1. Unit 2: Early River Civilizations Middle East Empires

2. Fertile Crescent Region named because of its rich soil. Mesopotamia
Meso – Middle
Land between rivers
Rivers
Tigris
Euphrates

3. Mesopotamia

4. Geographic Factors Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Mediterranean Coastline
Lack of resources
Low, level plains
No Natural Barriers
Constant Invasions

5. History of the Early Mesopotamia
Earliest inhabitants – Sumerians
4000 B.C. establish civilization
Developed City-States
City-States – a government that is the size of a city but acts as a nation.
Kingdoms – a government that is ruled by leader whose rule becomes hereditary- passed from father to son
Constant warfare

6. Is this one
of the five
characteristics
of a civilization?
Yes or NO
YES

7. Cuneiform Writing Sumerian developed 550 Characters
Wedge shaped characters
550 Characters

8. Cuneiform
Stylus – writing instrument
Tablets –clay used as documents

9. *Other Sumerian Contributions
Travel
Wheel
Sail
Agriculture
Complex Irrigation
Math
Number System Based on 60

10. Mediterranean Sea Red Sea Nile River Arabian Peninsula Euphrates River
Tigris River
Persian Gulf
Euphrates
Tigris
Mediterranean Sea
Persian Gulf
Nile
Red Sea
Arabian Peninsula

11. *Cultural Diffusion
Process of a new idea or a product spreading from one culture to another

12. First Empires Empire brings together several
peoples, nations, or states under the
control of one ruler.

13. First Babylonian Empire
Amorites invaded in 2000BC
Establish Capitol – BABYLON

14. Hammurabi Greatest Ruler of 1st Babylonian Empire 1792-1750 B.C.
Good Military Leader
Diplomat
Administrator

15. *Hammurabi’s Code *First Uniform Code of Laws Collection of laws - 282
Community
Family Law
Business Law
Criminal Law
Punishments
*Judgments/ Rulings – Varied
*Severe - “Eye for an Eye”
*Different Punishments for rich and poor