1. Warm - up
Watch the short video (15 min) and list some important parts of Sumerian life.

2. The Rise of Sumer (no, this is not a typo)

3. I. City-States of Sumer
A. city-state: (city and surrounding countryside)
B. Larger city-states – more military strength.
C. Fought each other to gain more farmland
D. Gained and lost power over time

5. II. Rise of the Akkadian Empire
A. Sargon - Akkadian ruler with first permanent army
B. Defeated all city-states of Sumer
C. Established world’s first empire.
(1. Empire: land with different territories and peoples under a single rule)

6. III. Religion shapes society
A. Polytheism (worship of many gods) basis for society.
B. Gods had enormous powers.
C. Priests
1. Performed religious ceremonies.
2. Had statues built

7. IV. Sumerian Social Order-- Social hierarchy: (the division of society into levels)
A. Kings –top. claimed gods chose them to rule
B. Priests
C. Skilled craftspeople, merchants, and traders
D. Large working class of farmers and laborers
E. Slaves

8. V. Men and Women in Sumer
A. Men -generally held political power and made laws.
B.Women - generally took care of the home and children.
C.Education -generally men, but some upper class women were educated.