1. Vocabulary
Fertile Crescent- Area of fertile land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
City-state- City within a certain region that had its own government, laws, & policies
Dynasty- System of rule passed down from one generation to another
Cultural diffusion- The mixing of cultures
Polytheism- Belief in more than one God

2. WARM UP What one thing is necessary for a city to arise?
What are the 5 characteristics of civilization?

3. MESOPOTAMIA

4. River Valley Civilizations
All early river civilizations are located in River Valleys
“Mesopotamia” means land between rivers

5. Mesopotamia Located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Rivers flooded Mesopotamia at least once a year creating fertile soil called Silt
Area was known as “The Fertile Crescent”
Existed from about 3000BC-1550

6. Environmental Disadvantages
Land almost a desert because of unpredictable floods and little to no rain
No natural barriers for protection
Natural resources were limited, specifically building materials

7. Problems Solved
Irrigation ditches to carry water from rivers to fields
Built city walls with mud bricks
Traded goods with people of mountains and deserts for raw materials (stone, wood, metal)
Cultural diffusion-Spread of ideas or products from one culture to another

8. Advanced Cities Early Mesopotamia developed as city-states
Each city shared the same culture but had its own government and rulers
City States often fought one another
Ur was most significant
Sargon of Akkad united all of the city states and created the first empire
Empire brings peoples, nations or states under the control of one ruler

9. Babylonian Empire
2000 B.C. nomadic warriors known as Amorites invade the region
Take control of Sumer
Create capital on the Euphrates River, called Babylon
Empire at strongest with Hammurabi as leader

10. Specialized Workers
Food Surpluses provided the opportunity for specialization
People became artisans, potters, weavers, jewelers, scribes, gov’t officials & priests
Merchants would trade goods for food
Created Cultural Diffusion
Slaves
Soldiers

11. Technology Bronze Age began here Invented the wheel, sail and plow
Irrigation Systems
Developed number system & first form of writing-cuneiform
Advanced in medicine, astronomy and chemistry
Architecture- Ziggurat
Iron Tools

12. Complex Institutions Religion was polytheistic
Believed humans were gods servants
After life was harsh-Underworld
Ziggurat served as the City Hall or center of City Life
Priests performed rituals
Housed offerings to Gods
Bridge between heaven and earth

13. Complex Institutions Early Govt’s were a Theocracy
Gov’t run by Religious Leaders
Monarchies eventually develop leading to Dynasties
Assyrian Empire introduced large, strong military

14. Record Keeping Sumerian Cities each had their own laws
King Hammurabi of the Babylonian Empire unified all of the Cities under one Code of Law – Hammurabi’s Code
Code engraved in stone that were placed all over empire
Protected women and children
Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth mentality
Cuneiform
gov’t officials document taxes, laws and grain storage
Priests created a calendar
Merchants kept track of payments & debts

15. Activity
Hammurabi’s Code worksheet and fill in graphic organizer

16. Wall Graffiti: Ancient Mesopotamia was a Great Civilization!

17. Reflection
Explain how Mesopotamia was able to develop into a civilization while living in a desert climate.
What difficulties were faced by the people in Mesopotamia?
Explain the significance of King Hammurabi.