1. Chapter 1 The Rise of Civilizations
Lesson 3
Mesopotamia
By: Peyton Kelley Class of 2018

2. Social Mesopotamia is also known at the Fertile Crescent
Roles of Women
wives
Mothers
Housekeepers
Making clothes
Tending to their husband
A wife who left her husband faced severe penalties
In the case of a divorce, both partners had to pay a fine
Conceiving children was the main purpose of marriage.
Boys were preferred
Slaves were at the bottom but were generally treated well
Indigenous, Sumerians, and Akkadians

3. Political City-State control over countryside empire
Empire controlled over many people and territories
Decentralized
Code of law
Hammurabi's code (eye for an eye)
People identified themselves with their city (Sumerian, Akkadian)

4. Interaction Between Humans and the Environment
Created the
Wheel
Sundial
Bronze
Math system based on 60
Calendar
Communities of Mesopotamia were quite healthy
Flooding of Tigris and Euphrates river
Irrigation and Farming
Deforestation
Lack of barriers

5. Ancient writing in Mesopotamia
Culture
Polytheistic (belief of many gods)
Ziggurat (rectangle stepped tower surrounded by temples, place of worship)
Cuneiform; wedge-shaped characters used to communicate
Epic of Gilgamesh (one of the first great epics)
Worshiped gods that represented nature
Spoke many languages
Ancient writing in Mesopotamia

6. Economic Traded with Agriculture (basis of economy; Wheat and Barley)
Indus Valley
Egypt
Phoenicians
Agriculture (basis of economy; Wheat and Barley)
Used Tigris and Euphrates river but they were not predictable
Relied heavily on slaves and laborers to do most the work
They relied on the two major rivers for access to sea and water for farming