1. “Land Between the Rivers”
Mesopotamia
“Land Between the Rivers”

2. Mesopotamia Between Tigris and Euphrates
Use rivers for artificial irrigation by building canals and reservoirs

3. Sumer Used artificial irrigation to increase food supplies
Supported increasing population and attracted migrants
Population near 100,000 by 3000 BCE
Sumerians dominant people of Mesopotamia

4. Semitic Migrants
Semitic languages-Akkadian, Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician (Arabic and Hebrew today)
Nomadic herders from Syria and Arabia
Intermarried with Sumerians
Sumerians build cities, 4000 BCE -Political, military, cultural, and economic centers
Marketplaces from trade
Authority over surrounding regions
Organized religions, writing, and formal education

5. City-States Uruk, Lagash, Nippur, Kish
States- formal government institutions that wielded authority throughout territories
Ensure peace and cooperation within city
Oversaw agricultural affairs surrounding cities
Built palaces, temples, and walls- laborers organized by city authorities
Ziggurats- stepped pyramids that house temples and altars
Uruk ziggurat built in 3200 BCE by 1500 laborers to honor fertility goddess

6. City-States Irrigation systems
Abundant wealth attracted raids from outside cities
Build defensive walls and organize military forces
Creates demand for recognized authority

7. Kings Early governments of assemblies of prominent men
Individual rulers establish monarchs
3000 BCE- Cities have kings who cooperate with nobles (military)