1. Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia
1.06 Examine the indicators of civilization, including writing, labor specialization, cities, technology, trade, and political and cultural institutions.
2.01 Trace the development and assess the achievements of early river civilizations, including but not limited to those around the Huang-He, Nile, Indus, and Tigris-Euphrates rivers.

2. The Fertile Crescent Mesopotamia Location
Valley between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Eastern end of the Fertile Crescent
Reason for early civilization
Rich soil
Abundant crops

3. The Fertile Crescent Flooding & The Rivers The Good The Bad
Allowed fertile soil to build up for farming
The Bad
Floods were unpredictable
The Solution
Drainage ditches & irrigation
The Outcome
An abundance of food that allowed cities to grow and civilization to emerge

4. The Fertile Crescent
Mesopotamian civilization refers to the achievements of people from three general areas:
Assyria
Akkad
Sumer
Sumerians created the 1st Mesopotamian civilization

5. The Growth of Religion
Harsh climates and famines affected how Mesopotamians viewed the world
Felt that supernatural forces who ruled were unreliable
Believed in gods and goddesses who ruled all aspects of life
Had over 3,000 gods/goddesses
polytheistic

6. The Growth of Religion Humans were inferior to gods
Humans should obey & serve the gods
Humans could never know what the gods may do

7. City-States Important cities by 3000 B.C.
Eridu Ur
Uruk
As the cities grew they gained political & economic control over the surrounding countryside
Eventually they became city-states

8. Sumerian Cities Surrounded by walls
Buildings within were built of sun dried mud bricks
Incorporated the arch and dome using mud bricks

9. Religion & Rulers Ziggurat
Most important building in the city
Temple dedicated to the chief god of goddess of the city
Built on a massive stepped tower
People believed that the god/goddess owned the city
Temples served as the political, religious and economic centers of the city

10. Religion & Rulers Priests & priestesses had a great deal of power
Cities were a theocracy (ruled by the gods – a divine authority)
When the kings ruled the people believed that they got their power from the gods

11. Religion & Rulers Kings Led armies Supervised construction
Organized workers
Led the army, the government & the priests

12. Economy & Society Based chiefly on farming
Trade & industry also important
Made woolen textiles & pottery
Known for metalwork
Especially bronze

13. Economy & Society Society contained 3 major social groups
Nobles (royal & priestly officials and their families)
Commoners (farmers, merchants, fishers, craftspeople)
Slaves

14. Writing & Literature Cuneiform Created around 3000 BC
Wedge shaped system of writing
Used a reed stylus
Wrote on clay tablets
Used mainly for record keeping

15. Writing & Literature The Epic of Gilgamesh
Records the exploits of the legendary king Gilgamesh

16. Technology
Developed
Wagon wheel
Potter’s wheel
Sundial
Arch
Bronze

17. Technology Achievements Number system based on 60
Think about how we measure time
Used geometry to measure fields & erect buildings
Charted constellations

18. Akkadian & Babylonian Empires
Akkadians
Leader: Sargon
2340 B.C. – overran other city-states and set up the first empire in world history
Empire fell by 2100 B.C.

19. Akkadian & Babylonian Empires
Hammurabi came to power
Gained control of Sumer & Akkad
Died in 1750 BC

20. Hammurabi’s Code Mesopotamians had laws for centuries
Hammurabi collected these laws and had them written down
Code was very strict
Punishment varied based on social status