1. Ancient Mesopotamia

2. River Valley Civilizations
The discovery of farming during the Neolithic Revolution allowed nomadic people to settle into civilizations 2

3. The first civilization began in an area known as Mesopotamia
The world’s first civilizations all began in river valleys
The first civilization began in an area known as Mesopotamia 3

4. Mesopotamia means “land between the rivers” & is often called the “Fertile Crescent” or as the “Cradle of Civilization”
The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers flooded once per year, leaving behind fertile soil ideal for farming 4

5. The first civilization developed in the Fertile Crescent: Sumer
But, surrounding deserts & the lack of natural barriers attracted outsiders to Mesopotamia made the Sumerians vulnerable to attack 5

6. Geography of Mesopotamia
“Land between rivers”
Tigris and Euphrates
Fertile land allowed villages to grow
Several disadvantages
Unpredictable flooding
No natural protection
Natural resources were limited

7. Solution to Problems
People of Sumer addressed these problems through organization
Irrigation ditches to carry water
Built mud walls for defense
Trade

8. Sumerians Arrived on the scene (Mesopotamia) around 3300 BCE
Built city-states
Governments were controlled by priests
Development of dynasties
Series of rulers from a single family

9. Sumerian Culture Believed in more than one god
Emergence of social classes

10. Advanced in Science and Technology
Arithmetic and geometry
Architectural achievements
Arches, columns, ziggurats
Cuneiform
System of writing
Epic of Gilgamesh

11. Babylonian Empire Amorites invaded Mesopotamia around 2000 BCE
Established their capital at Babylon
Empire reached peak under King Hammurabi
Wrote a code of laws
Significant because it unifying his empire

12. Hammurabi's code
Dealt with family relations, business conduct, and crime
Set different punishments for rich and poor and for men and women

13. Babylonian Empire Language – Cuneiform Religion – Polytheistic
Similar social structure as the Sumerians
Economy was based on farming and trade
Empire eventually became smaller after Hammurabi
Fell to Kassites
Over years, new groups dominated the Fertile Crescent…

14. Hittite Empire By about 2000 BCE Hittites occupied Anatolia
Controlled most of Southwest Asia for 450 years
Borrowed ideas from Mesopotamians

15. Hittite Empire Language – Cuneiform Government – Monarchy
Accomplishments:
Excelled in technology of war
Superior chariots
Iron weapons
First to work with iron
Relied on farming
Tribes from Persia attacked and the empire fell quickly

16. Assyrians Came from the northern part of Mesopotamia Began around
850 BCE

17. Assyrians Language – Cuneiform Government – Monarchy
Religion – Polytheistic

18. Assyrians Accomplishments included: Eventually, overrun by Chaldeans
Constructing ancient world’s largest library(Nineveh)
Known for their strong and powerful military
Army, cavalry, and navy
Eventually, overrun by Chaldeans

19. Chaldeans
Around 612 BCE overthrow Assyrian Empire

20. Chaldeans Accomplishments: Empire fell to Persia Language – Cuneiform
Government – Monarchy
King Nebuchadnezzar
Religion – Polytheistic
Accomplishments:
Hanging gardens
Arch
Astrology
Empire fell to Persia

21. Persian Empire
Persian Empire began to rise around 1000 BCE

22. Persian Empire Language – Persian Government – Monarchy
King Cyrus known for his tolerant diplomacy
Religion – Polytheistic
Prophet – Zoroaster
Accomplishments:
Road system (Royal Road)
Coins
Conquered by Alexander the Great

23. Phoenicians On the scene about 1100 BCE Formed wealthy
city-states around
the Mediterranean
TRADE essential
to Phoenician
way of life

24. Phoenicians Language – Alphabetic symbols Government – City-states
Developed to speed transaction quickly
Used symbols to represent sounds
Government – City-states
Religion – Polytheistic
Human sacrifice
Accomplishments:
22 symbols within alphabet
Purple dye
Glass beads
Overran by Assyrians

25. Hebrews Date back to 2000 BCE Abraham father of the Jewish people
Moved from Mesopotamia to Canaan
Hebrews were monotheists

26. Hebrews Language – Hebrew Government – Monarchy Accomplishments:
King Saul
King David
King Solomon
Accomplishments:
Monotheism
Ten Commandments-Torah
Overran by Assyrians
Left region

28. Write one paragraph answering this question
Which ancient Mesopotamian civilization do you think was the most successful and explain why. Give examples