1. Western Asia and Egypt

2. Early Civilization Big Idea (Physical Geography): Fertile soil between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers allowed an early civilization to flourish in Mesopotamia.

3. Mesopotamia

4. Fertile crescent ( Rich Soil) Tigris + Euphrates + Eastern end of Fertile Crescent =Mesopotamia. Nomads settle and farm Flooding controlled through drainage ditches (irrigation systems) = farming all yr Harsh physical environment controlled by supernatural forces Religion explained what they could not themselves Polytheistic – many gods & goddesses Mesopotamia Civilization / 3 Groups = Assyrians, Akkadians, Sumerians Account of a flood “The Rampant flood which no man can oppose, Which shakes the heavens and causes earth to tremble, In an appalling blanket folds mother and child, And drowns the harvest in its time of ripeness.” Account of a flood “The Rampant flood which no man can oppose, Which shakes the heavens and causes earth to tremble, In an appalling blanket folds mother and child, And drowns the harvest in its time of ripeness.”

5. Civilization in Mesopotamia Sumarians-1 st civilization. Sun-dried mud brick walled cities, People in cities gained a sense of identity. Created the arch and dome. Believed Gods ruled the cities making the state a Theocracy. (governed by divine authority.) Ziggurat-Temples to the Gods

6. Economy and Society Economy was mostly farming, but some was trade and industry. Woolen textiles, pottery, metalwork- discovered bronze Traded bronze for resources and goods they did not have ( copper, tin, and timber.) Society was made up of

7. Contributions Cuneiform writing-used a sharp pointed instrument (stylus) to inscribe wedge shaped characters on clay tablets. Epic of Gilgamesh- oldest Mesopotamian epic about how everlasting life is only for the gods. Number system- based on zero and the unit of 60, we use for telling time. Inventions-wagon wheel, potters wheel, bronze, arch and sundial They mapped the constellations

8. Akkadians- North of Sumerian city-states. Sargon-leader, overran Sumerian city- states and set up 1 st empire in World History. Fell in 2100 B.C after neighbors attack. Empire-a large political unit or state, usually under a single leader, that controls many people or territories. Hammurabi (King of Babylon- city-state south of Akkad) gained control of Sumer and Akkad = empire Fell after his death- weak rulers Laws in Mesopotamia had existed for centuries -most famous Code of Hammurabi Punishment was decided by class “Eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” Women less rights than men

9. Section 1 Review The Epic of Gilgamesh is a famous Mesopotamian what? Poem The arc of rich soil between the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf. Fertile Crescent Around 2340 B.C., the Sumerian city-states were conquered by the Akkadians under their leader who was? Sargon

10. Section 1 Review Sumerian writing system Cuneiform The term for a large political unit or state, usually under a single leader, controlling many peoples or territories ? An empire Collection of laws devised in Mesopotamia Code of Hammurabi The wagon wheel, a math system based on units of 60, and the sundial are inventions by what people? Sumerians

11. Section 1 Review Independent city-state in Sumeria Uruk The Mesopotamian religion, which identified nearly 3,000 gods and goddesses, can be described as what? Polytheistic Type of society in which men dominate. patriarchal