1. Mesopotamia

2. Vocabulary
Fertile Crescent- an area of fertile land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
City-state – a city within a certain region that had its own government, laws, & policies.
Dynasty – a system of rule passed down from one generation to another.
Cultural diffusion - the mixing of cultures.
Polytheism - belief in more than one God

3. Warm Up What one thing is necessary for a city to arise?
What are the five characteristics of civilization?

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

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

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

7. Problem Solving
Irrigation ditches were built 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).
This led to cultural diffusion, or the 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 city-state.
Sargon of Akkad united all of the city- states and created the first empire.
The empire brought peoples, nations or states under the control of one ruler.

9. Babylonian Empire
In 2000 B.C., nomadic warriors, known as Amorites, invaded the region.
The Amorites took control of Sumer.
Created a capital on the Euphrates River called Babylon.
The empire was at its strongest with Hammurabi as leader.

10. Specialized Workers
Food surpluses provided the opportunity for specialization.
People became artisans, potters, weavers, jewelers, scribes, government officials, and priests.
Merchants would trade goods for food.
This 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.
Advancements in medicine, astronomy and chemistry.
Architecture- Ziggurat
Iron Tools

12. Complex Institutions Religion was polytheistic.
Believed humans were the gods servants.
The afterlife was harsh; believed in an underworld.
The ziggurat served as the city hall or center of city life.
Priests performed rituals.
Housed offerings to Gods.
Was the bridge between heaven and earth.

13. Complex Institutions Early governments were a theocracy.
A theocracy was a government run by the religious leaders.
Monarchies eventually developed, which led to the formation of dynasties.
The Assyrian Empire introduced a 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. This was known as Hammurabi’s Code.
The code was engraved in stones that were placed all over empire.
Protected women and children.
Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth mentality.
Cuneiform
Government officials documented taxes, laws and grain storage.
Priests created a calendar.
Merchants kept track of payments & debts.

15. Wall Graffiti: Ancient Mesopotamia was a great civilization!

16. Activity
Complete the Hammurabi’s Code worksheet and fill in graphic organizer.
This will be submitted for a grade!

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.