1. Traits of a Civilization to accompany that rise of city-states
Specialization of labor (from surplus of food)
Record keeping with a written language
Complex institutions – government, social hierarchy, religion
Trade & technology
Advanced cities 1

2. The Sumerians
Unit 1 2

3. The Fertile Crescent
Parts of Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Syria, and Iraq
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Eastern part was called Mesopotamia 3

4. Tigris & Euphrates Rivers
Did not provide a regular supply of water, but flooded often
Caused destruction – swept away villages & fields
Mesopotamians cooperated to control floodwaters – built dams, escape channels, canals, & ditches
Hardly any rain in summer – led to water shortages
Easy to invade – led to constant war 4

5. Sumerian Civilization
Came from Central Asia or Asia Minor (were Indo- Europeans)
Settled in the lower part of Fertile Crescent – a.k.a. Sumer
Birthplace of cities
Created 12 city-states
Including Ur, Uruk, & Eridu
Science: astronomy, calendar (aided agriculture) 5

6. Sumerian City-States Population ranged from 20,000 to 250,000
Shared a common culture
Built ziggurats for religious purposes – dedicated to chief deity of the city
Trading contacts with Mesopotmia 6

7. Sumerian Government
Competition for land and water rights with foreign invaders led to the development of a monarchy (king)
King was a religious & political leader
King enforced law and set penalties (usually a fine) 7

8. Sumerian Culture Men and women had different roles
Men – could sell wife and children to pay a debt; could divorce easily
Women – could buy and sell property; operate own businesses; own slaves
Developed cuneiform – 1st writing system in the world
Epic poem – Gilgamesh story of a godlike man who performs heroic deeds
Invented fertilizer & silver money 8

9. Sumerian Culture Practiced polytheism Most were farmers
Had one chief god for each city-state
Gods were unpredictable, angry, & selfish
Invented wagon wheel, arch, potter’s wheel
Developed a number system based on 10,60, & 360 (for degrees in circles) and 12 month lunar calendar 9

10. Famous Leaders
Sargon I – built the Akkadian Empire by uniting all of the Mesopotamian city- states (predated Egypt)
Hammurabi – completed a law code of 282 sections 10

11. Hammurabi’s Law Code Dealt with most aspects of daily life
Penalized wrongdoers with an “eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” approach
Protected the less powerful & property
Laws varied according to class 11