1. Sumer

2.  Civilizations can only start where it is possible to live for a long period of time Fertile crescent  Rich soil, fertile wheat fields From Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea  Between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Mesopotamia Sumer became the world’s first civilization  3500 B.C.

3. Sumer  In order to live here, the river had to be controlled Frequent flooding  Epic of Gilgamesh Habitants worked together to protect themselves  Cities start being built Trade brings materials needed to thrive Cities often battle for control

4. Sumer  With thriving cities comes strong government  Leaders were in charge of maintaining city walls and irrigation system Chief servant of the Gods  Social structures start forming Distinct hierarchy  High class- ruling family, officials, priests  Middle class- lesser priests, merchants, artisans  Low class- peasant farmers

5. Sumer  Religion forms Polytheistic Behaved like normal people  Sumerians duty was to keep Gods happy Ziggurat- temple meant for gods and goddesses Believed in afterlife

6. Sumer  By 2500 B.C., Sumer had been overtaken by other Mesopotamian civilizations Many different groups formed their own empires  Contributed greatly to modern day life Akkadians- became the first empire Babylonians-Hammurabi's Code System of laws

7. Mesopotamia  Hammurabi’s Code  1- If any one ensnare another, putting a ban upon him, but he can not prove it, then he that ensnared him shall be put to death.  2- If any one bring an accusation against a man, and the accused go to the river and leap into the river, if he sink in the river his accuser shall take possession of his house. But if the river prove that the accused is not guilty, and he escape unhurt, then he who had brought the accusation shall be put to death, while he who leaped into the river shall take possession of the house that had belonged to his accuser.  22- If any one is committing a robbery and is caught, then he shall be put to death.  25- If fire break out in a house, and some one who comes to put it out cast his eye upon the property of the owner of the house, and take the property of the master of the house, he shall be thrown into that self-same fire  132- If the "finger is pointed" at a man's wife about another man, but she is not caught sleeping with the other man, she shall jump into the river for her husband.  196- If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out. [ An eye for an eye ]  197- If he break another man's bone, his bone shall be broken.

8. Mesopotamia  Hittites Iron Workers  Persians Grew vast Empire  Phoenicians Sea Traders