1. Unit 2: Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent
Mr. Davis
Social Studies 7

2. The Fertile Crescent Mesopotamia = “land between the rivers”
The Tigris River and the Euphrates River give Mesopotamia its name.
Located in present-day IRAQ
“Mesopotamia” means “between the rivers” in Greek.

3. The Fertile Crescent
MESOPOTAMIA is part of a larger region called THE FERTILE CRESCENT, a large arc of rich, fertile farmland that extends from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea.

4. The Fertile Crescent

5. Two Parts
Northern Mesopotamia = a plateau (flat area high above sea level) bordered to the north and east by mountains
Southern Mesopotamia = a flat coastal plain and river valley. The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers both flowed through Southern Mesopotamia.

6. The Rise of Civilization
Hunter-gatherers first settled in Mesopotamia about 12,000 years ago.
Silt deposits made it ideal for farming.
Crops = wheat, barley, other grains
Other food sources = Livestock, birds, fish
Plentiful food led to population growth, and villages formed.
This became the world’s first civilization.

7. Farming and Cities Flooding was a major problem in the beginning.
People built canals to control flooding and irrigate fields.
This led to a surplus in food supply.
Also used irrigation to water pastures for cattle and sheep to graze. Allowed for a variety of foods.

8. Division of labor
With the surpluses, people were able to do other jobs—crafters, religious leaders, government workers.
Having people do different jobs allowed for more to get done.
Large projects helped people in government because they managed and organized people.
Cities grew between 4000 and 3000 BC (BCE).
Centers for trade, power bases for leaders
Political, Religious, Cultural, Economic centers of civilization

9. The Rise of Sumer
Sumerians developed the first civilization in southern Mesopotamia—an advanced society in 3000 BC.

10. Sumerian City-States Most Sumerians were farmers in rural areas.
The centers of Sumerian societies were urban areas.
City-states were the basic political units of Sumer.

11. Sumerian City-States
City-states often fought each other for more farmland.
Built up large armies and large thick walls for protection
By 3500 BC, a city-state known as Kish had become quite powerful. Over the next 1000 years, the city-states of Ur and Uruk fought for dominance. One of Uruk’s kings, Gilgamesh became a legendary figure in Sumerian folklore.

12. Rise of the Akkadian Empire
Akkadians lived north of Sumer, but were not Sumerians (different culture).
Sargon was an Akkadian emperor that built a permanent army—launched a series of wars against neighboring kingdoms.
Sargon conquered all Sumer and built the first empire.

13. Sumerian Religion Played a key role in aspects of life
Polytheism – belief in many gods
Each city-state considered one god to be its special protector
Gods were very powerful and controlled all parts of life.
Priests performed religious ceremonies and interpreted wishes of the gods by making offerings.

14. Sumerian Social Hierarchy
KINGS PRIESTS TRADERS FARMERS & LABORERS SLAVES

15. Men & Women in Sumer Men held political power and made laws
Women took care of the home and children
Education was reserved mostly for men, but some upper-class women were educated as well.

16. Cuneiform & Pictographs
Cuneiform is the early system of writing used by the Sumerians.
Sumerians wrote on clay tablets using a STYLUS.

17. Scribes Scribes are writers.
They were hired to keep records for the government or for the temple
Becoming a scribe was one way for Sumerians to move up in social class

18. Sumerian students
Students went to school to learn how to read and write.
Just like today, some Sumerians did not like to go to school

19. Sumerian students Other subjects: history, law, grammar, and math
Epics were studied—long poems about heroes or gods

20. The wheel Used for carts and wagons
Potter’s wheel (used to spin and mold clay into useful items)

21. The plow
Pulled by oxen, it was used to break up the hard clay soil to make it easier to plant crops.

22. Other advancements A clock that used falling water to tell time
Sewers under city streets
Make bronze to make tools and weapons stronger
Makeup
Glass jewelry

23. Math Number system based on 60 Divided a circle into 360 degrees
Developed a 12-month year (12 a factor of 60)
Calculated areas of triangles and rectangles

24. Science Wrote long lists to record study of the natural world.
Studied numerous plants, animals, and minerals

25. Medicine
Used ingredients from animals, plants, and minerals to make medicine.
Items in medicine included milk, turtle shells, figs, and salt.

26. Sumerian homes Rulers lived in palaces
Wealthy lived in 2-story homes with as many as a dozen rooms
Most lived in a one-story house with about 6 or 7 rooms around a courtyard
Used mud bricks as building blocks

27. Ziggurats
A ziggurat is a pyramid-shaped temple tower that rose above each Sumerian city.

28. Sumerian Sculpture Statues of gods for the temples
Smaller sculptures made of ivory or wood
Created pottery items

29. Jewelry Made impressive works out of gold, silver, and imported gems.
Earrings were found in the region—shows they knew more advanced methods of jewelry-making

30. Cylinder Seals Stone cylinders that were engraved with designs.
When rolled over clay, it would leave behind its own distinct imprint
These seals were used to show ownership or to “sign” important documents

31. Music Kings and temples hired musicians to play on special occasions
Instruments: reed pipes, drums, tambourines, and stringed instruments called lyres.
Children learned songs in school
People sang hymns to gods and kings

32. Babylon Mesopotamian city that sat on the Euphrates River
By 1800 BC, had its own powerful government
Ruled by Hammurabi, who was a monarch—ruler of a kingdom/empire

33. Hammurabi’s Code
A set of 282 laws that dealt with almost every aspect of daily life
Dealt with trade, loans, marriage, theft, injury, murder…
Specific crimes brought specific penalties
Social class mattered
After Hammurabi’s death, there were many invasions of the region.

34. Invader: THE HITTITES & Kassites
After Hammurabi’s death, there were many invasions of the region.
Strengths: mastered ironworking and created the chariot—a wheeled horse-drawn cart used in battle
Hittite rule did not last long, however. The Hittite king was killed by an assassin from a group known as the Kassites, who lived north of Babylon and would rule for 400 years.

35. Invader: THE ASSYRIANS
Strengths: Strong army—every soldier knew his role. Iron weapons and chariots were used.
FIERCE in battle—before attacking, they looted villages and burned crops
Ruled from Nineveh and demanded heavy taxes. Anyone resisting was severely punished.
Kings appointed local leaders. Road network was built

36. Invaders: THE CHALDEANS
Destroyed Nineveh in 612 BC
Ruled by Nebuchadnezzar, who rebuilt Babylon into a beautiful new city
Constructed the Hanging Gardens (one of the seven ancient wonders)
Admired Sumerian culture—studied language and built temples for gods
Accomplishments in astronomy, developed calendar, solved problems in geometry

37. The Phoenicians NOT invaders of the Fertile Crescent
Cedar trees were abundant resource—not many other resources because of mountains
TRADERS BY SEA!
Established colonies all across the Mediterranean region for trade. CARTHAGE was the most famous
Traded silver, ivory, and slaves.
Developed an alphabet to keep track of records.