancient Mesopotamia: Economy and Society
Contained three major social groups
Nobles
Royal and priestly officials
Commoners
Worked for palace and temple estates
Farmers
Merchants
Fishermen
Craftsmen
90%+ were farmers
slaves
Standard of Ur

9. City-states of Ancient Mesopotamia: Economy and Society
Economy based mostly on farming
Trade and industry also became important
Metalwork, textiles, and pottery
Imported copper, tin, and timber
Exported fish, wool, barley, wheat and metal goods

10. The Creativity & Technology
Writing and Literature
Cuneiform - Wedge-shaped system of writing.
Keep time
Wagon wheel
Transport goods
The Epic of Gilgamesh.

11. Akkadians- Northern Akkadians – Northern peoples of Sumer.
Sargon- Famous leader of Akkadians.
Took over Sumer.
Empire - a large political unit or state.

12. Babylon – Southern Babylon – city state south of Sumer.
Conquered all.
Hammurabi – Ruled over all of Mesopotamia, and creator of “The Code of Hammurabi”.

13. The Code of Hammurabi Based on a system of strict justice
Severe penalties for criminals-varied across social classes
Believed in “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”
Public officials jobs were taken extremely seriously
Fined for not finding murders
Had to replace stolen goods if burglars were not located
Patriarchal – society dominated by men
Women had far fewer privileges and rights in marriage than men